A Framework to Incorporate Biological Soil Quality Indicators into Assessing the Sustainability of Territories in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Thony Huera-Lucero,José Blanco-Salas,Juana Labrador-Moreno,Trinidad Ruiz-Téllez

doi:10.3390/su12073007

Abstract

In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes is leading to irreversible situations from an environmental perspective. The objective of this paper was to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas. Since the literature on the subject is dispersed and inaccessible, a bibliographic review was conducted, with the aim of compiling protocols and proposals for practical utilization. We compiled tables, including specific indicators from the biological point of view. We present the available methods for assessing the sustainability of Amazonian territories through the analysis of soil quality. Our contribution facilitates an edaphic perspective to be taken into account in decision-making processes for sustainable territorial development.

Highlights

In territorial development planning processes, decision-making is an important point to consider, especially in areas where irreversible situations are occurring, as is the case of land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes in Amazonian Ecuador
The objective of this paper is to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas
A critical reading of full texts and/or complete abstract was made in order to select the most valuable information; part of this appears in complete abstract was made in order to select the most valuable information; part of this appears in the tables and groupings according to the focus of the research

Summary

Introduction

In territorial development planning processes, decision-making is an important point to consider, especially in areas where irreversible situations are occurring, as is the case of land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes in Amazonian Ecuador. Soil is an irreplaceable natural resource, with complex and sensitive functionality; living beings in soil play a fundamental role as indicators of soil status or disturbance. The objective of this paper is to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas. Since literature on the subject is dispersed and inaccessible, it was decided to address this bibliographic review with the aim of compiling protocols and proposals for practical utilization

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion