Large Woody Debris (LWD) accumulation serves essential ecological functions and benefits society’s coastal ecosystems (e.g., beaches). Thus far, the ecosystem services perspective has paid little attention to LWD. Therefore, we aim to contrast social perceptions on LWD and its ecological significance in Puerto Velero beach, Caribbean, Colombia. In consequence, the contribution of LWD to the conformation and creation of Puerto Velero beach was analyzed, as well as how beachgoers perceive the importance of LWD and if they were willing to pay to remove LWD in this beach. To achieve this, a quantitative convergent approach was then proposed using GIS analysis and remote sensing to understand the contributions of LWD to the Puerto Velero beach ecosystem; and in addition, a survey was performed to determine how beachgoers perceived LWD and how they valued the phenomenon. Results indicate that LWD contributed to beach maintenance; nevertheless, most people neglected LWD values because of its lack of visual attractiveness. As such, ecosystem services targets become conflicted because people positively perceived ecosystem services provided by beaches, but they did not assign importance to the beach dynamics they deemed unattractive, regardless of their vast importance.

The dialectical relationship between ecosystems and society is complex; therefore, holistic approaches are required to address this complexity. This view also stands out in the ecosystem services valuation field, where different scholars and global platforms have drawn attention to the need to incorporate plural valuation initiatives at decision-making. In this sense, through a comprehensive design, we conducted a multi-layered valuation of ecosystem services, and we highlighted multiple values in two areas of the province of Caldas, Colombia. We proposed a three-phase valuation process called Recognizing, Normalizing and Articulating values. Then, in cooperation with the regional environmental authority, we obtained different water-related ecosystem services values. Our results showed some warnings: first, we found mismatches between ecosystem services values; second, people assigned high values to ecosystems but the actual capacity of ecosystems to support ES is low. Finally, monetary values were marginal compared to social and ecological values. We conclude by saying that the more strata are assessed, the more values appear in the valuation scenarios, and those values could be conflicting. Our results have political implications, since they highlight the need to incorporate plural values as a fundamental tool for planning and land use in real scenarios where conflicts of interest and values are evident.

This study offers a unique perspective on the role of ancestral knowledge in sustainable river management and community resilience. Specifically, this study draws on (1) a systematic literature review using the PRISMA methodology and (2) a qualitative analysis of community surveys conducted with 39 women in Zambrano, Colombia, to examine the impact of ancestral knowledge on sustainability, peace promotion, and community development. The findings highlight that women’s traditional water management practices significantly contribute to environmental sustainability, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. Women play a central role in transmitting and applying ancestral water knowledge, yet they remain marginalized in decision-making processes, often facing barriers to participation in governance structures. Finally, these findings proposed strategies for integrating ancestral knowledge into sustainable resource management policies. This study underscores the urgent need for legal recognition, intercultural dialogue, gender-inclusive governance, and educational programs to ensure the transmission and adaptation of these practices in contemporary contexts. Integrating ancestral knowledge into water management policies is essential for strengthening gender equity, community resilience, and fostering governance models that harmoniously combine traditional and scientific approaches.

Microplastic pollution in marine environments represents a significant ecological threat due to its persistence and harmful effects on biodiversity and human health. In Colombia, coastal ecosystems (particularly in La Guajira) have exhibited increasing microplastic concentrations, but systematic monitoring remains limited. This study explored the application of remote sensing, including multispectral satellite imagery (Sentinel-2) and machine learning algorithms, to detect and monitor microplastics in the coastal zone of Riohacha, La Guajira. To inform the model selection and ensure methodological relevance, a focused systematic literature review was conducted, serving as a foundational step in identifying effective remote sensing strategies and machine learning algorithms previously applied to microplastic detection in aquatic environments. Moreover, microplastic samples were collected from four coastal sites on Riohacha’s coast and analyzed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while environmental parameters were recorded in situ. The remote sensing data were processed and integrated with field observations to train linear regression, random forest, and artificial neural network (ANN) models. The ANN model achieved the highest accuracy (MAE = 0.040; RMSE = 0.071), outperforming the other models in estimating the microplastic concentrations. Based on these results, environmental risk maps were generated, identifying critical zones of pollution. The findings support the integration of remote sensing tools and field data for scalable, cost-efficient microplastic monitoring, offering a methodological framework for marine pollution assessment in Colombia and other developing coastal regions.

Background and objectives: This article analyzes the comprehensive assessment and enhancement of the sustainable management of Agricultural Production Units (APUs) in the departments of Atlántico, César, and Magdalena in the Caribbean region of Colombia. The main objective is to identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing agricultural sustainability and propose appropriate strategies within a local context. Methods: The research employed a mixed methodological approach, incorporating APU diagnosis; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis; and structured surveys administered to agricultural producers in each department. Moreover, secondary sources were employed to assess sustainable agricultural practices and key environmental variables. Findings: APUs in the Caribbean region face significant challenges, including limited access to technology, inefficient soil management, and scarce water resources. In Atlántico, 40% of producers lack education in soil studies. In Cesar, 30% of soils are degraded. In Magdalena, 70% are affected by salinization. These results emphasize the need to adopt agroecological technologies and strategies adjusted to the local context to ensure agricultural sustainability and resilience. Conclusion: This study highlights the urgency of implementing comprehensive strategies that consider regional specific

Wildfires can significantly alter soil physicochemical conditions and microbial communities in forest ecosystems. This study aimed to characterize the culturable soil fungal community and evaluate biological activity in Banco Totumo Bijibana, a protected dry tropical forest in Atlántico, Colombia, affected by a wildfire in 2014. Twenty soil samples were collected for microbiological (10 cm depth) and physicochemical (30 cm) analysis. Basal respiration was measured using Stotzky’s method, nitrogen mineralization via Rawls’ method, and fungal diversity through culture-based identification and colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. Diversity was assessed using Simpson, Shannon–Weaver, and ACE indices. The soils presented low organic matter (0.70%) and nitrogen content (0.035%), with reduced biological activity as indicated by basal respiration (0.12 kg C ha⁻¹ d⁻¹) and mineralized nitrogen (5.61 kg ha⁻¹). Four fungal morphotypes, likely from the genus Aspergillus, were identified. Simpson index indicated moderate dominance, while Shannon–Weaver values reflected low diversity. Correlation analysis showed Aspergillus-3 was positively associated with moisture, whereas Aspergillus-4 correlated negatively with pH and sand content. The species accumulation curve reached an asymptote, suggesting an adequate sampling effort. Although no control site was included, the findings provide a baseline characterization of post-fire soil microbial structure and function in a dry tropical ecosystem.