Mining is one of the oldest economic activities of mankind. Within this activity, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the most studied sectors due to its high level of environmental contamination and the social problems it causes. In recent years, ASGM in the northern Amazon of Ecuador has increased significantly, and studies that describe its current situation and impact are scarce. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the current status and socioenvironmental impacts caused by ASGM gold mining activities in the Cascales canton in the province of Sucumbíos in northeastern Ecuador. The methodological tools used in the present study were a literature review of scientific and gray literature, field visits to assess perceived impacts and an expert judgment to discuss the results and establish challenges. The main results indicate that illegal and informal activities continue to be carried out in the upper zone of the Cascales and Duvino rivers; 90% of local miners still use mercury in this activity, although it is legally prohibited. Among the main impacts evidenced are the contamination of water bodies, soil and atmosphere due to the use of mercury and disturbance to flora and fauna due to the use of machinery in the exploration process. Finally, the government should focus efforts on strengthening public policies to socialize the importance of good environmental practices in ASGM and the effects of the impacts on human health and environmental issues, all this with the support of social actors, such as ministries, universities, NGOs, ASGM associations and private enterprise.

Tourism in natural areas attracts people seeking contact with pristine ecosystems as opposed to a polluted urban habitat and a stressful pace of life. An adequate tourist route and itinerary guarantees a high level of tourist satisfaction. The objective of this study was to focus on the design of a tourist route and itinerary in the Altar Volcano, Sangay National Park, central Ecuador, by integrating tourist attractions and facilities. Within the methodological process, the main tourist attractions of the area were identified and georeferenced; then, a thematic map was elaborated using ArcGIS 10.5^® software. Distances were determined by considering the transportation alternatives in relation to the base camps. Finally, the itinerary was structured by considering the possible tourist activities of each place or attraction. As a result, a tourist route was obtained that included 19 attractions and an itinerary that interacts with various activities in the study area. This research will strengthen tourism activities in the Altar Volcano, allowing for an increase in the number of visitors and the development of sustainable tourism thanks to proper planning in the use of a new tourist route.

Gold mining activity is a source of supply in many areas of the world, and especially in developing countries, it is practiced illegally and by applying unsafe techniques. Particularly in Ecuador, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread, and it is based on the use of toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg), in gold recovery. Hg is a heavy metal that is water-insoluble, which, once mobilized, poses a threat to both the environment and human health. This study analyzes Hg concentrations in the six provinces of Napo, Sucumbíos, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe of the Ecuadorian Amazon region to conduct a human health risk assessment. Significant differences in Hg levels were found between provinces, but concentrations were below MPL imposed by Ecuadorian regulations everywhere. Nevertheless, a worrisome picture emerges, especially with regard to the most vulnerable receptors represented by the child population. There are multiple factors of incidence that may affect the possible future development of the phenomenon, and with reference to the social, economic, and environmental context of the region, it can be concluded that it may be appropriate to plan further investigation to arrive at a more comprehensive assessment. The results of this study can be used by decision makers to plan further investigation and to implement monitoring networks, risk mitigation strategies, and groundwater protection measures.

(1) Background: Nature-based solutions (NbS), particularly through forest biomass, are crucial in mitigating climate change. While forest plantations play a critical role in carbon capture, the absence of species-specific biomass estimation models presents a significant challenge. This research focuses on developing allometric models to accurately estimate the aboveground biomass of Eucalyptus saligna Sm in Ecuador’s Lower Montane thorny steppe. (2) Methods: Conducted at the Tunshi Experimental Station of ESPOCH in Chimborazo, Ecuador, the research involved 46 trees to formulate biomass predictive models using both destructive and non-destructive methods. Sixteen generic models were tested using the ordinary least squares method. (3) Results: The most effective allometric equation for estimating six-year-old E. saligna biomass was Ln(B) = −0.952 + 1.97∗Ln(dbh), where B = biomass in kg/tree, and dbh = diameter at breast height in cm. This model represents a valuable contribution to improve biomass and carbon estimates in mitigation projects in Ecuador. (4) Conclusions: The tested models stand out for their simplicity, requiring only dbh as input, and demonstrate high accuracy and fit to contribute to the field of climate change mitigation.

This work presents the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with the aim of designing a digital product for the tourism promotion of theChimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, during the process the new trends in marketing and tourism promotion helped by ICT and their evolution over time were taken into consideration, to offer better benefits to both the promoter and the tourist. The RPFCH stands out as an emblematic site of the country thanks to its natural and cultural wealth, being considered a suitable place to apply this technology. The use of Augmented Reality in the reserve will providemore information and accessibility about the attractions it has for visiting tourists. To know the current situation of tourism in the reserve, a study of supply and demand was carried out, in the case of supply, the attractions and activities, infrastructure, tourist plant and the existing superstructure were diagnosed and analyzed; for demand, information related to visitors, market, marketing channels and promotion strategies was collected, and tourist dissemination. Regarding the creation of the augmented reality application, a comparative study was carried out on the tools, application methodologies, hardware and software, in order to determine the most appropriate for the objectives set. Subsequently, the requirements for the design of the application were analyzed, comparing the different methods to apply Augmented Reality, managing to create the application , which, through the scanning of markers will present the information that the touristneeds to know. At the end of the work, it is concluded that Augmented Reality technology is of great help, in addition to being extremely efficient, this resource transforms the way the world is seen. It is recommended to optimize the use of thiscomputer field to know new media and methods of promotion and dissemination that are consistent with new technological trends and market preferences.

La Programación Predictiva constituye un enfoque emergente orientado a anticipar dificultades de aprendizaje en estudiantes principiantes mediante el análisis sistemático de evidencias generadas durante el proceso de programación. El presente estudio aborda la detección temprana de dificultades en estudiantes que se inician en programación, considerando la necesidad de identificar oportunamente patrones asociados con errores recurrentes, baja comprensión algorítmica y dificultades en la resolución de problemas. El objetivo es proponer un enfoque predictivo capaz de identificar señales tempranas de riesgo académico, favoreciendo intervenciones pedagógicas oportunas y personalizadas. La perspectiva teórica integra fundamentos de ciencias del aprendizaje, analítica educativa, minería de datos e inteligencia artificial, incorporando conceptos como complejidad cognitiva, desempeño algorítmico, patrones de error, trazabilidad del código, retroalimentación y predicción del aprendizaje. Metodológicamente, se plantea el análisis de variables observables derivadas de las actividades de programación, tales como frecuencia y tipología de errores, tiempo de resolución, número de intentos, modificaciones del código y desempeño en ejercicios progresivos. Los resultados esperados sugieren que la identificación de patrones conductuales y cognitivos puede contribuir a predecir tempranamente estudiantes con mayor probabilidad de presentar dificultades, superando enfoques tradicionales centrados exclusivamente en evaluaciones finales. En conclusión, la Programación Predictiva representa una alternativa innovadora para fortalecer la educación en programación, al transformar los datos del proceso de aprendizaje en indicadores de alerta temprana, facilitando decisiones pedagógicas basadas en evidencia y estrategias de intervención diferenciadas que contribuyan a mejorar la permanencia, el rendimiento académico y la adquisición de competencias de programación.