Environmental studies report on forestry impacts in Chile and agricultural systems in Ecuador

In Chile, the expansion of forestry extractivism in the Arauco commune, specifically through the MAPA project, has created territorial fractures. Research indicates that this expansion has impacted water resources, nature, and the health of the community in Los Horcones, the locality closest to the extraction facilities. This has led to an environmental struggle where the community’s pursuit of environmental justice clashes with a techno-economic rationality that views the territory primarily as a space for accumulation.

In Ecuador, a study in the San José de Manglaralto commune, Santa Elena province, compared soil quality and plant health between agroecological and conventional horticultural systems. The research utilized participatory diagnostic methods to evaluate soil structure, moisture, vegetation cover, and pest incidence. The findings suggest that agroecological management may promote greater biological stability, improved soil structure, and lower pest levels, potentially enhancing crop resilience and sustainability in the region.