Juglans neotropica Diels (Nogal) es una especie altamente apetecida por los diversos productos que de esta se obtienen. Su madera es considerada fina y posee diferentes usos, razón por la cual es importante realizar una correcta identificación de la especie; sin embargo, existen diversas descripciones que dificultan su óptima identificación por lo que se planteó además de realizar la descripción de las características anatómicas (macroscopía) y organoléptica de la madera, sino también, mediante comparación determinar las características generales de la especie. El estudio se realizó en la provincia de Imbabura, ubicada al norte del Ecuador, se seleccionó los árboles en función de la norma NTE INEN 1158: las características anatómicas en base al listado del IAWA y la noma COPANT Nº 30:1- 019; mientras que para las características organolépticas se empleó la norma NTE INEN 1163; cabe mencionar que para el color se utilizó el recurso digital Virtual Color Atlas; además por comparación se obtuvo las características macro anotómicas y propiedades organolépticas generales de la madera. Se evidenció que las características analizadas de la madera de Juglans neotropica Diels presentan diferencias en cuanto a las descripciones, sin embargo, se determinaron descriptores generales que faciliten la identificación de la madera.

Identifying optimal seed sources is critical for the propagation and restoration of Juglans neotropica Diels in the northern Ecuadorian Andes, where populations are declining due to habitat loss and overexploitation. This study evaluated the seed quality and germination performance of Juglans neotropica from three ecologically distinct provenances: a natural regeneration site (Cuyuja), a pure plantation (Natabuela), and an agroforestry system (Pimampiro). Five phenotypically superior trees were selected from each site, and germination was assessed under controlled nursery conditions over a 150-day period using a completely randomized design. Initial viability tests confirmed the physiological integrity of the seeds across all provenances. Germination onset ranged from day 55 to day 73, with significant differences in germination percentage, speed, and uniformity. The agroforestry provenance showed the highest germination rate (69%) and superior performance in all physiological indices, while natural regeneration had the lowest (15%). Post-trial viability assessments indicated that a substantial proportion of non-germinated seeds from Cuyuja remained dormant or deteriorated. These findings underscore the role of agroforestry systems in enhancing seed physiological quality and support their prioritization for large-scale propagation and ecological restoration initiatives involving Juglans neotropica.

In the last decade, forest fires have intensified in several areas of Ecuador, particularly in the province of Imbabura, causing harm in the biodiversity, rural communities, and ecological processes. Understanding this problem is an immediate need to guide strategies for sustainable forest management, risk mitigation, and ecological restoration. In this context, the book "Forest Fires Analysis: Impacted Areas in Imbabura (2013–2022)" comes up as an academic and technical contribution that seeks to fortify knowledge about forest fires from a territorial, ecosystemic, and preventative perspective. The work is structured in six chapters that approaches essential aspects in order to understand the dynamics of forest fires in Ecuador with emphasis in Imbabura: One. Importance of the management and protection of forest resources; it introduces ecological, social, and economic value of forest ecosystems and highlights the main environmental services that they provide. This problem is contextualized as a threat which is a result from anthropogenic pressures. Two. Causes and typologies of forest fires. The natural and human causes of wildfires are analyzed, as well as their classification according to the fire's location and the type of vegetation affected. Three. Environmental, economic, and social consequences of wildfires; this section approaches direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on biodiversity, soil structure, hydrological cycles, the local economy, and the health of rural populations. Also, it is consider medium- and long-term implications for socio-ecological resilience. Four. Fire behavior and affecting factors; the physical principles of fire behavior are explained, considering factors such as fuel type and availability, weather conditions, topography, and propagation mechanisms. An analysis of fire behavior prediction models is included. Five. Wildfire prevention; integrated prevention strategies are presented, including community actions, legal regulations, environmental education, early monitoring using geospatial technologies, and the use of tools for fire detection and control. Six. Forest Fire Statistics in Ecuador (2013–2022): Space -Temporal Analysis and Reference to Imbabura Case: Through the analysis of official data and georeferenced records, a summary of the incidence of fires at the national level is presented. A detailed analysis of the province of Imbabura is conducted, identifying critical parishes, recurrence trends, and priority areas for intervention.