Yandy Rodríguez Cueto

The accelerated loss of biodiversity associated with the expansion of extractive activities, landscape fragmentation, and intensive land-use change represents one of the most pressing socio-environmental challenges in megadiverse regions such as the northern Ecuadorian Amazon. In this context, biodiversity offsets have emerged as a central instrument within environmental management frameworks to address unavoidable residual impacts; however, their ecological, social, and institutional effectiveness remains widely debated. This study aims to critically analyze the evolution, structure, and orientation of scientific production on biodiversity offsets in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon, identifying research trends, knowledge gaps, and discrepancies between the normative principles underpinning this instrument and its practical implementation. The research adopts a qualitative, critical-interpretive approach, based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed scientific literature, environmental regulations, and relevant technical documents, complemented by a scientometric analysis. The results reveal persistent gaps in the definition of ecological equivalence, the incorporation of functional connectivity, and the consideration of temporal scales consistent with Amazonian ecological processes. Moreover, the reviewed literature indicates that biodiversity offsets are frequently implemented as administrative mechanisms linked to environmental licensing rather than as effective landscape-scale conservation tools, thereby reproducing social tensions and institutional limitations. The study underscores the need to strengthen context-specific methodological frameworks and to promote a more robust scientific production capable of aligning normative principles with ecologically effective and socially legitimate biodiversity offset practices in highly complex socio-ecological territories

Coral reefs provide environmental goods and services that support biodiversity and people but face diverse threats. To assess the human factors that might be influencing the status of Cuban coral reefs, we collected and analyzed data from three sources: observations made on a research cruise that circumnavigated Cuba’s waters, expert knowledge, and updated published information. Our results show that small-scale fisheries are predominant among human factors influencing Cuban coral reefs, with more than 97% of the fishing incidents detected in situ during the expedition. Many Cuban reefs are heavily fished, have low levels of contamination, and enjoy high legal protection but experience inadequate enforcement. Tourism occurs on many reefs but could be sustainably increased based on its role in supporting enforcement and compliance and reducing fishing pressure. Densities of marine debris were generally lower in Cuban waters than other Caribbean locations and even lower within protected areas. Many human factors are likely acting synergistically, making management a challenge. This is the first at-sea comprehensive visual survey of human factors in Cuban waters and evaluation of marine debris on Cuba’s reefs, establishing a baseline for future assessments. These findings highlight potential human impacts that must be addressed to safeguard the health of Cuba’s marine ecosystem.

Marine finfish landings in Cuba have decreased during the last 30 years. However, in Cuba’s most productive fishing region, certain species, including rays, herrings, and snappers, have had increased landings over the past decade. Despite these anomalies, no comprehensive analysis of the interactions among multispecies landing dynamics, environmental factors, and fishing efforts has been carried out. This study estimates the dynamics of multispecies finfish landings between 1981 and 2017 on the southeastern coast of Cuba. A log-normal generalized additive model (GAM) was fit to evaluate the effects of various environmental and effort-related variables on the total landings. During the period analyzed, the finfish landings and fishing effort decreased by 46% and over 80%, respectively. Despite concerns about overfishing, landings per unit of effort (LPUE) increased by 2.8 times. The total fish landings were significantly related to changes in the fishing effort, coastal vegetation, rainfall, chlorophyll-a, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). This study highlights the changing relationship between the landings and fishing effort, suggesting that LPUE may not accurately reflect true stock abundance. The findings of this study will assist in integrating the dynamics of finfish species, ecosystem status, and management actions for Cuba’s most productive fishing zone.

Marine finfish landings in Cuba have decreased during the last 30 years. However, in Cuba's most productive fishing region, certain species, including rays, herrings, and snappers, have increased landings over the past decade. Despite these anomalies, no comprehensive analysis of the interactions between multispecies landing dynamics, environmental factors, and fishing effort has been carried out. This study estimates the dynamics of multispecies finfish landings between 1981 and 2017 on the southeastern coast of Cuba. Dynamic factor analyses (DFA) were performed to identify common landing trends across multiple species and their relationship with fishing effort and environmental variables. During the period analyzed, finfish landings and fishing effort decreased by 46% and over 80%, respectively. Despite concerns about overfishing, landings per unit of effort (LPUE) increased by 2.8 times, suggesting the decline in landings was closely linked to decreasing fishing effort and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation cycles, with delays of 2 and 3 years. The study highlights the changing relationship between landings and fishing effort, suggesting that LPUE may not accurately reflect true stock abundance. The findings of this study will assist in integrating the dynamics of finfish species, ecosystem status, and management actions for Cuba’s most productive fishing zone.

Una de las estrategias para la conservación de la biodiversidad a nivel de paisaje son las rutas ecológicas de conectividad entre los parches de vegetación con altos valores de conservación. Sin embargo, el establecimiento de las áreas protegidas en la provincia Granma carece del diseño de redes de conectividad. Esta investigación presenta una propuesta de rutas ecológicas de conectividad entre los parches de vegetación dentro de 15 áreas protegidas, 11 de la provincia y cuatro adyacentes de provincias vecinas; mediante un modelo de costo-distancia basado en un mapa de fricción, elaborado a partir de la evaluación de cinco variables críticas. Se analizan las características de las rutas identificadas y se categorizan las áreas protegidas como: de tránsito o de origen-destino, con base en la cantidad de rutas que pasan por estas. El trabajo realizado permite identificar 56 nodos de conectividad en las áreas protegidas y obtener 3080 rutas de conectividad, de las cuales el 59% son altitudinales y el 41% longitudinales. La densidad de rutas refleja las zonas más propicias para la conectividad ecológica en la provincia y permite clasificar las áreas protegidas como: cinco de origen-destino y cuatro de tránsito. Esto permite identificar rutas potenciales de conectividad y la factibilidad de estas para el diseño de corredores biológicos.

The aim of this article is to show how an OTEC Ecopark could provide comprehensive, sustainable, and quality products that satisfy the diverse needs of coastal communities in Mexico. An offshore 60 MW hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant is proposed, which will provide products that will not only fulfill the water, energy, and food needs of the coastal communities, but also energize the local blue economy. An assessment of the financial feasibility of the plant as well as a comparative analysis against other forms of energy generation was carried out. The methodology section includes a market description, literature review for the technical design, methods for mitigating socio-environmental risks, and an analysis of operational risks. To determine financial feasibility, the CAPEX, OPEX and annual revenue, including the sale of CELs and carbon credits, were evaluated. The Internal Rate of Return suggests that the system would pay for itself in year 5 of the system’s 30-year life. The methodology used for this case study, with site-specific adaptations, can be applied to other coastal communities across the globe.

The electrical grid of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, operates separately from the National Interconnected System, with Baja California connected to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the USA; and Baja California Sur having an isolated, independent network. Based on the need for alternative renewable sources of electricity generation in the region, this work evaluates the wave energy power at specific locations on the Pacific coast of the peninsula, and identifies wave generation sites (WEGS). The WEGS were defined as rocky shore sites associated with a wave energy potential of over 10 kW/m (where the installation of oscillating water columns (OWC) is feasible) and the presence of coastal settlements that are less than 10 km from the shoreline. It was found that 370 km of the Pacific coast of the peninsula have characteristics suitable for the installation of OWC, and up to 1.4 million inhabitants could be benefited by this wave energy harvesting.

[Introducción]: La mayoría de las investigaciones en generación de rutas de conectividad emplean mapas de costos al desplazamiento generados a partir de la reclasificación en rangos de las variables empleadas. [Objetivo]: En esta investigación se evalúa el efecto de la selección del método de generación del ráster de costos al desplazamiento sobre el trazado de las potenciales rutas de conectividad entre parches de bosque en las áreas naturales protegidas de la provincia Granma, Cuba. [Metodología]: Se generan dos ráster de costos al desplazamiento (uno con rangos y otro sin rangos) para los cuales se obtienen las potenciales rutas de conectividad y se analiza el efecto del método de cálculo del ráster de costo sobre el diseño de las rutas. [Resultados]: Se identifican un total de 3 080 rutas. La densidad de rutas para el ráster con rangos no sobrepasa las 1 000 rutas/km², mientras que para el ráster sin rangos llegan a ser superiores a 3 000 rutas/km². Se obtiene un 59 % de rutas altitudinales para el ráster con rangos y un 75.8 % de rutas altitudinales para el ráster sin rangos. [Conclusiones]: Las modificaciones en el cálculo del ráster de costos provoca cambios en la red de rutas de conectividad, concentración de rutas en los sitios de conexión entre zonas o regiones, diferencias en los valores de la densidad de rutas y, finalmente, modificaciones en las condiciones altitudinales y longitudinales de las rutas.