ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT OF A MOTORDROME CONSTRUCTION IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE POTRERO DE LOS FUNES´ LAKE, SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

AIME, S.A.; BEAS, C.E.; CHIAPERO, A.L.; DADAM, F.M.; GARCIA, C.G.; MARCHESE, N.A.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Décima segunda Jornada Multidisciplinaria; 2010

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

In order to promote tourism in 2007 the San Luis government began with the construction of a motordrome in the surrounding area of the Potrero de los Funes´ lake. Actions including intensive logging, vertical cuts of the mountains and flattened of the ground have been developed. These initial activities alter the ecosystem, affecting soil, watersheds and native wildlife. We proposed to make an environmental impact asessment to reflect the consequences of the motordrome construction. In particular, we aimed to analyse changes on the vegetation cover and to determine the effect on the watersheds. For the environmental impact asessment we performed a Leopold matrix. Additionally we conducted field surveys of the area and used Google Earth’s satellite images from 2004. We created two maps through stereoscopy. Our results indicate that the activities that generate the greatest impact are logging and vertical cuts of the field. Furthermore, logging decreased 27.18% of the vegetal cover and altered 69% of the watersheds. We consider necessary to perform future actions as an attempt to mitigate the impact. These actions involve the construction of retaining walls, reforestation with native vegetation and a strict control of tourists during the events conducted on the circuit.