Influence of current land use patterns on the dynamics of vegetation in the Rabanal páramo, San Antonio village, Guachetá municipality

The patterns of current land use in the Rabanal paramo suggest a slow and progressive deterioration of the vegetation of this ecosystem, probably due to the current practice of disturbances imposed apparently largely by human causes, mainly the expansion of the agricultural frontier (mechanized potato crops) and grazing. The typical situation of the pattern of occupation and land-holding in these places, as well as the established production system, is the starting point to determine its effect on this sector of the Rabanal paramo ecosystem and define whether or not this fact is crucial to its conservation and management.

The study was conducted in three stages that included the characterization of the area done through surveys, a review of primary and secondary education, followed by field work, and final tabulation of information.

The present study obtained results which were intended to contribute to the knowledge of current land use in a sector of the settlement of San Antonio - Township Guachetá, bordering the Rabanal Paramo and with this give the necessary foundation for understanding how anthropogenic intervention operates in the area and its implications for vegetation dynamics and knowledge of its production systems.