Multidimensional Analysis of Rice Production Environmental Externalities: a Foundation for a Management System in the Tropical Dry Forest
Abstract
This study analyzed the technical guidelines for an Environmental Management System (EMS) aimed at mitigating the impacts of rice cultivation on the tropical dry forest in the municipality of Campoalegre (Huila, Colombia). The methodology integrated a diagnostic based on surveys of 141 production units and geospatial analysis, a regulatory assessment of 23 legal instruments, and environmental modeling using SWAT and system dynamics. The results characterized a critical scenario: 62% of producers employed Category I toxicity pesticides, 24.8% of empty containers were incinerated on-site, and glyphosate concentrations of 1.8 µg/L in water and 3.2 mg/kg in soil were detected, exceeding regulatory thresholds. The regulatory compliance index was 34.7%, and dry forest cover was reduced to 4.48%. Multicriteria modeling projected that EMS implementation, with an investment of USD 1.2 million, would reduce the pollutant load by 38% over a five-year horizon, with an estimated net present value of USD 3.5 million. Key interventions included the strategic reforestation of 92 hectares and the establishment of a network of temporary collection centers. It was concluded that the documented environmental degradation is reversible through a robust governance scheme that articulates regulatory controls, training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and continuous monitoring mechanisms, thereby transforming the production system towards a circular economy model.
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