
Carlos Mestanza-RamónEscuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo · Faculty of Sciences
Carlos Mestanza-Ramón
Researcher Professor / PhD Conservation and Management
Evaluation of Hg in surface H2O and aquifers in Ecuador. Evaluation of the landscape in the Colombian-Ecuadorian border.
About
46
Publications
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Introduction
Researcher Professor: Biodiversity, ecology and hydrology. Dedicated to research on environmental management in coastal and Amazonian areas. I am currently working on the evaluation of impacts and conflicts due to royalties in the execution of works, projects or exploitation of natural resources / Evaluation of Hg in surface H2O and aquifers in Ecuador / Landscape assessment in the Colombian-Ecuadorian border.
Additional affiliations
September 2018 - present
September 2017 - February 2018
Education
November 2017 - November 2019
October 2016 - October 2017
July 2015 - December 2015
ISC Autralia
Field of study
- Calidad
Publications
Publications (46)
In Ecuador, illegal gold mining has led to significant environmental impacts, with the release of harmful elements such as mercury (Hg) into the environment. Mercury, due to its physical–chemical characteristics and the transport elements involved between different environmental matrices, can easily percolate through the soil and reach groundwater....
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a crucial role in global gold production. However, the adoption of poor mining practices or the use of mercury (Hg) in gold recovery processes has generated serious environmental contamination events. The focus of this study is assessing the concentration of Hg in surface waters within the coastal...
Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a source of supply in many areas of the world, especially in developing countries. This is often carried out illegally using toxic substances such as mercury. Mercury, due to its chemical–physical properties and the transport factors involved between the different environmental matrices, can percolate...
Gold mining activity is a source of supply in many areas of the world, and especially in developing countries, it is practiced illegally and by applying unsafe techniques. Particularly in Ecuador, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread, and it is based on the use of toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg), in gold recovery. Hg is...
In the Ecuadorian Amazon region, there are various types of edible fruits that have distinct qualities and benefits. Understanding the uses, properties, and functions of these fruits is important for researching products that are only available in local markets. This review aims to gather and summarize the existing scientific literature on the ethn...
Mining activity drives economic development and has established itself as one of the main industrial spheres globally. However, illegal, and artisanal gold mining, which uses mercury (Hg), is a major source of global pollution. Hg is highly toxic and persistent in the environment, affecting human health and the ecosystem. The objective of this rese...
Tourism and landscape are two closely related realities. The image most frequently used to promote a given tourist center is, precisely, its landscape. Hence the importance of having landscapes of a certain quality, and knowing how to manage them in a rational way, as they are very fragile natural resources. If we take as a reference that any recov...
Illegal gold mining activities have contributed to the release and mobilization of Hg and environmental degradation in many parts of the world. This study aims to determine the concentration of Hg in five provinces of the Amazon Region of Ecuador, in addition to assessing the risk to human health of exposed populations, applying deterministic and p...
Establishing new protected areas (PAs) is one of the first steps needed to reduce habitat loss and fragmentation, protect ecosystems that are of vital importance to conserve biodiversity, and even protect traditional cultures. The correct management of a PA can be beneficial for the different forms of life found within it and can provide multiple b...
The protection of forest cover in Cuba is a state priority. It is part of the state plan to deal with climate change. The purpose of this paper is to assess the legal risks associated with the protection of forest cover, which is essential to ensure the sustainability of hydrological watershed management in Cuba. The qualitative method of social re...
Vernacular houses treasure the knowledge and traditions of nations. They express the cultural heritage of different generations, including local materials and non-professional designs evolved by resident communities. In South America, vernacular houses often are designed in rural areas. These are influenced by the customs of the indigenous people w...
Landscape is a fundamental element in tourism and its promotion. Generally, the importance of a landscape in the processes of tourism development and its sustainability is unknown. In this sense, this study describes the evolution of the concept of tourism, analyzes the relationship between tourism and landscape, its valorization and landscape ster...
This research aimed to describe and evaluate the Management Effectiveness of protected areas in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador in relation to the areas of context management, planning, inputs, processes and outputs, to establish challenges, respectively. For developing this study, different methodologies were used; with respect to the diagnosis of...
Nature tourism is considered a tourist activity that is carried out without altering the stability of the natural environment, promoting the conservation of nature and the existing environment by interacting with it. However, communication technology has changed the global economy and business in recent decades. Considering these aspects, the main...
Mining is an economic activity that involves extracting, exploiting, and using minerals for commercial purposes. Globally, its growth has been steady in recent decades due to the demand for various luxury items and industrial projects. The main objective of this research was to describe the classification of mining activities in Ecuador and to name...
Carbon stored in mangroves is valuable for climate change mitigation. Managing the carbon stored in the mangrove requires an adequate legal framework and an environmental policy. In Cuba, there is little research on the capacity of mangroves to retain carbon and its articulation in environmental policy and management. In the present study, the foll...
Waterfall tourism can be a source of economic income for local communities, but it is important that it be conducted in a sustainable manner. Promoting responsible tourism implies guaranteeing the conservation of the surrounding ecosystems, respecting established norms, and educating visitors about the importance of protecting these natural areas....
Biodiversity at the species and ecosystem level is an important basis for tourism, especially for tourism economies in landscapes optimal for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity , which are addressed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the last two decades , the Podocnemis unifilis turtle has presented problems represe...
In Ecuador, since 2005 in the northern Amazon, trinitario hybrid cacao mother plants characterized by early and abundant fruiting, known as “Super árbol”, have been identified. This genetic material was disseminated in the region, but most of the available information corresponds to empirical knowledge. In this sense, the present study aimed to eva...
Mining is one of the oldest economic activities of mankind. Within this activity, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the most studied sectors due to its high level of environmental contamination and the social problems it causes. In recent years, ASGM in the northern Amazon of Ecuador has increased significantly, and studies tha...
La sostenibilidad de destinos turísticos, debería ser una responsabilidad asumida por los actores de la actividad turística en sus prácticas productivas. Es así, que el emplear herramientas que permitan realizar evaluaciones periódicamente, favorece a la aplicación de estrategias encaminadas al desarrollo sostenible. El turismo comunitario, dentro...
Resumen: Los helechos son un grupo taxonómico de criptógamas vasculares pertenecientes al reino plantae división de las pteridofitas, estas carecen de flores y semillas. Son de importancia ecológica por que se fijan al suelo otorgando una protección contra la erosión, cumplen funciones muy importantes dentro de los ecosistemas, ya que intervienen e...
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and large-scale mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon region is potentially harmful to nature, and its impacts are associated with environmental degradation and deterioration of people's health. So far, limited efforts have been directed at exploring the current situation and challenges facing the implementati...
Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing. Thanks to the great efforts of our reviewers, Systems was able to maintain its standards for the high quality of its published papers. Thanks to the contribution of our reviewers, in 2021, the median time to first decision was 16 days and the median time to publication was 44...
Mining in Ecuadorian territory comprises three stages of Ecuadorian history: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican times. In its beginnings, this activity did not have regulations or a legal foundation. The first Mining Law dates back to 1830, and it has been modified until the most recent update in 2009. The Andean region consists of 10 province...
CBO Postgraduate Conference 2021 es la primera Conferencia Internacional dirigida a investigadores post graduados organizada por la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) y la Universidade Portucalense (UPT).
Los trabajos presentados en esta primera edición han correspondido a Trabajos de Fin de Grado, Trabajos de Fin de Máster, Trabajos Doctorales y o...
Gold mining in Ecuador has been present in the country since Inca times; over the years interest in the mineral has increased, leading to the creation of legislation to control the mining sector in a safe manner. The Litoral region consists of seven provinces, six of which have registered gold concessions; the most affected provinces are El Oro and...
The landfill is a final disposal technique to confine municipal solid waste (MSW), where organic matter is degraded generating leachate and biogas composed of methane gases (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases that contribute to global warming. The objective of the current research was to estimate the amount of biogas generated through the L...
At present, climate change is a direct threat to biodiversity and its effects are evidenced by an increasingly accelerated loss of biodiversity. This study identified the main threats presently facing the Tapirus pinchaque species in Ecuador, generated predictive models regarding its distribution, and analyzed the protected areas as a conservation...
Tourism in natural areas attracts people seeking contact with pristine ecosystems as opposed to a polluted urban habitat and a stressful pace of life. An adequate tourist route and itinerary guarantees a high level of tourist satisfaction. The objective of this study was to focus on the design of a tourist route and itinerary in the Altar Volcano,...
The design of new routes is a specific strategy to improve tourism management and to increase the attractiveness of landscape features, promoting activities as a part of sustainable development. This study proposes the design of alternative multi-parameter tourist routes in the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve based on spatial network analysis implement...
ASGM Mining processes have increased in recent years, becoming one of the main activities re-sponsible for serious impacts on ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and valuable resources such as soil and water. It is necessary to analyze the successful management developed by some countries in gold extraction, through innovative techniques and procedu...
Global conflicts can severely affect a nation’s tourism activities. Tourism can also be seriously affected by health problems such as epidemics or pandemics. It is important to establish strategies to be prepared for adverse situations. The objective of this study focused on analyzing nature tourism from a post-conflict and post-COVID-19 situation...
SUN, SEA AND SAND TOURISM ALONG THE CONTINENTAL COAST OF ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Several studies conducted in recent decades show that human needs for food, energy, transportation, recreation and other services in coastal areas are growing rapidly. Coastal areas are fragile ecosystems and, therefore, need to be properly managed to preven...
Resumen: La conservación del suelo se refiere a la aplicación de tecnologías que previenen la degradación de las características físicas, químicas y microbiológicas del suelo. Este trabajo analizó y describió las principales tecnologías de conservación del suelo y las características generales de los suelos amazónicos ecuatorianos mediante una revi...
Biodiversity is vital for the stability of the planet; its ecosystem services provide essential elements for our survival and well-being. This review analyzes the national biodiversity policies and describes the main strategies for biodiversity conservation in Ecuador, one of the "mega-diverse" countries in the world with the highest species densit...
The scenery, safety, facilities, water quality and litter quantities in coastal areas are relevant and determining elements in the choice of a tourist destination. This paper focused on the evaluation of coastal scenic value in 55 and 12 sites respectively located in continental Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The information obtained gives publ...
Tourism in coastal areas is becoming increasingly important in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) as an integrated approach that balances the requirements of different tourist sectors. This paper analyzes ICZM in continental Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands from the perspective of the 3S tourism, and presents its strengths, weaknesses, oppo...
La capacidad de carga ha emergido como un parámetro importante a considerar al desarrollar una serie de herramientas de manejo efectivas para áreas naturales protegidas
de tal manera que la experiencia del turista promedio sigue siendo satisfactoria cuando se
ejerce un impacto "aceptable" o mínimo. La Reserva de Producción de Fauna Cuyabeno
(RPFC)...
Sea, Sun, and Sand (3S) are relevant and determining elements for choosing a tourist destination in Ecuador, a country with about 1200 km of coast along the Pacific Ocean. This study analyzed the market potential of the 3S in 64 beaches, 10 located in the Galapagos and 54 in the continental zone (of Ecuador). The methodology used was exploratory an...
La capacidad de carga ha emergido como un parámetro importante a considerar al desarrollar una serie de herramientas de manejo efectivas para áreas naturales protegidas de tal manera que la experiencia del turista promedio sigue siendo satisfactoria cuando se ejerce un impacto "aceptable" o mínimo. La Reserva de Producción de Fauna Cuyabeno (RPFC)...
The objective of the study is to analyze integrated coastal zone management in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and to discuss its challenges and opportunities in the face of constant changes in tourism and economic realities. The methodology used is based on the analysis of ten key elements to analyze national coastal management: polici...
The presence and characterization of beach litter was investigated, according to the EA/NALG (2000) methodology, at 59 sites along four provinces of Ecuador, i.e., three continental and the Galapagos Islands Province. The methodology, which has been verified in several countries, was used to classify beaches into four grades (from
“A” – excellent t...
Conflicts and ecological impacts in natural protected areas can arise for various reasons. The behavior of social stakeholders in the face of conflict is the object of study. Their reactions can be varied according to the personal interests of the parties. Conflicts can cause changes in the communities, incomprehensibly affecting the environment an...
Analysis of written documents, projects and historical cartography of the 17th and 18th centuries allows reconstruction of the shore protection works performed at Callao (Peru) to defend the settlements and its boundary wall from storm waves and tsunamis. Groins appeared for the first time in early 18th century maps, together with gently sloping re...
A coastal scenery assessment was carried out at 50 sites along the 910 km long Andalusia coast (SW Spain) using a checklist of 26 natural and human parameters, parameter weighting matrices, and fuzzy logic. A scenic classification was utilised that can rate sites as Class I (natural areas of great scenic beauty) to Class V (urbanised areas of poor...
Questions
Questions (9)
What elements or aspects do you value when selecting a tourist lagoon to visit?
What elements or aspects do you value when selecting a tourist lagoon to visit?
When you visit a Cascade, what aspects do you value most in its overall landscape: characteristics of ecosystem element?
Scenic beauty of a waterfall:
Question for all researchers: When you visit a Cascade, what aspects do you value most in its overall landscape: characteristics of ecosystem element?
Comments on the use of Hg mercury in gold mining?