Inventory of Existing Biodiversity in the Aguarango Protected Forest

This project addresses the critical need to establish an ecological baseline for the Aguarongo Protected Forest (AVPA), a conservation area in southern Ecuador facing threats such as declining soil productivity, indiscriminate burning, and the introduction of exotic species. The primary goal is to generate a detailed scientific inventory of the vascular and non-vascular flora and fauna to support continuous monitoring and management/restoration strategies. The methodology involves fieldwork divided into phases, initially focusing on the inventory and collection of lichen flora, followed by mounting, morphological, and chemical identification of samples. Standardized techniques will be employed, such as placing sampling meshes on selected phorophytes at a specific height and defined exposure (NE), to quantify lichen frequencies. Furthermore, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools will be utilized to integrate, analyze, and manage the collected data, facilitating short, medium, and long-term planning and allowing the extrapolation of conclusions to similar forests. This effort aims to mitigate the loss of ecosystem services and ensure the conservation of the area's high biodiversity.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To generate a comprehensive scientific baseline of the vascular and non-vascular flora and fauna of the Aguarongo Protected Forest. This inventory will serve as the foundation for implementing permanent monitoring processes and developing effective management policies aimed at the preservation and restoration of this key ecosystem.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>nan