Katherine Cuevas-Zárate

Ms. Katherine Cuevas-Zárate


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 June 2025 in Agriculture
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KCKatherine Cuevas-Zárate
Katherine Cuevas-Zárate
DCDonna Cortez
Donna Cortez
JSJorge Soto
Jorge Soto
Manuel PanequeManuel Paneque
Manuel Paneque
Viticulture contributes significantly to Chile’s exports and GDP. However, the development and productivity of grapevines is threatened by climate change. Grapevines are grown in diverse regions; thus, adaptable tools for evaluating climate risk at the local level are required. In this study, a local climate risk index (LCRI) was developed to assess the vulnerability of Chilean viticulture (wine, table, and pisco grapes) in the current (2017–2024) and future (2046–2065) periods. Various components, including exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive and response capacities, were analyzed using different indicators based on municipal-level information. The results for the current period indicated that most municipalities were at medium risk, whereas future projections showed a marked increase in climate risk, principally due to changes in climate suitability. In the current period, the highest LCRI values were observed in semi-arid and mediterranean zones, particularly in the northern regions of Atacama and Coquimbo; in the future period, this situation intensified. In contrast, the lowest values in the current period occurred in the Maule region and further south, where the climate transitions from mediterranean to temperate conditions, and in the future period, valley and mountainous areas presented improvements in the index. Some municipalities showed improvement or stability with local adaptation efforts. The results highlight the urgent need for region-specific adaptation policies that prioritize water management, infrastructure, and increased capacities.

1 August 2026 in Environmental Research Communications
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CCConstanza Cabalieri-Mihovilović
Constanza Cabalieri-Mihovilović
JSJorge Soto
Jorge Soto
KCKatherine Cuevas-Zárate
Katherine Cuevas-Zárate
DADaniela Araya-Osses
Daniela Araya-Osses
JUJuan Manuel Uribe
Juan Manuel Uribe
Manuel PanequeManuel Paneque
Manuel Paneque
Subsistence agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change, and its resilience is constrained by local conditions and networks, negatively impacting livelihoods, food security, and local culture. In the Biobío region of Chile, subsistence farming is crucial for food security; however, it is expected to be significantly affected by climate change and requires a territorial instrument that systematizes agricultural, environmental, and social information for management and decision-making. This study evaluates the vulnerability and resilience of subsistence agriculture at the municipal level using composite indices. The vulnerability index was developed following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change framework, integrating indicators of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The resilience index considered territorial multifunctionality, institutional interaction, and local territorial management and response capacity. Data were sourced from official records and scientific literature on climate, agricultural production, and territorial characteristics. Nineteen indicators were standardized on a scale ranging from 0 to 1, where higher values represented greater vulnerability or resilience, depending on the index considered. The indices were applied to evaluate 33 municipalities in the Biobío region, and the results were spatially represented. The Biobío region exhibited medium levels of vulnerability (0.594) and resilience (0.418). Coastal municipalities showed the highest vulnerability due to their reliance on rainfed agriculture, low crop diversification, and severe soil erosion. In contrast, mountain municipalities, such as Alto Biobío, exhibited higher resilience, reflecting comparatively greater territorial resilience capacities associated with diversified production systems, irrigation infrastructure, crop rotation practices, and stronger institutional linkages. The resulting indices offer a replicable and integrative methodological framework. Our findings highlight the need for targeted public policies on soil restoration, irrigation modernization, crop diversification, and strengthening local networks to enhance resilience. This approach provides a strategic tool for climate risk planning in rural agricultural territories.