Asentamientos humanos en zonas de riesgo por movimientos en masa. Criterios desde la planificación territorial: El caso de la comunidad Gulacpamba

Human settlements located in risk areas require the efficient application of territorial planning processes that allow, through the analysis of vulnerability, exposure and threat conditions of the community; reduce existing risk scenarios, prevent future risks and control residual risk; in order to achieve sustainable development and generate a safe and resilient society. This investigation identifies the main effects generated by the mass movements in the Gulacpamba community, and determines the levels of vulnerability and the conditions of exposure of the population and the existing territorial elements; based on a detailed evaluation of the physical environment, land use and occupation, community infrastructure, roads, and the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the inhabitants; through conventional processes of a development plan, and incorporating variables related to risk management, condensed in a particular methodology and, through processes of direct observation and gathering of qualitative and quantitative information. Finally, various solution strategies applicable from territorial planning are established; some of brief execution through the use of the cultural values and aptitudes of the population and others that require the execution of management processes with state entities; particularly focused on reducing the vulnerability of territorial elements, the susceptibility of the population and the conditions of the territory that potentiate the occurrence of a mass movement; that allow the settlement to recover from the catastrophes that have occurred and to prepare for a future disaster.