Evaluación de la capacidad de carga turística en rutas para el aviturismo en el Magdalena caldense con la participación de actores locales

Following the signing of the Peace Agreements in Colombia, birdwatching tourism has been revitalised as an economic opportunity requiring knowledge situated within physical, biotic, and social dimensions, with the aim of strengthening territorial understanding and promoting sustainable tourism. The physical carrying capacity (PCC), real carrying capacity (RCC), and effective carrying capacity (ECC) of the selected routes were determined with the participation of local stakeholders. Eight routes were prioritised, two per municipality, through social mapping and participatory fieldwork. The findings indicate that some routes are not yet suitable for the activity; nevertheless, at least one route per municipality meets the minimum required conditions. Overall, improvements to infrastructure and management are necessary to deliver quality services without generating negative impacts, as only one route exceeded 40 % of management capacity. A reflective exercise was also conducted on birdwatching tourism, conceived not solely as an economic activity but as a socio-cultural practice oriented towards biodiversity conservation.