An Inactive Volcano an Active Community - Indigenous Community of Yanaconas Guachicono and the Recreational Project: Las Chizas

Abstract

The indigenous community of Guachicono is preparing for the challenges that lie ahead in the future, as many communities in Cauca-Colombia or other countries. Among this challenges, it is possible to identify the growth of its population and therefore its financial sustainability far from the violent and illegals activities. The indigenous communities in Colombia have been very reluctant to open up to the community in general. Particularly, the community of Guachicono has a place within its territory where there is a poor thermal source; in spite of this the community persists in the probable use that it would have as a recreational project: Las Chizas. This paper describes the experience with the indigenous community, which wants to work in balneology and tourism. It was carried out a study to determine the feasibility of the site. Within the methodology for the study, it includes measurements of temperature, water quality, flow and geological-geotechnical characterization. The results obtained show the challenge to configure the project but the community persists in continuing the study to find alternatives of total feasibility because the natural environment and landscape sightseeing. One of the most important conclusions of the project, it is that as long as the will of the involved communities (indigenous) exists, the geothermal projects may finally be configured even by means of unconventional alternatives. Additionally, The projects of this kind provide a channel for communication between multiple communities.