Since the Digne Convention in 1991, the literature related to Geoparks has gained a growing interest on the academy’s part, especially in achieving the preservation of geological interest sites through sustainable tourism. This article aims to provide an analysis of the academic research on Geoparks, based on publications in the Scopus database in the period 2002–2020. Bibliometric analysis methods and bibliographic display maps were examined using VOSviewer software. The bibliometric analysis process comprises three phases: (i) Search Criteria and Source Identification, (ii) software and data extraction, and (iii) data analysis and interpretation. The results show geoparks in full growth as a scientific discipline, thanks to the contribution of various authors, institutions, journals, and related topics that confirm the importance of this field of study. Additionally, bibliometric maps lead to an understanding of the intellectual structure of the subject, in which keyword co-occurrence analysis shows six main themes, ranging from ‘UNESCO Global Geoparks’ to ‘Geo-tourism-Sustainable Tourism’. this, combined with maps of co-citation, broadly exhibits this structure and development, showing areas of current interest and potential development, thus offering the latest knowledge on Geopark research worldwide. There is a growing concentration of research on geomorphological heritage and geo-tourism, focusing on methodologies to evaluate the specialities of this type of heritage and define the concept of geo-tourism; there is a great interest especially in the evaluation and identification of geo-site/geo-morphosites which try to eliminate subjectivity in methods and focus on sustainable development of the localities.

Land cover is an important descriptor of the earth’s terrestrial surface. It is also crucial to determine the biophysical processes in global environmental change. Land-use change showcases the management of the land while revealing what motivated the alteration of the land cover. The type of land use can represent local economic and social benefits, framed towards regional sustainable development. The Amazon stands out for being the largest tropical forest globally, with the most extraordinary biodiversity, and plays an essential role in climate regulation. The present work proposes to carry out a bibliometric analysis of 1590 articles indexed in the Scopus database. It uses both Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software for the evaluation of author keywords, authors, and countries. The method encompasses (i) search criteria, (ii) search and document compilation, (iii) software selection and data extraction, and (iv) data analysis. The results classify the main research fields into nine main topics with increasing relevance: ‘Amazon’, ‘deforestation’, ‘remote sensing’, ‘land use and land cover change’, and ‘land use’. In conclusion, the cocitation authors’ network reveals the development of such areas and the interest they present due to their worldwide importance.

The relevant geomorphological characteristics of territory represent an essential part of its natural heritage. They are also an asset to be exploited for stimulating socio-economic development. The “Ruta Escondida” in Ecuador constitutes a historical place full of culture and landscapes that have been shaped over time by geological and geomorphological processes. Among the geomorphological features of the study area, volcanic cones, hilltops, terraces, foothills and glacial valleys stand out. The aims of this work were: (1) to characterize 18 places of geomorphological interest, located in the northern part of the Ruta Escondida and (2) to propose alternatives (geotourism) to contribute to the local development of the area. The applied methodology included: (1) the compilation of geomorphological elements; (2) the assessment of geomorphosites using the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico (IELIG) method and (3) a strengths–opportunities–weaknesses–threats analysis of the contribution and influence of geomorphosites in the development of the study area. With this work, it was possible to determine that all the analyzed geomorphological sites have a high and very high interest. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis revealed that the geomorphosites could provide significant added value to the development of geotourism on the route, complementing the already known cultural and historical attractions.

Georesources comprise spaces of relevant geological value with the potential to be used and managed as a resource. Therefore, georesources are an essential development factor in the world, mainly oriented to their rational use to improve the quality of life of the surrounding population. This work aims to analyze the main applications, conservation strategies and sustainable use of georesources in the rural area of Manglaralto (Ecuador) through their inventory, assessment and analysis for the adaptation of alternative uses to particular circumstances (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). The method used consists of four phases: (i) inventory and mapping of georesources; (ii) description and assessment of georesources using international methodologies (e.g., GtRAM for georoute assessment, hydrogeological characterization using GeoModeller for groundwater assessment, GIS tools for assessing materials with industrial–artisanal interest, and KFM matrix method for the assessment of the level of construction difficulty of sanitary landfills); (iii) georesources complementary applications and (iv) SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and TOWS matrix preparation (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strengths), seeking strategies to guarantee the viability of the use of georesources. As a main result of the investigation, the geolocation of the georesources of the area was obtained. In addition, the assessment of the main georesources such as (i) potential geosites and sites of geological interest (e.g., beaches, cliffs, waterfalls, capes), (ii) groundwater (aquifers), and (iii) materials with artisanal and industrial interest (e.g., clays, sands). Finally, the study allowed us to define areas to develop landfill infrastructure, identify ecosystem services, and construct tsunami refuge site proposals. The case study addressed shows that the inventory and definition of the use of geological resources constitute a fundamental process for the economic, social, and environmental development of the population.

Nutrient inputs from human activities, such as agriculture and sewage discharge, influence algal blooms in water bodies. In Ecuador, the Daule River receives wastewater discharges. In addition, poor agricultural practices, including the unsuitable use of fertilisers in combination with soil erosion and surface runoff processes, increase the nutrient load to the river. Considering this, the objective of this study was to evaluate environmental and biological variables using statistical analysis to identify the parameters that influence algal blooms in the main stem of the Daule River. The methodology consisted of two phases: (i) data collection, including water sampling and laboratory work for the analysis of nutrients and phytoplankton, and (ii) statistical analysis, which includes univariate, bivariate, inferential and multivariate analysis (STATICO technique). The results showed that pH and dissolved oxygen were the main drivers of diatoms (Polymyxus coronalis and Aulacoseira granulate) and the charophyte Mougeotia sp. Similarly, ammonium-N was the main driver of the diatom Ulnaria ulna and the cyanobacteria Planktothrix cf. agardhii. The outcomes of this study identified the main environmental variables driving blooms of the five most abundant species, providing a basis for the development of ecological models in the context of land use and climate change.