Identificación de áreas potenciales para la implementación del sistema agroforestal Quesungual en el Valle del Cauca

Agroforestry systems are an alternative form of land use that combines woody components with crops and/or animals. This study identifies potential areas to implement the agroforestry system known as the Quesungual (SAQ), one of such forms of use which has had recognized success in countries in Central America, on slopes of Valle del Cauca as input in the process of land management. These systems are a productive and sustainable alternative in these regions while simulating the characteristics of natural ecosystem structure and function. The aim of this study is to locate the areas of greatest potential to implement the SAQ in the Valle del Cauca using spatial analysis techniques such as the weights of evidence and logistic regression. The results were evaluated both with statistical techniques integrated within spatial analysis tools and afterwards through the knowledge shared with professionals from three Municipal Technical Assistance Units (UMATAS). The results allowed locating in detail the areas of highest fitness, which could be used in management plans for municipalities in the region, totaling around 232,000 hectares (ha) as suitable for the establishment of the SAQ.