The ravines in the Cuenca urbanization process in Ecuador: categorization, socio-environmental historical conflicts and contributions to public policy

The relationship of cities with their water fronts has deteriorated together with the accelerated relatively recent expansion processes, deriving in interventions on these environments in search of sustainable and resilient responses. However, these actions have focused on the most representative rivers of both main cities and those with the slightest hierarchy, relegating a whole system of ravines. Thus, minor water courses face a triple challenge: 1. make visible their importance in the urban water network; 2. Face the pressure exerted by the accelerated urbanization; And 3. Take advantage of its ecosystem characteristics against climate change. Cuenca is taken as a case study, because although it appears as a national reference in the treatment of water fronts, several investigations mention that contrary to what has happened with their rivers, the banks of their ravines have not received an adequate treatment, being embodied, channeled and even filled, since by their flow, location and visibility they have not been considered a risk. The magnitude of this problem has not been properly sized, although in the region the most severe threats against climate change are precisely the landslides and floods. In this context, it is proposed to identify, characterize and map the historical treatment, current state, socio-environmental conflicts and risks of the ravines that have been incorporated into the urban fabric, to generate scientific evidence that contributes in the formulation of public policy for the integral management of the urban water network.

XIX UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS