Modelo tecnológico para la gestión sostenible del venado de cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) en sistemas ganaderos mixtos

Abstract

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a native ungulate species widely distributed across the American continent, which faces conservation challenges in productive systems such as mixed livestock farming. The Irquis Experimental Farm, located in Cuenca, Azuay, represents a strategic area for studying the coexistence between this species and agricultural activities. The objective is to propose a technological and participatory model for the sustainable management of the white-tailed deer through population monitoring using camera traps, community perceptions, and direct observation supported by a photographic tourism system. The methodology to be applied will follow a mixed exploratory-descriptive approach, through which 12 camera traps will be installed at different strategic points, complemented by direct observation and the application of 30 surveys addressed to local residents and workers in the area. The analysis of the information will make it possible to estimate the abundance, distribution, and activity patterns of the species, as well as to identify threats and opportunities from the community perspective. Based on the results, a proposal for a photographic tourism system will be developed as an alternative for the non-extractive use of wildlife. This research seeks to contribute to the conservation of the white-tailed deer within an Andean productive landscape. In addition, it aims to generate technical and social guidelines that may be replicated in other similar landscapes throughout Ecuador.