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Colombian industrial sector is widely recognized as a good example of a diversified economy. At present, Colombian government is seeking to deepen this outstanding feature by favouring activities in new sectors intensive in knowledge and capital. Biotechnology offers an opportunity to integrate its great biological diversity into research and development (R&D) activities. A public policy paper published last year depicts a set of activities considered essential to achieve the consolidation of biotechnological sector in Colombia. On the other hand, past and current activities deployed in the context of so called Bio Trade initiatives have demonstrated to offer little space to R&D activities by public sector research institutions. This paper aims to illustrate the importance of up-stream research undertaken by public sector research institutions as well as the relevance of Intellectual property management as enabling tools for the consolidation of biotechnological sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper identifies the links between transnational municipal networks and international agreements in the environmental arena. It is taken for granted that transnational municipal networks support global environmental action and the process of sustainable development, in particular giving access to resources, with technical support and knowledge, but to what extent international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, or the Convention on Biological Diversity guide the action of these networks? The research resorts to content analysis to examine the goals, mission, and published documents of two networks in particular, ICLEI and Mercosur, in the search for clear connections with the intergovernmental level. The paper contributes to the understanding of the role of transnational municipal networks in environmental governance, identifying through abductive reasoning the diffusion of norm from the international to the local level and underlining the importance of the role of international, national and local actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the beginning of its republican life, the development of biological sciences in Costa Rica has been strongly influenced by hundreds of foreign naturalists and scientists who have carried out exploration, research, and publication activities in relation to its biodiversity. Objective: To better understand their contributions, in this paper we take an historical tour, with emphasis on the last century and a half, regarding the motivations that attracted these people to Costa Rica, as well as their specific scientific contributions. Methods: Six criteria were followed to address this issue: a) whether they were residents or itinerants; b) if they had a frequent relationship with Costa Rica; c) if they collected specimens; d) the type of publication; and e) whether to implement teaching or institutional management. Results: Therefore, the information is organized into six large sections, structured chronologically as follows: the first inventories of the biodiversity of Costa Rica (1513-1842), the recognition of biological sciences in Costa Rican culture (1839-1848), the insertion of biological sciences in Costa Rican culture (1854-1886), the institutionalization of the biological sciences in Costa Rica (1886-1900), Costa Rica as a mecca for biological explorations (1900-1957), and the training of professionals in biological sciences (1940-2021). Conclusion: This periodization allows us to contextualize the contributions of those naturalists or scientists in time, as well as to better visualize the economic, social and political events and circumstances that conditioned their scientific work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistently high rate of failure in development projects involving local communities in the Peruvian Amazon over recent decades has not prevented the recurrence of these same mistakes year after year, resulting in significant social, environmental, and economic impacts, despite claims of 'sustainability' and 'inclusivity' by many. This paper analyses the factors contributing to this failure, with a particular focus on the lack of understanding of the Amazonian reality and the absence of environmental and cultural relevance in development models imported from other regions. As an alternative approach, we propose the promotion of bio-entrepreneurship initiatives led by families and community interest groups in the Amazonian communities. These initiatives should preferably involve non-timber forest resources, in alignment with the 'forest-oriented' profile of traditional Amazonian societies. Additionally, the application of culturally pertinent technologies and other solutions is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchard is the place where a colossal diversity of food, medicinal plants, condiment, flowers, and wood are cultivated. Based on the orographic conditions, climates, and cultural dynamics of each region, related, farming knowledge is objectified. This paper analyzes the orchard territorial scale in Figueroa, Cauca, social scenario in which agricultural praxis is carried out, which articulates conservation and resistance practices, carried out day-to-day. The method of research is ethnographic, based on the role of ethnographer as assistant-companion in the orchard, and the use of techniques such as participant observation, direct interviews, and ethnographic interviews. Based on the field work, the orchard is identified as a biodiverse place, where there is a complex network of actions and thoughts, whose core axis is the defense of nature and territory, that is, life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural activity increases productivity and profitability while increasing environmental costs. However, if the sustainability of ecosystems is altered, they will become degraded systems and will eventually stop providing services. This insufficiency will generate a reduction in the inherent capacity of ecosystems to sustain not only economic activity but also other human activities. The aim of this paper is to assess the incidence of agriculturization on the provision of ecosystem services in the Environmental Units of Tandil, for the periods 1989-2004 and 2004-2019. Sustainability indicators adapted from the AgroEcoIndex Software were used to determine which are the landscape areas where the application of criteria related to environmental management is crucial. In particular, the state of provision of biodiversity conservation services and the quality of soil and water is assessed. The indicators used show a worsening in the provision of these services by 29% and 11.48% accordingly in the period under study. It is essential to determine priority conservation areas, to incorporate good agricultural practices and to diversify control techniques beyond exclusively chemical control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Environmental compensation is a technical-legal instrument of environmental management used to offset damage due to non-reversible and unavoidable impacts. Usually, offset regulations are included in national environmental legislations. This paper summarizes environmental compensation legislation in Costa Rica, a country with a recognized conservation tradition and environmental awareness. Our goal is to describe how compensation is formulated in that country and identify possible regulations gaps. Methods: We carried out a systematic review of environmental legislation through the Costa Rican Legal Information System (http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/avanzada_pgr.aspx), considering both regulations and pronouncements on compensation measures and mitigation. Results: The Political Constitution of Costa Rica recognizes a healthy environment as a fundamental right for all citizens. At least seven laws dealing with environmental issues and their respective regulations are currently enforced. This bulky legislation aims to protect natural resources by regulating their use and creating an assemblage of protected wild areas. However, the legislation is somewhat repetitive and open to interpretation, facilitating confusion. Actions requiring compensation are regulated in a general way, making it difficult to establish when and how to apply them. In addition, compensation is considered based on when the damage is identified and not on its level of environmental impact. Furthermore, the regulations do not make explicit the principles and goals that support the compensatory measures or how they should be carried out, briefly mentioning some actions that do not ensure that the net environmental loss is zero. Conclusions: This review reveals the need to standardize the mechanisms to determine compensatory measures at the regulatory level, also analyzing the strategies that will be followed to ensure proportionality and ecological equivalence. The legislation must emphasize the importance of compensation as a positive practice, which must be incorporated within the guidelines of the Environmental Impact Study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On January 15, 2022, an oil spill occurred at the multi-buoy terminal 2 of La Pampilla refinery, Ventanilla (Lima -- Peru), during the Mare Doricum tanker crude oil unloading operation. This research is based on documentary analysis, its empirical, exploratory, explanatory orientation, linked to real and predictive phenomena. The evaluation period runs from January 15 to March 30, 2022. The affected area includes 1 840 490m2 of land and 7 139 571m2 of marine habitats along public use beaches. The crude oil impact extends from Ventanilla to Chancay, including the Ancon Reserved Zone and a portion of the Guano Islands, Islets, and Mainland Point System National Reserve. Biodiversity made up of algae, marine and fish invertebrates, birds, and mammals have been affected at different intensity levels. The number of affected species would range between 300 and 500 species. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the oil spill on the biological diversity of coastal habitats from Ventanilla to Chancay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As documented evidence of society in the last two hundred years, photographic records concern both biodiversity and cultural diversity. However, in the field of social sciences their effects on biodiversity and cultural diversity have been little studied. Furthermore, being aware of such elements and their interplay in photography will allow both photographers and social scientists to better conduct their photographic interpretation. Consequently, this academic paper proposes few ways to assess and value the interaction of components of cultural heritage, underlying every single photo image, and their linkage with both biodiversity and cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coffee is a highly mycotrophic plant, its interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has been studied among different tropical countries. The majority of the published works indicates that coffee is benefited from the mycorrhizal association, where the AMF confers protection against pathogens and diseases, increases water absorption, as well as it increases the adaptation of the plant at transplant from nurseries to the main plantation. Objective: A review was made where we summarized and analyze the research reports of AMF with coffee from at least the past 10 years, focused on AMF global species distribution, nutritional benefits of the association and interaction with pathogens. Methods: We retrieved available bibliographic data from coffee producer countries in public databases. We considered published works from 2000 to 2019, nevertheless, we included classic papers on the topic, outside that period, mainly the ones performed in Brazil since 1986. We organized the number of reported species per country, we look for synonyms, grouped them by family, genera and species. The reports that only reported genera or where ambiguous were used as reference but not considered for the final analysis. We summarized the reports of the benefits of the AMF interaction in coffee, as well as pathogen tolerance. Results: The collected data shows that there are more than 100 AMF species associated with coffee, which represents more than a third part of the total of reported species worldwide. We found that Colombia has the highest richness, but it also has the highest number of published reports. Conclusions: This information shows the benefits of the incorporation of AMF to coffee plantation programs, because these fungi are a key element in coffee plant nutrition, nevertheless, the coffee variety should be considered when introducing AMF, as not all associations has been efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the normative design, which regulates research in Colombia and the practices of researchers from an ethical approach, by addressing critical issues in the health sciences, social sciences, and environmental disciplines, to conclude that it is necessary to strengthen state control in these issues, the updating of the regulations and greater training of researchers and members of Ethics Committees in research, especially in the protection of participants, animal care, conflicts of interest, the management of communities, and vulnerable groups, community protocols, informed consent, prior consultation, biodiversity care, and access to genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to introduce students to tree-thinking through a ludic activity. Phylogenetic trees are the appropriate way to explain biodiversity under the theoretical framework of current evolutionary hypothesis and they should take a central place in public understanding of evolution. Misinterpretation of phylogenies plus the unavailability of didactic material in Spanish for teachers ends up in the reproduction of misunderstandings on the evolutionary theory. The combination of these errors with epistemological problems of evolutionary theories learning generates even more confusion in these subjects. The ludic activity as a learning process provides powerful tools when it comes to acquiring concepts that require abstraction in contents. Educational natural science games, both classical and modern approaches as Game-based learning theory, provide a sense of achievement to players/apprentices and they improve knowledge acquisition. In this context, the activity proposed here invites students to think under the scientific method and it allows them to assimilate abstract concepts by the resolution of evolutionary riddles. This activity gives the concepts to introduce scholars to the study of evolutionary processes, and the diversity of life on Earth under the current educational paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the New Rurality approach as conceptual framework, this paper analized the participative and deliberative process of developing a Proyecto Educativo Institucional (PEI) (Institutional Educative Plan) in a rural school in Tranapuente, Southern Chile. This research uses a qualitative design to study the relation between the school of Tranapuente and the rural communities where the school is located, describing the products of the process: Mission and vision of the school, main curricular areas (diversity, intercultural, relation school community and participative management of the schools). Finally, this paper analyzes how these products are conditions to rebuild the purpose and meanings of the school with the final purpose of improve curriculum and intercultural learning of the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a research work carried out with students from the Bachelor of Arts in Biology and people of Witoto-Muruy ethnicity from the town of La Chorrera, Department of Amazonas, the main goal of which is to recognize the conceptions of biodiversity and the care practices that contribute to the discussion regarding the biocultural memory of the country and to the reflections required for the training of biology teachers. A qualitative method with an interpretive-hermeneutic approach was used. Field diaries, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, visual records and identification of social actors were used as techniques and tools, which enabled the establishment of an open dialogue about the ways of conceiving biodiversity, care practices and their articulation with the territory. Among these results, it is worth highlighting the importance of culture and the ways that social groups give meaning to biodiversity and how to coexist with other forms of existence in the territory, as well as care practices, which are expressed in the ways of understanding the world, inhabiting it, producing it, and caring for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although being one of the most elusive reptiles in Mexico, Beaded Lizards are also one of the most famous, due to some biological peculiarities as the presence of venom glands and its colorful aspect. In this paper we gathered scientific literature about one of the mythic species inhabiting our country to favor its protection through scientific knowledge divulgation. î‚Še literature show a significant amount of knowledge about this species, but also the need to investigate key aspects in order to ensure the conservation of beaded lizards; for example, habitat disturbances sensitivity and habitat requirements, beaded lizard-human interaction dynamics, medical applications and genetic variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present the Pucciniales found in paramos of Antioquia on the Cyperaceae family. Collections were made of parasitized plants by Pucciniales in páramos of Antioquia Department with altitudes from 2800 to 4050 masl.; of the 136 collected materials, a total of 18 belonged to the Cyperaceae family. The spore states were observed under the stereomicroscope to have information about sori and from there micropreparations were made in lactoglycerin through free-hand sections and scrapings, 40 measurements were made of each of the structures found under the microscope and images were taken with a digital camera coupled. Results obtained include the description of the new species Puccinia sonsonensis; the first registration for Colombia of Puccinia caricina, Puccinia dioicae and Puccinia cephalotes, and first time record of species of the genus Carex parasitized by rust in Colombia. The results provide a additional argument the urgency of preservation and continuous study for such areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main conclusion of this paper is that the Resolution 970 from March 10, 2010 of the Colombian Institute for Agriculture obeys a model of development that threatens the biodiversity conservation, particularly the seed diversity. In reaching this conclusion, this paper describes the situation of agrobiodiversity in Colombia and analyses the norms of that Resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes from an ethno-ecological point of view, based on qualitative and quantitative approaches, the local environment perceptions related to wildlife management and conservation practices in three protected areas with different backgrounds of management in the province of Córdoba, central Argentina. A list of species of ethnobiological interest were developed through the mention from different social actors (native population, foreign population and conservation agents) people who reside or are linked to the environmental units under study. Semi-structured interviews, deep interviews, and participant observation were used to obtain information. In order to identify priority species for conservation and wildlife management in different areas, considering the traditional ethnoecological knowledge of different social actors, we designed an Index of Local Conservation Priority (ILCP) that set a local ranking of species. This shows some differences in relation to the categories provided by conservation agencies. A total of 104 species of fauna listed among birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates for which different perceptions regarding the importance, conservation and retraction (decrease in the frequency of finding) of these were determined was obtained, the variations manifest themselves criteria of relevance and usefulness native and introduced taxa. The knowledge, use, cultural significance and local ethnoecological assessment, are guiding in the decision making for both ecological and cultural conservation of the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes from an ethno-ecological point of view, based on qualitative and quantitative approaches, the local environment perceptions related to wildlife management and conservation practices in three protected areas with different backgrounds of management in the province of Córdoba, central Argentina. A list of species of ethnobiological interest were developed through the mention from different social actors (native population, foreign population and conservation agents) people who reside or are linked to the environmental units under study. Semi-structured interviews, deep interviews, and participant observation were used to obtain information. In order to identify priority species for conservation and wildlife management in different areas, considering the traditional ethnoecological knowledge of different social actors, we designed an Index of Local Conservation Priority (ILCP) that set a local ranking of species. This shows some differences in relation to the categories provided by conservation agencies. A total of 104 species of fauna listed among birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates for which different perceptions regarding the importance, conservation and retraction (decrease in the frequency of finding) of these were determined was obtained, the variations manifest themselves criteria of relevance and usefulness native and introduced taxa. The knowledge, use, cultural significance and local ethnoecological assessment, are guiding in the decision making for both ecological and cultural conservation of the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the treatment of the concept of ecosystem services in textbooks of middle and high schools from Spain. We reviewed scientific publications from a "community of experts" in order to define their conceptual frameworks, which act as epistemological referents along the didactic transposition. The majority of 50 analyzed textbooks mentioned some particular goods or ecosystem service examples, but only 10% of these defined their concept (especially earth and environmental science textbooks). These findings are related to the lack of conceptualization in the official curriculum. Direct services from ecosystems were treated more frequently than indirect ones. In addition, rainforests were found to be almost the sole providers of ecosystem goods, as there being an under-representation of the social, cultural and religious values of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isla del Coco (also known as Cocos Island), Pacific Costa Rica, has been visited and written about since the 16th Century, and since the late 1800's many expeditions and scientists have carried out research in the Island. Here I compiled publications on marine biological, geological, oceanographic and atmospheric research done at Isla del Coco. A list of 599 scientific papers and chapters were compiled, together with 41 books, reports, Special Issues, theses and web sites, and ten historic books with descriptions of marine animals or environments. A mayority of the publications (425 or 66.4%) are related to marine biodiversity topics (species descriptions and lists of species); the most published groups are gastropods (81 papers), decapods (67) and bony fishes (66). There are no publications of several groups of animals that have been observed in the Island, for example free-living flat worms, parasites and nemerteans among others. Other topics with a large number of publications are, biogeography with 65, ecology (61) and geology (48); the most studied ecosystem are coral reefs with 14 papers. More publications are needed on many topics, such as impact of illegal fishing and climate change on Isla del Coco National Park marine flora and fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northwestern corner of Sonora, México, there exists an arid region covered by a volcanic shield that is close to both a singular sea of sand dunes and the Sea of Cortez. Temperature in this place may reach 56.7°C in the summer and -8.3°C during winter. In addition, with only 52 millime- ters of annual rain, one could assume that this is an uninhabited landscape. However, the Desert of Altar and the volcanic shield of El Pinacate has characterized since the Pleistocene Era because of the existence of a singular biodiversity of which many specimens of fauna and flora transcend the current times. For these characteristics of this area, the Mexican government declared it, in 1993, a protected natural area with the name of Biosphere Reserve El Pinacate and the Great Desert of Altar. Moreover, this region has been historically relevant not only because of its physiographic and environmental singularities, but also because of the long presence of man. This place was inhabited by human beings since the Paleoindian and the Late Prehistoric periods, and has repeatedly been explored since the 17th Century to present by missioners, colonizers, gold seekers, hunters, and on the top of all scientists. Among the most important visitors to this land should be mentioned Fray Eusebio Francisco Kino, Carl Lumholtz, William Hornaday and Julian Hayden. This paper presents these two histories, the natural and the cultural, and discusses geological, morphological and physiographic aspects of this reserve, as well as those about biodiversity, early presence of man and ulterior explorations. This paper is the result of a wider project financed by the National Commission for the Protected Natural Areas (CONANP). The purpose of this research was to elaborate a museum exhibition in the Visitors Center of that place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a summarize of Q.96 from the XXV International Congress on Large Dams in Stavanger about "Innovation in the use of dams and reservoirs", analyzing the general reporter speech and the papers selected for oral presentation, placing particular emphasis on those presented by Spanish engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is a current issue. It would appear that TMCF had an extended tradition in ecological research, but it is only during the last 20 years that it has been intensively studied. The last 10 years have seen an impressive development in ecological knowledge and the emergence of several research lines. The objective of this paper is to present a review of the TMCF ecological research published in 1995-2014 to have a retrospective, a current view and a glimpse of future studies in Mexico and, particularly, in the state of Veracruz. Biodiversity and disturbance have been the most addressed issues in TMCF. In the last decade, following disturbance and habitat loss of the TMCF, more applied topics such as ecological restoration and ecosystem services have been consolidated. Forthcoming topics will be relating forest resilience with forest processes, components and climate change effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Salta, the puna vegetation studies are specific, sporadic, and often lack a complete picture of the floristic diversity. The objectives of this paper are to present the floristic diversity in Tocomar and Campo Amarillo, compare the biodiversity of the area of study with what is documented for Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, and analyze the indexes of similarities between the floristic vegas studied and those of other similar environments. The Non-wetlands include the grass steppes, shrub steppes and shrub hillside, and the wetlands include vegas. 30 families, 72 genera, 116 species, 19 infraspecific taxa and nine endemic species were recorded. The main families are Poaceae (26 species), Asteraceae (18) and Cyperaceae (9). 18 new records for the province of Salta are incorporated, of which four are Argentine endemisms. The floristic biodiversity of families, genera and species is higher than that documented for other floristically related sites, are concentrated in the analyzed vegas. The vegas had higher floristic similarity to the vegas of Northern Chile and Jujuy, while the lower affinity was recorded with the vegas of Catamarca, San Juan, Mendoza and Bolivia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombia is the most diverse Neotropical country of Gesneriaceae. Nevertheless, there are gaps in knowledge of the distribution patterns and ecology of this family because of their taxonomic complexity. A list of the Gesneriaceae of the Quindío department with data for habitat and altitudinal distribution is presented in this paper. The herbarium collections of the Herbario Nacional Colombiano (COL) and the Herbario de la Universidad del Quindío (HUQ) were reviewed and fieldwork was carried out between 2009 and 2014 in 70 localities of Quindío. Forty three species and 11 genera were found, with a larger representation of Columnea, Besleria and Kohleria genera; nine species were new records for the Quindío; three were endemic and five species are new to science. The greatest richness was found in the montane forest between 1800 and 2400 masl, mainly in forested areas and streams. The results of this work constitute a baseline to conduct research in ecology, conservation and ornamental potential of Gesneriaceae occurring in Quindío. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombian amazon has a wide biologic diversity, with silvester and cultured species which use potential and abundance identified them as an important bioactive compounds source. That represents a wide opportunity to innovate and develop processes and technologies in different engineering fields (chemical, mechanical and food engineering). This paper presents experiences when the problem of sustainable use of biodiversity is tackled from engineering in the Colombian amazonic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a list of the aquatic insects collected from Urugua-i Provincial Park. This study aims to Improve the knowledge of this protected area located in Misiones Province. One hundred and thirty-six species of aquatic insects in 75 genera, 26 families and seven orders were recorded. New records for the province and for Argentina are listed, and the records of new species are mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to understand more accurately the contradictions, agreements and challenges of the conservation models of maize biodiversity through the analysis of the technological paradigm applied in the Programa Maiz Solidario in Los Altos de Chiapas. Using concepts from the Actor-Network-Theory, we used a focus group with the stakeholders involved in the Program's implementation whose speeches were grouped in seven controversies. The main conclusions value the notion of sociotechnical network for this kind of analysis and the need to establish epistemological agreements into the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As demonstrated by several assessment studies carried out during the first decade of the 21st-century, Mexico still holds a very significant biological wealth. However, this ecological richness is at risk of being lost due to an accelerated rate of natural resource use, a fast-growing rural and urban population, a weak legal protection provided by Mexican environmental legislation, and a still quite inaccurate knowledge of biodiversity from a spatial standpoint, a problem that is specifically addressed in this paper. It thus proposes a new methodology to reveal, from a cartographic perspective, the biological richness of San Luis Potosí State, based on a synthetic weighing of a set of biotic and abiotic variables. This methodological proposal and the results depicted here show how this cartographic tool can be fruitfully used to design strategies for natural resource conservation and local development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family Aphelinidae is one of the most important in the biological control of insect pests at world level. It includes 34 genera and around 1,300 species, with 12 genera and 184 species in Mexico. Genus Encarsia is the most diverse with 409 species and 94 in Mexico. In this paper, three new species of this genus are described and illustrated: E. antennata sp. n. from Baja California Sur, E. caudata sp. n. from Nuevo Leon, and E. oaxaca sp. n. from Oaxaca and Tamaulipas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic, productive and economic variability have made the dwellers of Salinas Grandes (Catamarca) adopt diversification strategies for economic activities, implementing multiple use systems, due to the great diversity of environments and resources. The objective of this paper is to analyze the relationships between conditional variables and economic diversification, and to identify life strategies that have set the communities to adopt multiple use systems in Salinas Grandes. Rapid rural diagnoses were made over 81 families from 13 communities of this region. We calculated land use areas for each community, and made floristic censuses over five characteristic environments. With the obtained data, we built economic diversity and biodiversity indexes; we made regressions among the obtained variables. The farmers that raise cattle diversify less because they can capitalize of decapitalize depending on the situation. The ones that cannot perform this activity, due mainly to ecological conditions of their lands, must diversify their production, mainly by goat raising. Total land incomes depend basically on land area and not on vegetation diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an update to the knowledge on the diversity of this department's herpetofauna and an analysis of the distribution of species richness according to Holdridge's ecological life zone system, altitudinal ranges and ecoregions. To meet this aims, records were taken by researchers from the available literature, biological collections, observations and field recordings. Based on the obtained data, analyzes of eta richness and diversity were performed. There were a total of 333 species recorded (187 amphibians and 146 reptiles). We found that the greatest species richness of herpetofauna is concentrated in the Pacific region. Species richness of both reptiles and amphibians decreased with increasing altitude range. Furthermore, the life zone with the highest species richness was the Premontane rain forest with warm transition. The areas that presented the highest species richness have features that enable a high diversity of species; however, it must also be taken into account that these areas are the ones with the biggest land extension within Valle del Cauca (Colombia), and that they are where most studies have been focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United Nations conference on environment and development, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity, which obliges the signatory States to combat the extinction of species throughout the world. Its executive secretary said: "the services that nature offers us are free, but the man has a deep unconscious of what he represents their destruction [...] If humanity does not brake to the degradation of biodiversity, the legacy for future generations will be mortgaged [...] must have the courage to look our children in the eye and admit failure [...] admit that we continue losing biodiversity at an unprecedented pace, we are mortgaging their future". Words that initialed by premonitions future about the treatment of the extinction of a large part of the existing biodiversity, that if we do not a treatment, their destruction would speed up and we would be going against the new scheme of sustainable development. In this paper, I analyze and discuss from the perspective of social rights, environmental, and economic, compliance with subparagraphs (c) and (d) of article 10 of the said convention in the native communities of the Peruvian Amazon, an area of permanent armed con ict between the Peruvian State and the native communities. The work consists of six parts. The first explains the legal framework and jurisprudence; the second covers the methodology, and will draw attention to the method and the approach of hypotheses; the third the theoretical framework, the geographical framework and the gathering of information; The fourth on analysis and interpretation; in the fifth set out an analogy with some of the results of the European Union and countries of south America; in the sixth part formulates some conclusions and new perspectives for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out in October, 2011 and March, 2012. Follow image satellite analyses 41 sites were selected in Ana Maria gulf, south region of Cuba. At these sites an inventory of the corals, gorgonians and sponges were carried out. Health status was analysed for corals. Inventories were carried out in mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs (patch reefs and sand-rocky bottom biotopes) ecosystems. Species richness for corals was 41, 23 for gorgonians and 41 for sponges. More abundant corals species were Porites astreoides, Millepora alcicornis, Siderastrea siderea, Siderastrea radians, Agaricia agaricites and higher diversity was detected in patch reefs (41 species). More abundant gorgonians were Gorgonia ventalina, Erythropodium caribaeorum, Briareum asbestinum and the sponges were Mycale laevis, Cliona aprica, Iotrochota birotulata. Main affectation to coral health was bleaching (21 species experienced bleaching in some degree and only in 51% of sites). In Rabihorcado key and Algodón Grande key, were detected higher recruit abundance. Higher corals species richness was observed in: Algodón Grande key, Manuel Gómez key, Bergantines and Palomo keys. Having these results as base, this paper proposes research corals priorities relate to growth of colonies, connectivity among populations and health status of such populations in Ana Maria gulf-Jardines de la Reina ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico and in other parts of Latin America, a large overlap can be observed between indigenous territories and regions of high biological value. In this paper, we ask if the same overlap can be observed in the state of Jalisco, in western Mexico. To answer this question, we start with a succinct analysis of the two main indigenous regions in rural Jalisco: the Huichol Sierra in the northern part of the state and the Sierra of Manantlán, in the southern part. Then, we extend our analysis to the state in its entirety in order to measure the overlap between indigenous territories that have been "desindianized" and regions of high biological value. This is done by comparing the municipalities that contain agrarian centers designated as "indigenous communities" and the municipalities that areas officially recognized for their ecological importance. A high correlation between these two variables is observed, leading to the question "why". A series of hypotheses is developed and these are contrasted with empirical evidence through a case study of the ejido of Ayotitlán, in the Sierra of Manantlán. Although different forms of environmental degradation can be observed in Ayotitlán, it continues to be one of the best conserved territories in the state of Jalisco, with high levels of biodiversity. This is due, not only to its isolation, but also to the way in which the indigenous inhabitants have interacted with the environment and because of their activism in defense of their territory and natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolivia is regarded as the probable place of origin of the domesticated peanut, and an important world center of unique peanut diversity. As the first published study of its kind on peanut, this paper documents the infraspecific diversity of the crop in its country of origin and center of diverstity. 62 distinct landraces of Bolivian peanut were identified and systematically described. 42 landraces belong to Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. hypogaea var. hypogaea; 17 to A. hypogaea ssp. fastigiata var. fastigiata; one to A. hypogaea ssp. fastigiata var. vulgaris; and two to A. hypogaea ssp. fastigiata var. peruviana. With very few exceptions, the landraces encountered in Bolivia are almost entirely endemic to that country. The most typical peanuts from Bolivia pertain to the landraces "Crema", "Colorado San Simón", "Bayo americano", "Overo", and "Overo carenado", which are widely cultivated throughout the country. A few regions of unusually high peanut diversity can be identified. In the Yungas region of La Paz, 11 landraces were collected, of which three are endemic. In the mountainous regions of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, 18 landraces were collected, of which six are endemic. The Department of Tarija yielded 14 landraces, of which two are endemic. All of the aforementioned landraces pertain to the botanical variety hypogaea. In contrast, the subspecies fastigiata has a remarkable center or diversity in the watershed of the Rio Beni, where 10 landraces were collected in a fairly small area, nine of which are endemic to that region. This monograph is intended to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of peanut diversity, and facilitate the conservation and use of peanut landraces by scientistis, plant breeders, and farmers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The celebration of the bicentenary year of Darwin's birthday and of 150 years since the publication of his book " Origin of the Species" are the initial beginning of the two events that will occur with occasion of the bicentenary of our national Independence, the year of the biodiversity and of the Congress of the Latin American Genetic Association, ALAG 2010, that will take place in Viña del Mar, Chile. The central conceptual pillars of Darwinism, Descendence with modification and Evolution by Natural Selection represent a revolutionary idea and without counterpart to explain the origin and diversity of the living world which overcomes the biological limits and even has a practical application. The main topic of the ALAG Congress is Latin American Biodiversity: man ad his genetic resources, although these topics will be discussed, at the same time the problems concerning the Genetics that Darwin did not know at his time will be dealt with. On the one hand, it explains the causes of individuality and of human diversity, and on the other the genetic resources as the bases for the stability of the eco-system and human welfare. In order to celebrate the year of the bio-diversity it is important to join the exploitation with the conservation of resources, two apparently opposite forces but that nevertheless have the same name concept of sustainability. In order for development to be sustainable, it is necessary to characterize and monitor space temporarily the potential development change of populations and species, property that lies in its genetic qualities. Finally the article deals with the inherent complexity of the organism-phenotype relation and the environment, when the need l of unifying knowledge appears, an aspect that must be dealt with at the ALAG Congress. The founders and forgers of the Chilean evolution and genetics and other relevant actors in a period of great ideological concern the value of the genetics diversity are mentioned at the end of this s paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a list of aquatic and semiaquatic Coleoptera collected during a biodiversity study carried out in Salto Encantado and Valle del Cuñá Pirú Provincial Park. This study aims to improve the knowledge of this protected area located in Misiones Province. Permanent and semi-permanent lotic and lentic habitats were sampled. Seventy-four species of beetles in 44 genera and 14 families were recorded: Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Hydrochidae, Hydrophilidae, Hydraenidae, Staphylinidae, Scirtidae, Psephenidae, Limnichidae, Lutrochidae, Dryopidae and Elmidae. New records for the province and for Argentina are listed, and the presence of new species is mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]