Iberoamerican Environment & Sustainability Journal

Perspectives and challenges of environmental education in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela

2025-06-09T20:58:02+00:00

Environmental education had its origins, most frequently, in the 1972 Stockholm Conference convened by the United Nations out of concern for the ecological hazards arising from prevailing economic development, disproportionate industrialization, and population growth. In the current context, marked by unprecedented environmental challenges such as climate change, environmental education is consolidated as an essential process for achieving sustainable development. The objective of the research was to substantiate the prospects and challenges of environmental education in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. A qualitative methodology was applied with an analysis of the realities of each country, for which a multiple case study was conducted, identifying similarities and differences among them. Representative aspects of public and educational policies in each nation were taken into account. Document analysis was also employed, which enabled the review of technical and legal documents, as well as scientific articles on the topic under study. Similarly, a comparative analysis was considered in the selected countries to verify the perspectives and challenges of environmental education.

Reflections on the article ecosystemic approach in education for biodiversity conservation

2025-01-29T16:42:11+00:00

The loss of biodiversity demands that professionals participate responsibly in its conservation through their comprehensive training. Therefore, the objective of this essay was to share theoretical reflections on the application of the ecosystem approach in biodiversity conservation education, the result of the doctoral thesis "Education for Biodiversity Conservation in Field Practices," Bachelor of Education, Biology, adopting a mixed methodological approach. The analysis allowed for a qualitative and quantitative understanding and description of the phenomenon under study. The conclusions highlighted that the ecosystem approach facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the processes, relationships, and interactions of dependency established among the components of biodiversity, as well as among abiotic elements and the rest of the environment. Likewise, the participation of students in the resolution and transformation of environmental problems and their self-recognition as a biopsychosocial element of ecosystems is highlighted, which favors the conservation of biodiversity in the local context as a contribution to sustainable development.

Environmental knowledge and behavior of cane growers as an adaptive response to climate change in Junín, Manabí, Ecuador

2025-01-30T01:00:37+00:00

This research was conducted at the Agua Fria site, Junín canton, Manabí, Ecuador. The objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental knowledge and behavior of sugarcane producers as an adaptive response to climate change during the 2024 period. The research used descriptive, non-experimental, field, bibliographic-documentary methods with a mixed approach. Thus, the initial environmental knowledge and behavior of sugarcane growers was diagnosed through an eight-question survey conducted with 25 producers. Subsequently, environmental knowledge and behavior were strengthened through a learning-by-doing strategy, through eight-week, weekly training workshops. Finally, the impact of the environmental strategy was evaluated through a pre- and post-training test. It was evident that before the training, 68% of the sugarcane growers obtained regular grades (1.00-4.00 points); While after the training, their learning level improved significantly, reaching 64% of grades with excellent and outstanding criteria (8.01 - 10.00 points), thus contributing to the improvement of the adaptive response to climate change of sugarcane growers.

Richness, abundance and activity of wild mammals captured in a waterhole, Sendero El Cornizuelo, Costa Rica

2025-06-23T15:31:56+00:00

The climate crisis is driving the largest mass extinction of biodiversity due to factors such as water stress. The tropical dry forest is one of the ecosystems most at risk. In Costa Rica, the tropical dry forest is located in the North Pacific region, where this research was conducted to determine the richness, relative abundance, and activity periods of wild mammals by building a watering hole supplied by a rainwater harvesting system as a conservation alternative. This reservoir was used as a strategic site to deploy two camera traps during 2022 and 2023; 17 species were reported, of which four had the highest relative abundance. The activity periods reflected a greater presence of species in the months of January to April, when most mammals are nocturnal. Of the 17 mammal species, two are in danger of extinction in Costa Rica. The largest number of mammals was recorded during the dry season, with March being the month with the highest number of reports. Forest reserves on university campuses, such as the El Cornizuelo Trail, are a conservation alternative.

Conceptual hydrological model for the dynamic characterization of the Palo Verde National Park wetland, Costa Rica

2025-04-22T21:03:24+00:00

The research focused on the Palo Verde National Park wetland, a key ecosystem that acts as a boundary between aquatic and terrestrial systems and is considered a Ramsar site of international importance. The general objective of the research was to develop a conceptual hydrological model for the annual dynamic characterization of the wetland. This wetland, located in the Chorotega region, depends on the hydrological regime of the area, with marked variations between the rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, the volumes of water increase, which was identified through satellite images from Sentinel 2, while in the dry season the vegetation replaces the body of water. The QGis software was used to delimit and characterize the subbasins that feed the wetland, highlighting higher flows in the Bebedero river basin compared to the Tempisque river. In addition, field measurements were made to record water levels and meteorological data from the Los Negritos station were analyzed, finding a relationship between temperature and evapotranspiration, as well as the influence of precipitation. The data obtained allowed the development of a conceptual hydrological model, delimiting the variables that influence the dynamics of the wetland, mainly seasonality.

Multidimensional perspectives on the morphology of peripheral neighborhoods in Tunja, Colombia

2025-03-24T15:18:26+00:00

The research was carried out in three peripheral neighborhoods of the city of Tunja (Altos de Cooservicios, Altamira, and Santa Elena). Its objective was to analyze the social, economic and ecological issues affecting these areas through a cartographic survey and specific assessment forms. The methodology combined planimetric analysis, field visits, photographic records, and informal interviews, allowing the identification of key factors such as inadequate access, encroachment on public spaces, and security problems. Descriptive and correlational techniques were applied to examine the relationships among the collected variables and prioritize the most critical issues. The results show that the morphological conditions and socioeconomic characteristics of each neighborhood are strongly linked to the observed levels of vulnerability, as well as to their interaction with adjacent neighborhoods. In the discussion, emphasis is placed on the importance of differentiated interventions in each neighborhood, considering topography, connectivity, and community participation to achieve more effective and sustainable solutions. Likewise, the practical implications of the findings are underscored. Finally, the conclusions highlight the usefulness of the proposed methodology as a replicable tool in similar urban contexts, along with its potential to guide public policies and intervention strategies focused on the needs of peripheral communities.

Tools for the Sustainable Management of Territories. Case Study: Constanza Municipality, Dominican Republic

2025-07-01T19:52:24+00:00

Toolboxes are methodologies that establish concrete actions for a specific context, facilitating the resolution of specific problems. Therefore, the objective of this research was to define practical tools that support sustainable municipal management and can be implemented by decision-makers without the necessary technical knowledge, according to the needs of the territory and its social, economic, and natural context. The research defined 18 tools, correlated with 12 variables related to Optimal Land Use and Territorial Planning, equivalent to a 60.68% correlation. The lower the correlation percentage, the higher the degree of sustainability; this degree was established by mapping these tools with the 2030 Agenda. The proposed toolbox should address prioritized problems through a participatory territorial diagnosis. After systematizing and categorizing the information, valuable inputs were obtained for territorial planning, the design and implementation of the Municipal Development Plan, and optimal land use.

Evaluation of the sustainability of the productive systems of the A'i Cofán Dureno community

2025-07-01T18:56:51+00:00

The study assessed the sustainability of the production systems of the A'i Cofán Dureno community, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture methodology proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was used. This community faces environmental challenges (ecological, economic, and social) arising from activities such as oil extraction, deforestation, and illegal mining. Through interviews and questionnaires, the following dimensions were assessed: Environmental Integrity, Social Well-being, Economic Resilience, and Good Governance. The results reveal that the community faces significant challenges in managing its natural resources, particularly in biodiversity conservation and water management. However, positive aspects such as fair-trade practices and domestic animal welfare stand out. This study underscores the importance of applying sustainability assessment tools in indigenous communities to promote equitable development and minimize negative environmental impacts.

Methodology for crop zoning with sustainability criteria based on freely accessible geographic information for Colombia

2024-11-30T20:06:40+00:00

The proposed methodology for crop zoning with sustainability criteria is based on action-research and begins by identifying the minimum parameters expected from a sustainable production model. These parameters are then classified to identify which of them can be applied to a zoning context through the use of geographic information systems and which depend on the implementation of good practices by producers. Finally, the process of analyzing the available information is carried out and the possible sources of geographic information are revealed. Therefore, a zoning model with sustainability criteria is proposed that uses geographic information available in Colombia, such as soil, climate, land use, protected areas, indigenous territories and poverty levels; all with the aim of providing a useful tool for decision-making in production chains, promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.

Evaluation of bacteria of the genus Bacillus in the quality of compost, from leaf litter waste

2025-01-23T22:55:10+00:00

In this research, bacteria of the Bacillus genus and their impact on the quality of the compost were evaluated. For this purpose, the physicochemical properties of the experimental material were characterized, the organic matter was selected, and the bacteria were reactivated. 4 treatments with 4 repetitions each were used. Compost maturity analyzes were carried out by determining humidity; Likewise, the phytotoxicity test was applied to lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) considered for the study. The results show that the relationship between the analyzed parameters (temperature, humidity, pH, electrical conductivity and germination percentage) and the treatments present an important interaction between the quality of the compost; Furthermore, the germination percentage, germination time and root length show that the bacteria used in the research did not have a major impact on the development of these variables, since none of the factors or interactions had a significant statistical effect. It is concluded that bacteria play an essential role in the compost maturation process, decomposing organic matter into simpler and more stable nutrients for the formation of humus, a key component for soil fertility and plant development.

Mapping of great erosion in cities of Kinshasa and Brazzaville, Equatorial Africa

2024-09-11T02:53:31+00:00

Since the 1980s, gullies have been a problem for the cities of Kinshasa and Brazzaville, whose research presents the case of 3 gullies located in the Congo River Basin in urban and peri-urban areas. The objective of the research was to present a digital model of elevation of urban gullies, with topographic data used in engineering projects for future recovery. The acquisition of topographic data was carried out through the Google Earth Pro software and the QGIS geographic information system, with data processing for visualization in the Golden Surfer software. The Laloux gully located in Kinshasa is one of the largest in the world, with a length of 1,100 m and a 3-way format. The mouth of the city of Brazzaville has a width of less than 40 m, but is more than 900 m long, in a densely populated area. The Buma gully in Kinshasa is an example of the development of the erosive process in a peri-urban area, with the expansion of one of the largest cities on the African continent, being induced by the existence of a road on a slope.

Editorial

2025-09-15T20:31:28+00:00

Sustainable tourism in the comuna of Chile Chico, Patagonia National Park, Chile

2025-06-01T15:39:42+00:00

Tourism is an activity that has been developing for centuries. Among the most frequented sites are protected areas, whether parks or nature reserves. Chile Chico is a commune located in the far south of Chile and close to Patagonia National Park, where tourism has been limited by regional development. Therefore, the objective of the research was to analyze the development of sustainable tourism in this area. Tourism operators and entrepreneurs were analyzed through perception surveys using the cadastre model to obtain a clear view of tourism development in the area. An initial cadastre revealed high tourism potential, along with challenges such as access and a heterogeneous implementation of sustainable practices that contribute to local economic development. Chile Chico's potential to foster tourism development was recognized, along with the optimistic outlook of the various tourism stakeholders in the face of adversity, and the need to balance the priorities of the community, visitors, and the natural environment. Understanding this situation is crucial for designing strategies that harmonize tourism development with nature conservation and long-term community benefits.

Waste management strategies and challenges: a global view from university rankings

2025-05-16T15:50:24+00:00

Universities have an important role in generating and transmitting knowledge to advance sustainability; this research addressed university contributions in the area of “waste” based on university rankings. The objective was to compile, analyze and compare strategies and results in the area of waste through the analysis of two highly recognized rankings. To this end, a descriptive cross-sectional design was carried out in three phases. The UI GreenMetric and THE-IR rankings were chosen, the 40 best evaluated universities in waste management in 2022 were studied. The results revealed that universities established in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) have better waste management, 80% were located in Europe and 20% in the Americas. A similar trend was found in Mexico, where the north and center have better development and management conditions. Minimization campaigns, separation categories, collection, disposal, research and publications on the subject were identified and compared. It was concluded that there is a need to promote in Mexico projects that design, apply and manage waste transformation processes to achieve maximum utilization and a reduction in final disposal.

Impact of parabolic trough solar collectors in the Guairá sugar industry in reducing unsustainable biomass consumption

2024-11-13T20:46:00+00:00

The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the installation of parabolic trough solar collector technology in the sugar industry of the Department of Guairá, the main sugarcane production region of Paraguay, in reducing the consumption of firewood from native forests. By processing climatological data from the city of Tebicuary, obtained from the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) tool, a solar field has been sized to be inserted in a hybridization process to the cogeneration system of a sugar plant. With this, a hybrid model was established, whose response to solar irradiation was simulated with the Transient System Simulation Tool (TRNSYS) software. The site's solar resource is sufficient to obtain saturated steam to be superheated at high pressure. The implementation of solar technology through this model would allow annually saving an area of native forests of between 42,252.58 ha to 79,223.59 ha for average and maximum consumption of auxiliary energy respectively. The results obtained constitute a reference in terms of the use of solar resources with a potential positive impact on the environment, similar studies can be carried out in other industries and areas of the country.