PRIORITY OF FOREST MANAGEMENT IN ECUADOR ACCORDING TO THE INTEGRAL ASSESSMENT OF CARBON STORAGE UNDER ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS

The aim of this study is to identify the forests mostly affected by the anthropogenic impacts and the causes of these impacts. A map of management priority of forest was developed with data of deforestation between 2008 and 2014, erosion index, CO2 emissions, biomass, and carbon storage. As a result, the forest management priority is focused on the Coast because of the highest weighted coefficients of 26.5, 25.1 and 21.5 in the provinces of Guayas, Esmeraldas, and Manabí, respectively. This information is useful for a better territorial planning, deforestation prevention, sustainable management of natural resources and the generation of economic incomes.