The COVID-19 pandemic has obliged Governments all around the world to implement confinement and social distancing measures. Leisure and business activities on beaches and in ports have restricted direct and indirect contamination from, for example, plastics, hydrocarbon spillage, microbiological loads, and noise levels. This has led to temporarily improved environmental conditions, and the beaches having conditions closer to Marine Protected Areas. Here we report some impacts that have been studied using local surveys and qualitative observations in Ecuador at the popular beaches and ports of Salinas, Manta, and Galapagos. Satellite data support this information. Online surveys were carried out at critical moments of the pandemic: May (15th) and just after when measures were relaxed a little, but within lockdown in July (21st) 2020. Respondents were asked to compare conditions before and during the pandemic lockdown. Most (97–99%) suggested that beaches had significantly improved from visual observations during confinement. On a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), the beaches of Salinas and Manta respectively were rated 2.2 and 2.8 (less than acceptable) before quarantine, and 4.5 and 4.3 after; results from the second survey (after 18 weeks of restrictions) were much the same. Replies from Galapagos showed a similar trend but with less marked differences. In addition to the beaches having less plastic and garbage, more fish, and large marine organisms, including humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), dolphin (bottlenose, Tursiops truncatus), and manta ray (Manta sp.) were observed near to shore. At Galapagos beaches, turtles, sea lions, and sharks were observed many more times than pre COVID. Quantitative satellite data on Chlorophyl and attenuation coefficient (Kd, 490 nm) support the qualitative survey data that there is an improvement in coastal environment quality. Here we recommend that this unique opportunity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is used locally, regionally and globally to construct baseline data sets that include information on physical, chemical, biological, and microbiological factors in coastal zones. These parameters can then help establish an effective Coastal Zone Management Plan based on beach description and quality (water standards, noise pollution), as well as the human dimension (tourist load, cultural heritage, and economic value indices). This data and information gathering ideally should be done before the beaches become more heavily used again as the pandemic recedes.

The Equatorial Front, in the southern part of the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) region, has been characterized as a hotspot of functional biodiversity due to the mixing of warm and cold waters. Nevertheless, the biogeographic patterns for some organisms, such as octocorals, remain unknown in some coastal regions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the distribution of two common octocoral genera in this area, Muricea and Leptogorgia, including 14 species based on museum specimen records, along the mainland coast of Ecuador. Statistical analyses were performed on the environmental and geographical patterns (Sea Surface Temperature (SST), bathymetry, chlorophyll (CHL-a), and Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR)) that influence the Equatorial Front, which is subdivided into five biogeographic regions. Our results showed two hotspots of octocoral biodiversity. The SST was found to be the main environmental factor related to octocoral distribution along the Equatorial Front. Finally, the highest abundance of Muricea over Leptogorgia suggests the former species’ higher resilience to thermal fluctuations. We discuss the possible role of substrates at suitable depths, active photosynthetic radiation, and temperature in the occurrence of octocorals in the two hotspots.

Urban sprawl constitutes a significant challenge to sustainable development, particularly in rapidly expanding urban environments. In the case of Guayaquil, in Ecuador, the construction of Perimetral Avenue in 1987 facilitated uncontrolled urban transformation. The absence of effective planning and oversight has led to the conversion of mangrove ecosystems into urban areas in specific sectors, with Isla Trinitaria notably experiencing the most substantial transformation, without yet having a clear strategy or methodology for responding to the problem. Within this framework, the objective of the study is to propose a methodology utilizing free software for optimizing resources in territorial planning. This investigation employed data from MapBiomas and the municipal urban cadastre; spatial information was integrated through free software platforms such as QGIS and PostgreSQL/PostGIS. One of the stages of the methodology included the vectorization of raster images, conducting spatial intersections with the cadastral data, and establishing a geographic database to enable SQL queries. The results indicated urban expansion from 2.1% in 1985 to full occupation in 2010, with a peak in construction activity in 1997. Furthermore, limitations such as low image resolution and data absence due to cloud cover were identified. This proposal aims to enhance sustainable urban planning by leveraging accessible tools, thereby contributing to effective territorial planning and informed decision-making in urban contexts.

Urban growth in inter-Andean valleys has accelerated the transformation of the territory, driven by the expansion of road infrastructure and the occupation of environmentally fragile areas. In this context, the Ruta Viva highway has reconfigured urbanization patterns in the parishes of Cumbaya and Tumbaco, advancing the urban frontier into agricultural areas and moderate slopes. The objective of this study is to evaluate the dynamics of urban expansion in the parishes of Cumbaya and Tumbaco during the period 2002-2032, using a multitemporal and predictive approach to project future urbanization scenarios and generate inputs for sustainable territorial planning and land management. The methodology integrated multitemporal analysis of land use and land cover data from MapBiomas (2002-2022), predictive modelling using CA-Markov-MOLUSCE, and urban expansion analysis. The results show a 3% increase in urban coverage during the 2002-2022 period and a projected 12% growth by 2032, concentrated south of the Ruta Viva corridor and within the agricultural mosaic. Simulations show that slopes below 25° are more susceptible to urbanization, while vegetation cover loss reaches 30% on the slopes of Ilalo Hill. This study provides a robust, replicable tool for anticipating urbanization scenarios in Andean environments, guiding land management and environmental conservation strategies in regions of high urban pressure.

The Amazon coast is vulnerable to solid waste pollution, which can lead to the degradation of its ecosystems and affect its biodiversity. The debris that reaches this coast has different origins and sources, with international waste coming from other countries through mainly sea-based sources. Characteristics and dynamics of litter have been studied through monitoring to establish mitigation strategies. However, there is still limited information on international waste in the region, so this work aims to map allochthonous marine litter using geographic information systems (GIS) to monitor its distribution in four municipalities of coast of Pará. The methodology includes the design of a georeferenced ArcGIS Survey123, international waste collection in the field, processing of the litter in the laboratory, and, finally, integrating the data obtained and designing an interactive map viewer. The online dashboard presents descriptive statistics of all data collected on the eight beaches of interest. In total 577 items were collected, and the characterisation led to the identification that the international litter comes mainly from Africa and Asia. There is a high incidence of plastic waste, especially mineral water bottles. The study gives visibility to a problem that affects the socio-cultural and environmental value of the region. The visual presentation of the data provides an engaging and simplified overview of allochthonous litter on beaches in Pará, allowing for adequate dissemination and awareness of international waste dynamics.