Caracterización socioambiental de la parte alta de la cuenca del río Andágueda, Municipio de Bagadó, para proponer estrategias de gestión sostenible de los recursos naturales.

Abstract

The upper Andágueda River basin, located in the municipality of Bagadó (Chocó, Colombia), represents a strategic socio-environmental system for water supply and the sustainability of local productive and sociocultural dynamics. However, this basin is subject to multiple pressures derived from socioeconomic practices such as gold mining, traditional agricultural activities, human settlement expansion, and limitations in water governance, all of which affect water quality and territorial stability. This study aimed to conduct a socio environmental characterization of the upper Andágueda River basin by integrating secondary spatial information, documentary analysis, and community perceptions, in order to provide inputs for the formulation of participatory strategies for sustainable territorial management. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining thematic cartography analysis, institutional data review, and participatory tools such as semi-structured interviews and community workshops. The results indicate that anthropogenic dynamics (particularly mining activities and unplanned land use) generate socio-environmental conflicts related to water quality, sedimentation processes, and increased vulnerability to extreme events. Additionally, a high level of local knowledge about the basin and a strong willingness to participate in management processes were identified, despite persistent institutional weaknesses and limited intersectoral coordination. The study concludes that integrating spatial analysis with local knowledge is a key strategy for strengthening sustainable basin management, enabling context-specific and culturally appropriate solutions aligned with the environmental and social realities of the territory.