State of conservation index for high Andean wetlands

Abstract In the present investigation, an index for the state of conservation of high Andean wetlands was generated from water, soil, biodiversity, and landscape fragmentation indicators. Said indicators were selected in accordance with recommendations from the bibliography and consultation with experts. Based on a multivariate correlation analysis, indicators were ranked and statistical processing was conducted for the allocation of weights, radial graph construction and data standardization. Subsequently, a formula which integrated the various indicators was applied. Finally, a scale was employed for index determination, range generation, to define each site's state, considering that the closer they were to one, the better the conservation status, and lastly, conservation states were mapped, in accordance with the index determined for each site.