Anomalous sea surface warming along the Ecuadorian coastline and the insular region continues to disrupt prey availability and marine wildlife behavior. In this context, the unusual arrival of seabirds in coastal and urban areas has raised concerns among local communities and conservation experts alike.
The first edition of the Planeta Manglar (Planet Mangrove) Congress concluded after three days that brought together researchers, environmental law experts, managers, and communities around one of the most strategic ecosystems on the Ecuadorian coast.
In the framework of World Environment Day commemorations, research professors from the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) provided their technical perspectives in a television report focused on the urgency of curbing carbon emissions and protecting ecosystem services in the country.
In a recent news feature for the Ecuador Megadiverso segment, Julián Pérez, a research professor at the Life Sciences Faculty (LFS), highlighted the biological richness of the "La Boca" area in San Clemente, Manabí. This region, where the river meets the sea, is home to more than 300 bird species, making it a natural laboratory for conservation and sustainable tourism.
Under the leadership of the Life Sciences Faculty (FLS), the Aquaforest project continues to set milestones in the country's coastal conservation. This initiative, launched in 2022, utilizes dredged sediments to create new mangrove ecosystems, promoting a nature-based solution for climate resilience.
Within the framework of the institutional project "Assessment of the Conservation Status of PASNAP Emblematic Areas," the National Institute of Biodiversity (INABIO) convened expert researchers for a technical review of biological monitoring methodologies in Ecuador's coastal and marine protected areas.
Under the motto "Diving for Science," various stakeholders from the underwater community gathered on February 5th for the "Noche de Buzos Ecuador" (Divers' Night Ecuador) event. This initiative, designed as an integration space for professionals and ocean enthusiasts, focused on the exchange of knowledge regarding the preservation of marine ecosystems.
Our research technician, León Vergara, represented Ecuador at the 21st edition of the International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA 2025), the most prominent global scientific event dedicated to the study of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
On September 17, 2025, the official launch of the project “Mollusk Depuration in Ecuador for Food Security and Market Expansion” took place. This initiative is driven by the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) and Ghent University (UGent), with the support of the Technical University of Machala, the Technical University of Manabí, and the State University of Southern Manabí.
On June 26, biologist Michelle Vela, a teaching technician from the Faculty of Life Sciences (FCV) at ESPOL, gave a talk to the university community regarding her participation in the regional training course on Blue Carbon and nuclear and isotopic techniques for coastal ecosystem management, held in Cayo Santa María and the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba.
