Global Evolution of Research on Silvopastoral Systems through Bibliometric Analysis: Insights from Ecuador

Scientific studies on silvopastoral systems have led to permanent changes oriented toward better silvopasture practices, as well as to policy strategies to respond effectively to the global objectives of restoration and sustainable development. In this work, we performed a bibliometric analysis with the purpose of identifying changes associated with different silvopastoral systems. We applied Bibliometrix in R to analyze 5708 documents published between 1983 and 2022 by including the terms “silvopastoral” and “silvopasture”, among others. The results showed a longitudinal and exponential increase in silvopasture studies over the last 20 years. We adjusted the growth to an S-Curve function with an R2 of 96.06%. The interest of researchers regarding knowledge about silvopasture has evolved; initially, it focused on the characterization of silvopasture, whereas recently, it has focused on the search for strategies to improve the sustainable use of silvopasture, including ecosystem restoration and the implementation of better practices. The following countries stand out as those with the largest scientific production of studies on silvopasture: The United States, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina in the Americas; China and India in Asia; and Spain; and Germany, and the United Kingdom in Europe. In the case of Ecuador, cited leaders in silvopasture facilitated the construction of a group of experts who contribute to the development of public policies. The most cited publications appeared in journals published by the Springer group, Elsevier, and MDPI Journals, mostly in open-access systems. In the future, the disruptive contribution of open-access systems in the global dissemination of knowledge, breaking through the economic constraints of countries, universities, and researchers, should be evaluated

Tree diversity and its ecological importance value in silvopastoral systems: a study along elevational gradients in the Sumaco biosphere reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

This study analyzes tree diversity and its ecological importance value in silvopastoral systems in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR), Ecuador, along an altitudinal gradient of 400–2000 masl. Twenty-six plots distributed into low (400–700 masl), medium (701–1600 masl) and high (1601–2000 masl) zones were used. The Shannon index and the importance value index (IVI), based on abundance, dominance and relative frequency, were estimated. The results highlight that in pastures with dispersed trees, the richness of trees decreases with increasing altitude in the elevational gradient; they also show a higher tree density at lower altitudes in contrast to the Andean–Amazonian primary forests. The lower and middle zones showed higher diversity, linked to regeneration and the presence of nearby forests. Species of high commercial value, such as Cedrela odorata and Jacaranda copaia, were common, reflecting knowledge of the local timber market. In the lower and middle zones, the 10 most important species accounted for more than 70% of the trees, with up to 96% in the upper zone. A total of 51 taxa (including 42 species and nine taxa at the rank of genus) were identified, which were mostly native; 64.7% are classified by the IUCN as least-concern (LC) species, 31.4% as not evaluated (NE) species and 3.9% as vulnerable (VU) species, specifically highlighting Cedrela odorata and Cedrela montana. The study concludes with policy recommendations related to the importance of trees in silvopastoral systems for the conservation of species and the livelihoods of local communities, highlighting the need for responsible management of Amazonian pasturelands

Análisis socioeconómico, carbono y diversidad arbórea en tres ecosistemas ganaderos de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana

El resumen de todo el trabajo se ha organizado considerando las partes esenciales de cada uno de los apartados. Por ello, hemos respetado el orden de las publicaciones mantenido a lo largo del manuscrito. a. Resumen del análisis bibliométrico: Los sistemas silvopastoriles se encuentran en permanente cambio y en estado de crisis y riesgo de desaparición dados los cambios en la ciencia y las prioridades estratégicas. En este trabajo se ha realizado un análisis bibliométrico con el fin de identificar los cambios asociados a los diferentes sistemas silvopastorales (mixtos de cultivo, forestal, ganadero y otros usos). Se ha aplicado la herramienta Bibliometrix en R para analizar 5.708 documentos publicados entre 1983 y 2022, incluyendo los términos "silvopastoral" y "silvopasture" entre otros. Los resultados muestran un aumento longitudinal y exponencial de los estudios sobre silvopastoreo en los últimos 20 años. El crecimiento se ajustó a una función S, con un R2 del 96,06%. El interés de los investigadores por el conocimiento del silvopasto ha evolucionado; inicialmente se centra en la caracterización del silvopasto y recientemente, se enfoca en la búsqueda de estrategias para mejorar el uso sostenible del silvopasto; incluyendo la restauración de ecosistemas y la implementación de buenas prácticas. En América: Estados Unidos, Brasil, México, Colombia, Ar-gentina); En Asia: China e India; En Europa: España, Alemania y Reino Unido destacan como los países con mayor producción científica en el estudio del silvopastoreo. En el caso de Ecuador, los líderes en silvopastoreo están incluidos en las citaciones, lo que facilita la construcción de un grupo de expertos que contribuyen al desarrollo de políticas públicas. Las publicaciones más citadas tuvieron lugar en revistas del grupo Springer, Elsevier y MPDI (revistas de Sostenibilidad, Forestal, Agronomía y Agricultura), en su mayoría en sistemas de Acceso Abierto. En el futuro, deberá evaluarse la contribución disruptiva de los sistemas de Acceso Abierto a la difusión global del conocimiento científico b. En relación con la caracterización productiva a lo largo del gradiente altitudinal El incremento de la producción ganadera en la Región Amazónica Ecuatoriana ha provocado un aumento de la deforestación y el avance de la frontera agrícola. El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una caracterización socioeconómica y productiva en los sistemas ganaderos andino-amazónicos de Ecuador. El área de estudio formó parte de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sumaco (RBS) y de otras tres zonas: baja (400 a 700 msnm), media (701 a 1600 msnm) y alta (701 a 1600 msnm). Se recogieron datos de 167 hogares ganaderos. Hay diferencias significativas (p ≤ 0,001) en los resultados. Se identificó que el 56,1% de los productores de la zona media son indígenas (Kichwa). En la misma zona se encontró el mayor (p ≤ 0,01) tamaño promedio del hogar (6,7 miembros del hogar) y el mayor nivel de jefes de hogar sin escolaridad (16%). Los cabezas de familia mayores de 54 años se registraron en todo el gradiente. Las explotaciones más grandes también se encontraron en la zona media, con una media de 62,3 ha, de las cuales una media de 32,9 ha son bosque nativo, 2,1 ha son tierras agrícolas y 27,2 ha son pastos para el ganado. La economía familiar está impulsada por una mayor inversión en ganadería en la zona alta, por lo que su ingreso bruto anual tiene un alto impacto en su economía. Con estos resultados, este estudio presenta recomendaciones para alcanzar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible c. En relación con los medios de subsistencia y la percepción del cambio climático Los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de 2015 identifican la pobreza, el crecimiento y la desigualdad como tres áreas clave de intervención hacia la Agenda 2030 de la ONU para el bienestar humano y la sostenibilidad. En este sentido, los objetivos predominantes son: (a) Determinar los grupos de pobreza por quintiles a través del ingreso ganadero en hogares de pequeños productores de leche; (b) Caracterizar los medios de vida rurales utilizando la teoría del capital; y (c) Evaluar la percepción del cambio climático (CC) y la disposición a aceptar medidas de adaptación así como de mitigación. El presente estudio se realizó en comunidades ubicadas en los Andes ecuatorianos, donde se aplicaron 178 encuestas a jefes de hogar indígenas kichwas y mestizos. A partir de los ingresos netos totales determinados, se organizaron cinco grupos. Se aplicó la curva de Lorenz como indicador general de la desigualdad relativa, así como el coeficiente de Gini (G). Con base en la teoría del capital, se determinaron las características humanas, sociales, naturales, físicas y financieras, y se consideraron siete variables para evaluar la percepción y disposición a aceptar acciones de mitigación y adaptación de los quintiles determinados. El resultado del coeficiente de Gini fue de 0,52, lo que indica que el 20% más pobre de la población sólo recibe el 3,40% de los ingresos, mientras que el 20% más rico del quintil obtiene alrededor del 54% de los ingresos totales. Es evidente que la mayoría de los productores saben poco sobre CC, pero que están dispuestos a recibir programas de fortalecimiento. Por lo tanto, es fundamental establecer lineamientos estratégicos desde la política pública para reducir la desigualdad y mejorar el bienestar social de los productores, con un eje transversal en el fortalecimiento de las capacidades sobre el impacto, mitigación y adaptación al CC, así como la provisión de diversas herramientas, como el acceso a la información climática. d. En relación con las mejores prácticas de gestión y el enfoque REDD La deforestación es una grave amenaza para la diversidad en la Región Amazónica Ecuatoriana (RAE). Para mitigar la deforestación, es necesario conocer los roles e interacciones de los actores relevantes y profundizar nuestro conocimiento de los medios de vida locales, objetivos, potenciales, limitaciones y "derechos de ser" entre las fincas, así como las mejores prácticas de manejo (BMPs). En este estudio, nuestro objetivo era identificar y evaluar las BMP ganaderas a lo largo de un gradiente elevacional para fomentar la producción sostenible y reducir las emisiones derivadas de la deforestación y la degradación forestal (REDD+). Este enfoque podría ser beneficioso desde el punto de vista medioambiental y económico. Se recopilaron datos de 167 hogares a lo largo de tres gradientes elevacionales, así como de 15 entrevistas realizadas entre un panel multidisciplinar de partes interesadas clave e investigadores de la AER. Los resultados mostraron que la mayoría de la población kichwa vive en la zona media, que presenta una mayor superficie agrícola y forestal. Por el contrario, en las zonas baja y alta predomina la ganadería, donde la zona alta está especializada en la producción de leche y la baja en la ganadería de doble propósito (carne y leche). La evaluación de las partes interesadas proporcionó varios resultados clave: (a) los factores sociales, estructurales y técnicos tienen efectos complementarios en la adopción de las BMP; (b) las dieciséis BMP evaluadas facilitaron la aplicación de los programas de incentivos financieros existentes y permitieron la creación de asociaciones público-privadas para desarrollar proyectos REDD+. También se analizan las implicaciones políticas de la aplicación de estos enfoques. e. En relación con las reservas de carbono en los sistemas silvopastorales El sistema silvopastoral (SPS) se ha considerado un sistema de gestión sostenible que contribuye a la reducción de los gases de efecto invernadero (GEI), entre otros beneficios, en comparación con los pastos abiertos. Sin embargo, pocas investigaciones se han realizado sobre el carbono almacenado en el suelo y en la biomasa arbórea de los pastos tradicionales con árboles dispersos (PWT) en comparación con los pastos en monocultivo (PM). El presente estudio se realizó en la Región Amazónica Ecuatoriana (RAE), a lo largo de un gradiente elevacional de 400 a 2000 msnm, dentro de la zona de amortiguamiento y transición de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sumaco (RBS), utilizando 71 parcelas circulares temporales de 2826 m2, donde 26 parcelas fueron establecidas en PWT y 45 parcelas en PM. Los principales resultados en PWT muestran diferencias significativas (p ≤ 0,01) entre la biomasa de carbono por encima del suelo (AGCárboles) de 41,1 (tierras bajas), 26,5 (colinas medias) y 16,7 (alta montaña) Mg ha-1 respectivamente, con una media de 31,0 Mg ha-1 en toda el área de estudio. La reserva total de carbono a lo largo del gradiente altitudinal en cinco componentes: (AGCárboles), carbono subterráneo (BGCárboles), carbono en pastos (AGClitter+pasto) y carbono en componentes del suelo (0-10 y 10-30 cm) para PWT osciló entre 112,80 (tierras bajas) y 91,34 (alta montaña) Mg ha-1 ; mientras que para los sistemas PM la evaluación de tres componentes (AGClitter+pasto) y el carbono en componentes del suelo (0-10 y 10-30 cm) osciló entre 52,5 (tierras bajas) y 77,8 (zona media) Mg ha-1. Finalmente, el trabajo muestra las principales especies arbóreas dominantes en los sistemas de pastoreo que contribuyen al almacenamiento de carbono a lo largo del gradiente elevacional y concluye con recomendaciones para la toma de decisiones encaminadas a mejorar los sistemas ganaderos mediante un enfoque silvopastoral para mitigar los efectos del cambio climático. f. Respecto a las reservas de carbono en el bosque Andino-Amazónico El propósito de este estudio fue examinar cómo la diversidad, riqueza y características estructurales de los árboles, así como la biomasa por encima del suelo, varían a lo largo de un gradiente de elevación a pequeña escala de 601 a 1000 m sobre el nivel del mar (msnm) en un bosque amazónico andino perennifolio y sus implicaciones en términos de almacenamiento de carbono. Se estudiaron árboles con un diámetro a la altura del pecho superior a 10 cm en 20 parcelas permanentes de 0,1 ha, cinco en cada sitio de elevación. Se determinó la riqueza de especies, la densidad, el área basal, la biomasa aérea y se calculó el valor de importancia de la biomasa (VIB). Los 1378 árboles estudiados pertenecían principalmente a las familias Moraceae (17 especies) Fabaceae (16) y Meliaceae (10). La riqueza de especies aumentó significativamente (p0,579). La contribución desproporcionada de unas pocas especies, algunas de las cuales son las menos abundantes pero con una elevada BAG en nuestros estudios (por ejemplo, Sterculia sp., Nectandra sp., Ficus sp., e Inga sp.) a las reservas de carbono es importante tenerla en cuenta en futuras investigaciones sobre el secuestro de carbono. Dado que la producción de biomasa sobre el suelo se concentró en unas pocas especies, algunas poco comunes, la toma de decisiones en programas de reforestación y cómo deben seleccionarse las especies puede tener implicaciones a la hora de medir y promover el almacenamiento de carbono. g. En relación con los medios de subsistencia y el coste de oportunidad de las zonas de pastoreo El cambio de uso de la tierra por pastos se considera la principal causa de deforestación en la Región Amazónica Ecuatoriana (RAE). Para detener e invertir este proceso es necesario comprender, entre otros factores, los medios de subsistencia locales, los ingresos procedentes de las zonas de pastoreo y las opciones adecuadas para fomentar la producción sostenible, vinculando el enfoque de reparto de tierras con el de ahorro de tierras. El presente estudio utiliza datos recogidos de 167 hogares a lo largo de tres gradientes elevacionales dentro de la zona de amortiguación y transición de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sumaco (RBS) en la RAE. Los resultados de un análisis comparativo de las principales variables de capital (humano, social, natural, financiero y físico), y el coste de oportunidad de la evaluación de la superficie de pastoreo proporcionan conclusiones clave: a) el concepto de conservación y uso compartido de la tierra debe considerarse como estrategias locales complementarias, incluidos los medios de subsistencia de los hogares y el coste de oportunidad de la superficie de pastoreo; b) fomentar los mercados con derechos de restauración diferenciados, basados en los hogares dedicados a zonas de pastoreo de bajo coste de oportunidad y menor impacto en los medios de subsistencia de los capitales como elementos clave de las iniciativas económicas y de conservación; c) se debaten las implicaciones políticas sectoriales, incluida la intensificación moderada y las mejoras tecnológicas para reforzar el enfoque de conservación y uso compartido de los pastos.The summary of the entire work has been organized considering the essential parts of each of the sections. For this reason, we have respected the order of the publications maintained throughout the manuscript. a. Bibliometric analysis summary: Silvopastoral systems are in permanent change and in a state of crisis and at risk of disappearing given the changes in science and strategic priorities. In this work a bibliometric analysis with the purpose of identifying the changes associated to the different silvopastoral systems (mixed of crop, forest, livestock, and other uses) was performed. The tool Bibliometrix in R has been applied to analyze 5,708 documents published between 1983 and 2022, by including the terms “silvopastoral” and “silvopasture” among others. The results show a longitudinal and exponential increase in silvopasture studies over the last 20 years. The growth was adjusted to a function S, with an R2 of 96.06%. The interest of researchers regarding the knowledge of silvopasture has evolved; initially it focuses on the characterization of silvopasture and recently, it is focused on the search for strategies to improve the sustainable use of the silvopasture; including ecosystem restoration and implementation of good practices. In America: The United States, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina); In Asia: China and India; In Europe: Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom stand out as the countries with the largest scientific production in the study of silvopasture. In the case of Ecuador, leaders in silvopasture are included in citations, which facilitates the construction of a group of experts who contribute to the development of public policies. The most cited publications took place in journals of the Springer group, Elsevier and MPDI (Sustainability, Forest, Agronomy and Agriculture journals), mostly in Open Access systems. In the future, the disruptive contribution of Open Access systems to the global dissemination of scientific knowledge should be evaluated. b. Concerning productive characterization along altitudinal gradient: The increase in livestock production in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region has caused an increase in deforestation and the advance of the agricultural frontier. The aim of the current study was to conduct a socioeconomic and productive characterization in Andean-Amazonian livestock systems in Ecuador. The study area was part of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and three other zones: low (400 to 700 masl), middle (701 to 1600 masl), and high (701 to 1600 masl). Data were collected from 167 ranching households. There are significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) in the results. It was identified that 56.1% of the producers in the middle zone are indigenous (Kichwa). The largest (p ≤ 0.01) average household size (6.7 household members) and the highest level of household heads without schooling (16%) were found in the same area. Heads of households over 54 years of age were reported throughout the gradient. The largest farms were also found in the middle zone, with an average of 62.3 ha, of which an average of 32.9 ha is native forest, 2.1 ha is agricultural land, and 27.2 ha is cattle pasture. The household economy is driven by a greater investment in livestock in the upper area, and therefore their annual gross income has a high impact on their economy. With these results, this study presents recommendations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. c. Regarding to livelihood capitals and perception of climate change: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2015 identify poverty, growth, and inequality as three key areas of intervention towards the UN 2030 Agenda for human well-being and sustainability. Herein, the predominant objectives are: (a) To determine the poverty groups by quintiles through the cattle income in households of small milk producers; (b) To characterize rural livelihoods by using capital theory; and (c) To assess the perception of climate change (CC) and the willingness to accept adaptation as well as mitigation measures. The current study was performed in communities that are located in the Ecuadorian Andes, where some 178 surveys were conducted with indigenous Kichwa and mestizo heads of households. From the total net income determined, five groups were organized. The Lorenz curve was applied as a general indicator of the relative inequality, as well as the Gini coefficient (G). On the basis of the theory of capital, the human, social, natural, physical, and financial characteristics were determined, and seven variables were considered to evaluate the perception and willingness to accept mitigation and adaptation actions of the given quintiles. The result of the Gini coefficient was 0.52, which indicates that the poorest 20% of the population only receives 3.40% of the income, while the richest 20% of the quintile obtain about 54% of the total income. It is evident that most producers know little about CC, but that they are willing to receive strengthening programs. Therefore, it is essential to establish strategic guidelines from public policy in order to reduce inequality and to improve the social welfare of producers, with a transversal axis in the strengthening of the capacities on the impact, mitigation, and adaptation to CC, as well as the provision of several tools, such as access to climate information. d. Related to best management practices (BMPS) and REDD+ approach: Deforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” among farms, as well as the best management practices (BMPs). In this study, our aim was to identify and assess livestock BMPs along an elevational gradient to foster sustainable production and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). This approach could be environmentally and economically beneficial. Data were collected from 167 households along three elevational gradients, as well as from 15 interviews held among a multidisciplinary panel of key stakeholders and researchers in the EAR. The results showed that most of the Kichwa population lives in the medium zone, which features a larger agricultural and forest surface. Conversely, in the lower and upper areas, livestock predominates, where the upper area is specialized in milk production and the lower area in dual-purpose cattle (meat and dairy). The stakeholder assessment provided several key results: (a) social, structural, and technical factors have complementary effects on BMP adoption; (b) the sixteen assessed BMPs facilitated the implementation of existing financial incentive programs and enabled public–private partnerships to develop REDD+ projects. The policy implications of implementing these approaches are also discussed. e. Related to carbon stock in silvopastoral systems: Silvopastoral system (SPS) has been considered as a sustainable management system contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, among other benefits compared with open pasture. However, little research has been conducted on the soil and tree biomass carbon stored in traditional pasture with dispersed trees (PWT) compared with pasture in monoculture (PM). The present study was conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), along an elevational gradient from 400 to 2000 masl., within the buffer and transition zone of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR), using 71 temporary circular plots of 2826 m2, where 26 plots were stablished in PWT and 45 plots in PM. The main results in PWT show significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) between aboveground carbon biomass (AGCtrees) from 41.1 (lowlands), 26.5 (Middle hills) and 16.7 (high mountains) Mg ha−1 respectively, with an average of 31.0 Mg ha−1 in the whole study area. The total carbon pool along the altitudinal gradient in five components: (AGCtrees), belowground carbon (BGCtrees), pasture carbon (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) for PWT ranged from 112.80 (lowlands) to 91.34 (high mountains) Mg ha−1 ; while for the PM systems assessing three components (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) ranged from 52.5 (lowlands) to 77.8 (middle zone) Mg ha−1. Finally, the paper shows the main dominant tree species in pasture systems that contribute to carbon storage along elevational gradient and concludes with recommendations for decision-making aimed at improving cattle ranching systems through a silvopastoral approach to mitigate the effects of climate change. f. Related to carbon stock in Andean-Amazon forest: The purpose of this study was to examine how tree diversity, richness, and structural characteristics as well as above-ground biomass varies along a small-scale eleva

Identification and Assessment of Livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs) Using the REED+ Approach in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Deforestation is a severe threat to diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR). To mitigate deforestation, it is necessary to know the relevant stakeholders’ roles and interactions and deepen our knowledge of the local livelihoods, objectives, potentials, limitations, and “rights of being” among farms, as well as the best management practices (BMPs). In this study, our aim was to identify and assess livestock BMPs along an elevational gradient to foster sustainable production and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). This approach could be environmentally and economically beneficial. Data were collected from 167 households along three elevational gradients, as well as from 15 interviews held among a multidisciplinary panel of key stakeholders and researchers in the EAR. The results showed that most of the Kichwa population lives in the medium zone, which features a larger agricultural and forest surface. Conversely, in the lower and upper areas, livestock predominates, where the upper area is specialized in milk production and the lower area in dual-purpose cattle (meat and dairy). The stakeholder assessment provided several key results: (a) social, structural, and technical factors have complementary effects on BMP adoption; (b) the sixteen assessed BMPs facilitated the implementation of existing financial incentive programs and enabled public–private partnerships to develop REDD+ projects. The policy implications of implementing these approaches are also discussed

Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Diversity and Life Zone for Uncontacted Indigenous People: Deforestation Hotspots in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

Land use and land cover change (LULC) is an essential component for the monitoring environmental change and managing natural resources in areas of high natural and cultural biodiversity, such as the Amazon biome. This study was conducted in in the northern Amazon of Ecuador, specifically in the Diversity and Life Zone (DLZ) of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve (YBR). The general aim was to investigate the territorial dynamics of land use/land cover changes to support policies for environmental and sociocultural protection in the DLZ. Specific objectives included (i) mapping LULC spatial and temporal dynamics in the DLZ in the period from 1999 to 2018, (ii) identifying sensitive LULC hotspots within the DLZ, and (iii) defining the possible policy implications for sustainable land use in the DLZ. Multitemporal satellite imagery from the Landsat series was used to map changes in LULC, which were divided into three-time stages (1999–2009, 2009–2018, 1999–2018). We adopted open-access Landsat images downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The processes for assessing LULC in the DLZ included (1) data collection and analysis, (2) data processing for remote sensing, (3) thematic land cover, and (4) homogenization and vectorization of images. The results showed that in the period 1999–2018, most of the uses and land cover were transformed into pastures in the DLZ. Therefore, it is important to improve territorial planning, to avoid conflicts between indigenous populations, migrant settlers, and uncontacted indigenous populations that live in the DLZ, within the YBR

SAFA and GeoGebra Allies to Evaluate Natural and Cultural Sustainability: Yasuni Biosphere Reserve

The Yasuni Biosphere Reserve (YBR) occupies a unique biogeographic position in the world, where the richness of the four taxa (amphibians, birds, mammals and vascular plants) reaches maximum diversity. However, threats to species conservation are latent: the opening of roads, illegal logging, the advance of the agricultural frontier, oil extraction and the trade of wild meat in the western sector of the reserve. This paper aims to evaluate the sustainability of natural resources in multicultural communities: 1) Waorani Indigenous and 2) Migrant settlers, settled in the Diversity and Life Strip (DLS) in the YBR. Three households were defined per community, selected from the snowball sampling method. Thus, three methodological processes were applied: 1) Sustainability of natural resources using the SAFA program (version 2.4.1), it has four dimensions Good Governance (GG), Environmental Integrity (EI), Economic Resilience (ER) and Social Welfare (SW); 2) Direct observation; and 3) Lacing algorithm with the GeoGebra program used for the calculation of areas of simple polygons. The results showed that the dimension of least sustainability was ER in indigenous households and in-migrant settler households it was ER and SW. The largest sustainability area of 25,12 u2 in the migrant settler household1, while in Waorani indigenous the worst sustainability area had a value of 18,69 u2. The programs allow to promote a better understanding of the dynamics of the sustainability of natural resources. The issues identified as limited in the communities are a priority to improve sustainability.

Carbon Stock Assessment in Silvopastoral Systems along an Elevational Gradient: A Study from Cattle Producers in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

Silvopastoral system (SPS) has been considered as a sustainable management system contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, among other benefits compared with open pasture. However, little research has been conducted on the soil and tree biomass carbon stored in traditional pasture with dispersed trees (PWT) compared with pasture in monoculture (PM). The present study was conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), along an elevational gradient from 400 to 2000 masl., within the buffer and transition zone of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR), using 71 temporary circular plots of 2826 m2, where 26 plots were stablished in PWT and 45 plots in PM. The main results in PWT show significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) between aboveground carbon biomass (AGCtrees) from 41.1 (lowlands), 26.5 (Middle hills) and 16.7 (high mountains) Mg ha−1 respectively, with an average of 31.0 Mg ha−1 in the whole study area. The total carbon pool along the altitudinal gradient in five components: (AGCtrees), belowground carbon (BGCtrees), pasture carbon (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) for PWT ranged from 112.80 (lowlands) to 91.34 (high mountains) Mg ha−1; while for the PM systems assessing three components (AGClitter+pasture) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) ranged from 52.5 (lowlands) to 77.8 (middle zone) Mg ha−1. Finally, the paper shows the main dominant tree species in pasture systems that contribute to carbon storage along elevational gradient and concludes with recommendations for decision-making aimed at improving cattle ranching systems through a silvopastoral approach to mitigate the effects of climate change

Livelihood Capitals, Income Inequality, and the Perception of Climate Change: A Case Study of Small-Scale Cattle Farmers in the Ecuadorian Andes

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2015 identify poverty, growth, and inequality as three key areas of intervention towards the UN 2030 Agenda for human well-being and sustainability. Herein, the predominant objectives are: (a) To determine the poverty groups by quintiles through the cattle income in households of small milk producers; (b) To characterize rural livelihoods by using capital theory; and (c) To assess the perception of climate change (CC) and the willingness to accept adaptation as well as mitigation measures. The current study was performed in communities that are located in the Ecuadorian Andes, where some 178 surveys were conducted with indigenous Kichwa and mestizo heads of households. From the total net income determined, five groups were organized. The Lorenz curve was applied as a general indicator of the relative inequality, as well as the Gini coefficient (G). On the basis of the theory of capital, the human, social, natural, physical, and financial characteristics were determined, and seven variables were considered to evaluate the perception and willingness to accept mitigation and adaptation actions of the given quintiles. The result of the Gini coefficient was 0.52, which indicates that the poorest 20% of the population only receives 3.40% of the income, while the richest 20% of the quintile obtain about 54% of the total income. It is evident that most producers know little about CC, but that they are willing to receive strengthening programs. Therefore, it is essential to establish strategic guidelines from public policy in order to reduce inequality and to improve the social welfare of producers, with a transversal axis in the strengthening of the capacities on the impact, mitigation, and adaptation to CC, as well as the provision of several tools, such as access to climate information

Modelling climatically suitable areas for mahogany (swietenia macrophylla king) and their shifts across neotropics: the role of protected areas

Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is a species with great economic interest worldwide and is classified as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN. Deforestation and climate change are the main hazards to this species. Therefore, it is vital to describe possible changes in distribution patterns under current and future climatic conditions, as they are important for their monitoring, conservation, and use. In the current study, we predict, for the very first time, the potential distribution of Mahogany based on data that reflect the total distribution of the species, climatic and edaphic variables, and a consensus model that combines the results of three statistical techniques. The obtained model was projected to future climatic conditions considering two general circulation models (GCM), under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP245 and SSP585) for 2070. Predictions under current climatic conditions indicated wide adequate areas in Central American countries such as Mexico and demonstrated a coverage of up to 28.5% within the limits of the protected areas. Under future scenarios, drastic reductions were observed in different regions, particularly in Venezuela, Perú, and Ecuador, with losses of up to 56.0%. On the other hand, an increase in suitable areas for the species within protected areas was also detected. The results of this study are certainly useful for identifying currently unrecorded populations of Mahogany, as well as for identifying locations that are likely to be suitable both now and in the future for conservation management planning. The methodology proposed in this work is able to be used for other forest species in tropical zones as a tool for conducting dynamic conservation and restoration strategies that consider the effects of climate chang

Productive Livestock Characterization and Recommendations for Good Practices Focused on the Achievement of the SDGs in the Ecuadorian Amazon

The increase in livestock production in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region has caused an increase in deforestation and the advance of the agricultural frontier. The aim of the current study was to conduct a socioeconomic and productive characterization in Andean-Amazonian livestock systems in Ecuador. The study area was part of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and three other zones: low (400 to 700 masl), middle (701 to 1600 masl), and high (701 to 1600 masl). Data were collected from 167 ranching households. There are significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) in the results. It was identified that 56.1% of the producers in the middle zone are indigenous (Kichwa). The largest (p ≤ 0.01) average household size (6.7 household members) and the highest level of household heads without schooling (16%) were found in the same area. Heads of households over 54 years of age were reported throughout the gradient. The largest farms were also found in the middle zone, with an average of 62.3 ha, of which an average of 32.9 ha is native forest, 2.1 ha is agricultural land, and 27.2 ha is cattle pasture. The household economy is driven by a greater investment in livestock in the upper area, and therefore their annual gross income has a high impact on their economy. With these results, this study presents recommendations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals