Climate Change Adaptation of the Aguaronco Protected Forest: Soil Environmental Management Case Study

This project addresses the urgent need to evaluate soil environmental management within the Aguarongo Protected Forest (BPA), an area of high biodiversity in southern Ecuador, against the growing threats of climate change. The Ecuadorian context shows significant vulnerabilities due to adverse climate projections and historical anthropogenic pressures, such as agricultural expansion and deforestation, which have impacted the forest's sustainability. The methodology combines documentary analysis of historical information and previous projects with the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to georeference and map current land use. Universal methods will be applied to quantify soil loss and climatic impacts. Additionally, qualitative information will be gathered through surveys and interviews with users and adjacent communities to understand their perceptions and ancestral adaptation practices. The final outcome will be the structuring of a soil environmental management plan for the BPA, focused on climate change adaptation, integrating agro-environmental practices that merge ancestral knowledge, science, and local culture to ensure the ecological sustainability of the area.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the soil environmental management in the Aguarongo Protected Forest (BPA) and evaluate its adaptation capacity against the effects of climate change.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Ecology and management of natural resources