Author(s)

Marcelo León Castro, David Ortiz, And Paulina León

Corresponding Author

Marcelo León Castro

ABSTRACT

Scenery considered as space in which nature coexist itself as well as human intervention on both individual and collective perception of that space, constitutes one of the tools to be incorporated into local territorial zoning plans, depending upon visual fragility of landscape unit analyzed, activities can be established according to each of the zones that make up the territory. This research assess visual fragility scenery at rural parish of Riobamba city, province of Chimborazo. Landscape unit observed of 2,392 hectares out of a total of 2,927 hectares, which includes greenhouses also. A field data collection was carried out, in which landscape unit was delimited through geographical position data gathering using geographic information systems GIS tools and finally applying a model for assessment of landscape visual fragility including features such as: vegetation and land use, slope, orientation, accessibility, size, form, compactness and relative height of the observed landscape. Greenhouses for agricultural production are incidental elements of extrinsic fragility of landscape but it is not a determining one since this depends on interaction of several elements. The present study includes zoning of landscape units of entire territory at San Luis Parish with the purpose of helping parochial territorial ordering plan focused on determining potential land uses.

KEYWORDS

Scenery unit, territorial planning, landscaping, agricultural production, Riobamba