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Wildfire represents a significant threat to ecosystems and communities in the Department of Amazonas, Peru, causing losses in biodiversity and land degradation and affecting socioeconomic security. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of burned areas (BAs) from 1986 to 2023 to identify recurrence patterns and their impact on different types of land use and land cover (LULC). Landsat 5, 7, and 8 satellite images, processed by Google Earth Engine (GEE) using a decision tree approach, were used to map and quantify the affected areas. The results showed that the BAs were mainly concentrated in the provinces of Utcubamba, Luya, and Rodríguez de Mendoza, with a total of 1208.85 km2 burned in 38 years. The most affected land covers were pasture/grassland (38.25%), natural cover (forest, dry forest, and shrubland) (29.55%) and agricultural areas (14.74%). Fires were most frequent between June and November, with the highest peaks in September and August. This study provides crucial evidence for the implementation of sustainable management strategies, fire prevention, and restoration of degraded areas, contributing to the protection and resilience of Amazonian ecosystems against future wildfire threats.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. is a legume of high nutraceutical value, widely cultivated and consumed. However, common bean production faces challenges such as water stress that severely affects its growth and yield. This study evaluated the morphological and physiological response of four native P. vulgaris accessions subjected to different irrigation treatments under greenhouse conditions. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement was used, evaluating three irrigation frequencies (100%, 50%, 25%) in combination with four accessions (PER1003541, PER1003542, PER1003543, PER1003544). The results showed that with the 25% irrigation treatment, PER1003544 showed a 54.62% decrease in leaf area, while PER1003542 and PER1003543 experienced reductions of 56.56% and 59.24%, respectively. In addition, accession PER1003544 reported a smaller reduction in the number of flowers and pods, with decreases of 40.21% and 29.9%, in contrast to PER1003543, which showed decreases of 60.66% and 52.63%, respectively. Accessions PER1003541 and PER1003544 also recorded the lowest reductions in dry biomass, with 31.85% and 35.41%, respectively. Regarding yield, PER1003544 and PER1003541 experienced reductions of 59.01% and 69.79%, respectively, unlike PER1003543, which showed a 90% decrease. In relation to stomatal density, PER1003541 recorded a reduction of 28.28%, while PER1003544 had a decrease of 37.10%, and PER1003543 experienced a reduction of 47.05%; chlorophyll content showed a similar trend. Finally, PER1003544 maintained a relatively stable stomatal index, with a reduction of 29.01%, compared to PER1003543, which reduced by 60.99%. In conclusion, accession PER1003544 stands out as a promising variety for breeding programs focused on water stress tolerance, contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability in areas affected by limited water availability. However, PER1003541 would be a suitable additional option, offering farmers flexibility in their crop selection according to the specific conditions of their environment.

The management of organic waste through anaerobic digestion is an alternative to energy recovery. This research focused on evaluating the production of biogas with different inoculums. For this purpose, two types of systems were implemented—one used a heating system controlled by an STC-1000 thermostat, while the other used a solar heating system under a polycarbonate parabolic trough. The experiment was carried out at laboratory level with 3 L PET bottle biodigesters and the biogas produced was collected with the water displacement technique in 3 L bottles, calibrated every 50 mL, over 43 days. Inoculums of the following manure concentrations were used: water (1:5, 1:2, 1:3) mixed with Caesalpinia spinosa meal and molasses. The results determined that the thermostat-controlled heating system generated 69.6 mL/day of biogas while the other system produced 610.9 mL/day. On the other hand, the T1 treatment with a manure:water ratio of 1:5 and molasses and Caesalpinia spinosa meal inoculums in both systems had a higher average biogas volume. In terms of methane (CH₄), the highest value of 76.9% was obtained through the T1 treatment under the controlled heating system. This allows the production of biogas with a high concentration of methane, which in future applications can be utilized for residential or industrial purposes, promoting economic, social and environmental development. Since the main challenge in the production of biogas is to reduce the digestion time, which is influenced by the temperature of the site, two types of inoculums with a low cost and easy access were used.

Factors such as the selection of cultivars and the planted density affect the development and yield of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). This study’s objective was to evaluate peanut cultivars’ agronomic behavior under three planting densities in the northeast of Peru. The design used was randomized complete blocks (DBCAs) with a bifactorial arrangement 4A × 3B (factor A, peanut cultivars; factor B, planting densities), forming 12 treatments with three replications per block. The results revealed that T3 (Huayabamba cultivar + density of 30 × 50 cm) stood out, presenting the most favorable means in the number of pods (16 pods), number of seeds per pod (five seeds), height at 90 days (22.7 cm), and yield (1850 kg/ha). Empty pods did not show significant differences between treatments. T8 (Chivita cultivar + density of 20 × 50 cm) indicated the highest number of branches (six branches); in the weight of 100 seeds, the Rojo Tarapoto cultivar was the most encouraging, adapting optimally to the three densities. In addition, T7 (chivita cultivar + density of 10 × 50 cm) showed the shortest days at flowering and harvest, with 64 and 134 days. The study showed that T3 was the most efficient in pod and seed production, making it crucial to optimizing peanut yield.

The rapid development of digital tools for crop management offers new opportunities to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. This study examines the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in coffee-growing areas of the province of Rodriguez de Mendoza, southern Peru, from 2001 to 2022. The objectives were the following: (a) to analyze NDVI trends in these areas; (b) to investigate trends in climatic variables and their correlations with altitude and NDVI; and c) to develop linear models tailored to each coffee-growing area. The study identified significant differences in NDVI trends among coffee plants, with mean NDVI values ranging from about 0.6 to 0.8. These values suggest the presence of stress conditions that should be monitored to improve crop quality, particularly in Huambo. Variability in rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, and altitude was also observed, with NDVI values showing a strong negative correlation with altitude. These results are crucial for making informed strategic decisions in integrated crop management and for monitoring crop health using vegetation indices.

Entomopathogenic fungi represent the pinnacle of efficacy among biological control agents when combating insect pests within natural ecosystems, combating them without altering the environment. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the morphology, physiology, and pathogenicity of native isolates of Metarhizium sp. isolated from soil samples from the province of Rodriguez de Mendoza. Eighteen native isolates of Metarhizium sp. were isolated and characterized. Colony coloration varied between yellow-gray, white, brown, and olive, with feathery or wavy edges. As for radial growth, the highest averages were obtained by isolates LLM-M2 and TOR-M16, with 43.15 mm and 42.85 mm, respectively. Conidia production at 15 days was higher for isolate LLM-M2 with 9.8 × 107 conidia/mL; in the percentage of germination at 14 h, the treatment that reached 100% germination was TOR-M16. Isolate CMR-M7 reached 97.49% mycelial growth percentage at 288 h, being the best result; in the percentage of mortality in CBB adults, the treatments that reached 100% were TOR-M9, TOR-M16, and MNR-M1. In general, the results demonstrate the entomopathogenic potential of native isolates of Metarhizium sp. acting as biocontrol agents of Hypothenemus hampei, being a low-cost, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly alternative.

Coffee is a crop of global importance, and it is especially important in countries such as Peru. However, the presence of the pest Hypothenemus hampei represents a significant challenge with a notable economic impact. This study addresses this challenge using entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria peruviensis and Metarhizium sp. The compatibility of three strains of Beauveria peruviensis (F5, P19, and P4) and seven strains of Metarhizium sp. (MMR-M1, LLM-M2, MHR-M4, PMR-M12, MMR-M15, TOR-M16, and GOR-M18) was evaluated for approximately 2 months. A total of 14 treatments were designed, each consisting of one strain of B. peruviensis and one strain of Metarhizium sp. The Skott–Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) revealed that strain LLM-M2 (Metarhizium sp. strain) had the highest conidial production (3.75 × 107 conidia/mL). Except for T6 (MMR-M1/F5), which showed a mutual growth type interaction (type A), all other strain combinations showed a type B interaction (mutual inhibition by contact or separation between colony margins (B. peruviensis and Metarhizium sp. as a biocontrol strategy against the coffee berry borer in the Amazon department, presenting them as an alternative to traditional chemical methods.

One of the world’s major agricultural crops is rice (Oryza sativa), a staple food for more than half of the global population. In this research, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical images are used to analyze the monthly dynamics of this crop in the lower Utcubamba river basin, Peru. In addition, this study addresses the need to obtain accurate and timely information on the areas under cultivation in order to calculate their agricultural production. To achieve this, SAR sensor and Sentinel-2 optical remote sensing images were integrated using computer technology, and the monthly dynamics of the rice crops were analyzed through mapping and geometric calculation of the surveyed areas. An algorithm was developed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) virtual platform for the classification of the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images and a combination of both, the result of which was improved in ArcGIS Pro software version 3.0.1 using a spatial filter to reduce the “salt and pepper” effect. A total of 168 SAR images and 96 optical images were obtained, corrected, and classified using machine learning algorithms, achieving a monthly average accuracy of 96.4% and 0.951 with respect to the overall accuracy (OA) and Kappa Index (KI), respectively, in the year 2019. For the year 2020, the monthly averages were 94.4% for the OA and 0.922 for the KI. Thus, optical and SAR data offer excellent integration to address the information gaps between them, are of great importance to obtaining more robust products, and can be applied to improving agricultural production planning and management.

Apiculture plays a vital role in maintaining a genetically diverse ecosystem and is an economic activity that contributes to the development of rural communities, thereby enhancing the livelihoods of beekeepers. However, despite the presence of over forty thousand beekeepers in Peru, there is currently no cartographic information available on optimal areas for the development of apiculture. Our study focused on assessing the suitability of land for apiculture development in rural and indigenous communities within the Amazonas Department in northwest Peru. We integrated biophysical and socioeconomic criteria using the Multiple Criteria Evaluation (MCE) technique, in conjunction with state-of-the-art geoinformation and earth observation techniques, to model and validate land suitability for supporting apiculture. It was identified that suitability is influenced by biophysical criteria (65%) and socioeconomic criteria (35%), resulting in highly suitable areas covering 315.6 km2 within the territory of peasant communities, 128.4 km2 within native communities, and an additional 41.4 km2 within conserved areas. Furthermore, to validate our results, we combined the use of high-resolution satellite imagery and visits to artisanal producers. This research provides valuable insights for spatiotemporal land use planning, emphasizing apicultural activity as a driver of rural development and biodiversity conservation. Consequently, this study contributes as a management tool to promote apicultural activities as support for rural development and in local-level decision making.

The presence of toxic metals such as aluminum is described as a factor that could lead to a significant decrease in crop productivity, particularly for the cultivation of acidophilic plants. In the present study, in vitro cultivation of pineapple was used as a model to evaluate the role of silver nanoparticles (0.005, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 g L−1 Ag NPs) against the negative effects of aluminum (0, 100, 300, and 500 μM AlCl3). The results showed that the presence of 0.025 g L−1 Ag NPs stimulated a higher concentration of photosynthetic pigments “a”, “b”, “a + b” and carotenoids in treatments with high levels of AlCl3. The application of Ag NPs allowed better shoot formation, improved chlorophyll a/b, and total/carotenoid ratios, as well as better levels of proline biosynthesis in response to stress. The synergistic interaction of Ag NPs and AlCl3 increased the availability and assimilation of mineral elements (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn) while decreasing Al translocation. In conclusion, the implementation and validation of Ag NPs in agricultural fields would be revolutionary because they represent a novel alternative for overcoming the limitations imposed by the presence of Al.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are used in a variety of applications with the aim of mapping detailed surfaces from the air. Despite the high level of map automation achieved today, there are still challenges in the accuracy of georeferencing that can limit both the speed and the efficiency in mapping urban areas. However, the integration of topographic grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers on UAS has improved this phase, leading to a reach of up to a centimeter-level accuracy. It is therefore necessary to adopt direct georeferencing (DG), real-time kinematic positioning (RTK)/post-processed kinematic (PPK) approaches in order to largely automate the photogrammetric flow. This work analyses the positional accuracy using Ground Control Points (GCP) and the repeatability and reproducibility of photogrammetric products (Digital Surface Model and ortho-mosaic) of a commercial multi-rotor system equipped with a GNSS receiver in an urban environment with a DG approach. It was demonstrated that DG is a viable solution for mapping urban areas. Indeed, PPK with at least 1 GCP considerably improves the RMSE (x: 0.039 m, y: 0.012 m, and z: 0.034 m), allowing for a reliable 1:500 scale urban mapping in less time when compared to conventional topographic surveys.

Peru is one of the world’s leading exporters of cocoa beans, which directly impacts the household economy of millions of small farmers. Currently, the expansion and modernization of the cocoa-growing area require the zoning of the territory with suitable biophysical and infrastructural conditions to facilitate optimizing productivity factors. Therefore, we analyzed land suitability for cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production on the Peruvian mainland as a support measure for sustainable agriculture. To this end, the climatological, edaphological, orographic, and socioeconomic criteria determining sustainable cocoa cultivation were identified and mapped. Three modeling approaches (Analytic Hierarchy Process—AHP, Maximum Entropy—MaxEnt, and AHP—MaxEnt combined) were further used to hierarchize the importance of the criteria and to model the potential territory for sustainable cocoa cultivation. In all three modeling approaches, climatological criteria stood out among the five most important criteria. Elevation (orographic criteria) is also featured in this group. On the other hand, San Martin and Amazonas emerged as the five regions with the largest area ‘Highly suitable’ for cocoa cultivation in all three modeling approaches, followed by Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Cusco, Junín, and Puno, which alternated according to modeling approach. From most to least restrictive, the AHP, MaxEnt, and AHP–MaxEnt modeling approaches indicate that 1.5%, 5.3%, and 23.0% of the Peruvian territory is ‘Highly suitable’ for cocoa cultivation, respectively.

Amazonas is a mountain region in Peru with high cloud cover, so using optical data in the analysis of surface changes of water bodies (such as the Burlan and Pomacochas lakes in Peru) is difficult, on the other hand, SAR images are suitable for the extraction of water bodies and delineation of contours. Therefore, in this research, to determine the surface changes of Burlan and Pomacochas lakes, we used Sentinel-1 A/B products to analyse the dynamics from 2014 to 2020, in addition to evaluating the procedure we performed a photogrammetric flight and compared the shapes and geometric attributes from each lake. For this, in Google Earth Engine (GEE), we processed 517 SAR images for each lake using the following algorithms: a classification and regression tree (CART), Random Forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM).) 2021-02-10, then; the same value was validated by comparing the area and perimeter values obtained from a photogrammetric flight, and the classification of a SAR image of the same date. During the first months of the year, there were slight increases in the area and perimeter of each lake, influenced by the increase in rainfall in the area. CART and Random Forest obtained better results for image classification, and for regression analysis, Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest Regression (RFR) were a better fit to the data (higher R2), for Burlan and Pomacochas lakes, respectively. The shape of the lakes obtained by classification was similar to that of the photogrammetric flight. For 2021-02-10, for Burlan Lake, all 3 classifiers had area values between 42.48 and 43.53, RFR 44.47 and RPAS 45.63 hectares. For Pomacohas Lake, the 3 classifiers had area values between 414.23 and 434.89, SVR 411.89 and RPAS 429.09 hectares. Ultimately, we seek to provide a rapid methodology to classify SAR images into two categories and thus obtain the shape of water bodies and analyze their changes over short periods. A methodological scheme is also provided to perform a regression analysis in GC using five methods that can be replicated in different thematic areas.

The IUCN has listed the long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) as vulnerable due to the presence of few geographic records, its restricted range, and anthropogenic threats. Its natural history and ecology are largely unknown, and its distribution is widely debated; therefore, there is an urgent need for the real-time conservation of X. loweryi. In this study, 66 geo-referenced records of X. loweryi, 18 environmental variables, and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) have been used to predict the current and future (2050 and 2070) potential distribution of X. loweryi in the Amazonas and San Martin regions of northwestern Peru. In fact, under current conditions, areas of “high”, “moderate”, and “low” potential habitat suitability cover 0.16% (140.85 km2), 0.46% (416.88 km2), and 1.16% (1048.79 km2) of the study area, respectively. Moreover, under future conditions, the “high”, “moderate”, and “low” probability areas present profits and losses in terms of habitat suitability. Based on the environmental variables, this species mostly inhabits areas with a forest fraction with presence of trees with an emergent tree canopy of ~10–30 metres and depends on Yunga montane forest habitats with high humidity but it is not dependent on bare cover area, crops, or grasslands. Nevertheless, most of the current and future distribution areas are not part of the protected natural areas of Amazonas and San Martin. Additionally, the combination of climate change and anthropogenic activities contribute to further losses of this species habitat. Therefore, from the management point of view, corrective and preventive actions will help to preserve this species over time.

In Peru, grasslands monitoring is essential to support public policies related to the identification, recovery and management of livestock systems. In this study, therefore, we evaluated the spatial dynamics of grasslands in Pomacochas and Ventilla micro-watersheds (Amazonas, NW Peru). To do this, we used Landsat 5, 7 and 8 images and vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). The data were processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform for 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020 through random forest (RF) classification reaching accuracies above 85%. The application of RF in GEE allowed surface mapping of grasslands with pressures higher than 85%. Interestingly, our results reported the increase of grasslands in both Pomacochas (from 2457.03 ha to 3659.37 ha) and Ventilla (from 1932.38 ha to 4056.26 ha) micro-watersheds during 1990–2020. Effectively, this study aims to provide useful information for territorial planning with potential replicability for other cattle-raising regions of the country. It could further be used to improve grassland management and promote semi-extensive livestock farming.

In strawberry micropropagation, several challenges must be overcome to obtain quality plants and achieve high survival rate to ex vitro acclimatization. In this study, therefore, a set of protocols were evaluated to optimize explant (meristem) disinfection, in vitro growth (multiplication and rooting), and ex vitro acclimatization of strawberry. The results showed that explants treated with 1.0% NaClO for 5 min had a lower percentage of contamination, and achieved a higher percentage of viability, height, and number of leaves. In vitro growth was favored by the use of 1 mg L−1 zeatin, since it allowed greater seedling growth (number of shoots, seedling height, number of leaves, number of roots and root length), and a higher pre-acclimation rate (100%). In the acclimatization phase, plants grown in a substrate composed of compost + peat combined with 4 g of humic acid achieved better response in morphological and physiological variables. In fact, the results of this study could be used to cultivate strawberry plants of the ‘Aroma’ variety with high commercial quality.

Biodiversity is an indispensable resource and contributes to the balance of ecosystems, being of great importance for the development of a society and its culture through good management of natural spaces. However, the reduction in and fragmentation of habitats, trafficking, and illegal trade in wild animals affect the great diversity of wild flora and fauna that characterize Peru. Considering this problem, we modeled the biogeographic distribution of five species of wildlife categorized as threatened by Peruvian legislation and included in the red list of threatened species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): critically endangered (CR) Lagothrix flavicauda, endangered (EN) Aotus miconax, in vulnerable-status (VU) Tremarctos ornatus and Lagothrix cana, and in the near-threatened category (NT) Panthera onca. Our study aimed to identify their current potential distribution in the Peruvian territory which is legally protected by the conservation areas of national, regional, or private administration. In this regard, we used a maximum-entropy approach (MaxEnt), integrating 14 variables (7 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic, 3 variables of vegetation cover, and relative humidity). It was observed that 3.6% (46,225.50 km2) of the Peruvian territory presented a high probability (>0.6) of distribution of the evaluated species and 10.7% (136,918.28 km2) of moderate distribution (0.4–0.6). Based on this, our study allowed us to identify the geographical spaces for threatened species on which conservation actions should focus, through the formulation of strategies, plans, policies, and participatory management in the Peruvian territory.

The tropical Andes in South America stand at the top of the world’s list of endemism hotspots, due to their high species richness per unit area. Thus, our study focuses on the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of the Utcubamba River (PER-84), one of the 96 KBAs, with an extension of 35,534 hectares. This area is located in northwest Peru, within the hotspot of the tropical Andes. The study area is well known as the waterfalls valley, which holds the world’s third highest waterfall “Gocta”, an outstanding national and international tourist attraction. Nevertheless, despite its great ecological and tourist value, research reports are deficient in the area. Therefore, we conducted a biological inventory in 2019 during the wet season, with the aim of recording and identifying species of tetrapod fauna, as well as promoting actions for their conservation. Based on field assessments, the following number of species was recorded: amphibians (14), reptiles (6), birds (229), and mammals (20). Interestingly, for the first time, two species of amphibians (Gastrotheca aguaruna and Gastrotheca spectabilis) and two reptiles (Dipsas palmeri and Tachymenis affinis) have been recorded; furthermore, the following several endemic species have been observed: amphibians (3), reptiles (2), birds (3) and mammals (1) that have not yet been reported for the ACB, which have not yet been reported for the KBA. This finding, in fact, increases the number of species of endemism in this part of Peruvian territory. Consequently, this study aims to be the basis for promoting further research to discover new species for science and to propose strategies for their conservation over time.

The increasing demand for tropical timber from natural forests has reduced the population sizes of native species such as Cedrela spp. because of their high economic value. To prevent the decline of population sizes of the species, all Cedrela species have been incorporated into Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The study presents information about the modeled distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru that aims to identify potential habitat distribution of the genus, its availability in areas protected by national service of protected areas, and highlighted some areas because of their conservation relevance and the potential need for restoration. We modeled the distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru using 947 occurrence records that included 10 species (C. odorata, C. montana, C. fissilis, C. longipetiolulata, C. angustifolia, C. nebulosa, C. kuelapensis, C. saltensis, C. weberbaueri, and C. molinensis). We aim to identify areas environmentally suitable for the occurrence of Cedrela that are legally protected by the National Service of Protected Areas (PAs) and those that are ideal for research and restoration projects. We used various environmental variables (19 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic factors, 9 edaphic factors, solar radiation, and relative humidity) and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to predict the probability of occurrence. We observed that 6.7% (86,916.2 km2) of Peru presents a high distribution probability of occurrence of Cedrela, distributed in 17 departments, with 4.4% (10,171.03 km2) of the area protected by PAs mainly under the category of protection forests. Another 11.65% (21,345.16 km2) of distribution covers areas highly prone to degradation, distributed mainly in the departments Ucayali, Loreto, and Madre de Dios, and needs immediate attention for its protection and restoration. We believe that the study will contribute significantly to conserve Cedrela and other endangered species, as well as to promote the sustainable use and management of timber species as a whole.

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]

Agricultural productivity in the Peruvian region of Amazonas is being jeopardized by conflicts and inadequate land use, that are ultimately contributing to environmental degradation. Therefore, our aim is to assess land suitability for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming in the Jucusbamba and Tincas microwatersheds located in Amazonas, in order to improve land-use planning and enhance the crop productivity of small-scale farmers. The site selection methodology involved a pair-wise comparison matrix (PCM) and a weighted multicriteria analysis using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on selected biophysical and socioeconomical drivers. Simultaneously, land cover mapping was conducted using field samples, remote sensing (RS), geostatistics and geographic information systems (GIS). The results indicated that for potato crop farming, the most important criteria are climatological (30.14%), edaphological (29.16%), topographical (25.72%) and socioeconomical (14.98%) in nature. The final output map indicated that 8.2% (22.91 km2) was highly suitable, 68.5% (190.37 km2) was moderately suitable, 21.6% (60.11 km2) was marginally suitable and 0.0% was not suitable for potato farming. Built-up areas (archaeological sites, urban and road networks) and bodies of water were discarded from this study (4.64 km2). This study intends to promote and guide sustainable agriculture through agricultural land planning.

Peru is one of the world’s main coffee exporters, whose production is driven mainly by five regions and, among these, the Amazonas region. However, a combined negative factor, including, among others, climate crisis, the incidence of diseases and pests, and poor land-use planning, have led to a decline in coffee yields, impacting on the family economy. Therefore, this research assesses land suitability for coffee production (Coffea arabica) in Amazonas region, in order to support the development of sustainable agriculture. For this purpose, a hierarchical structure was developed based on six climatological sub-criteria, five edaphological sub-criteria, three physiographical sub-criteria, four socio-economic sub-criteria, and three restrictions (coffee diseases and pests). These were integrated using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Of the Amazonas region, 11.4% (4803.17 km2), 87.9% (36,952.27 km2) and 0.7% (295.47 km2) are “optimal”, “suboptimal” and “unsuitable” for the coffee growing, respectively. It is recommended to orient coffee growing in 912.48 km2 of territory in Amazonas, which presents “optimal” suitability for coffee and is “unsuitable” for diseases and pests. This research aims to support coffee farmers and local governments in the region of Amazonas to implement new strategies for land management in coffee growing. Furthermore, the methodology used can be applied to assess land suitability for other crops of economic interest in Andean Amazonian areas.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination threatens cocoa farming in the province of Bagua in Amazonas, Peru. This study reports our assessment of Cd concentrations in cocoa farm soils, and in cocoa roots, leaves, testa, and cotyledon, thus evaluating the magnitude of the problem caused by Cd exposure. For our analysis, we sampled agricultural soil, cocoa roots, leaves and pods at 29 farms in the province of Bagua. Concentrations of Cd in each of the samples were measured and correlated with selected variables at each sampling site. Within our collection of samples, Cd levels showed great variability. In soil, Cd concentrations ranged between 1.02 and 3.54 mg kg−1. Concentrations of this metal within cocoa trees measured from roots, leaves, testa, and cotyledon, Cd ranged from 0.49 mg kg−1 to 2.53 mg kg−1. The cocoa trees exhibited variable degrees of allocation Cd from the soil to their tissues and thus considerable variation among themselves. We found that Cd amounts in roots were up to five times more concentrated than Cd levels in the soils and 2.85 times [Cd] the amounts found in cotyledon. Soil pH is a key variable enabling the uptake of this metal. Most importantly, our evaluation determined that measurements from the majority of farms exceeded the maximum permissible limits established by Peruvian and European legislation.

The spectacled, or Andean, bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to climate change and human-induced habitat fragmentation. There is an urgent need for the conservation of spectacled bear at real time. However, the lack of knowledge about the distribution of this species is considered as one of the major limitations for decision-making and sustainable conservation. In this study, 92 geo-referenced records of the spectacled bear, 12 environmental variables and the MaxEnt entropy modelling have been used for predictive modelling for the current and future (2050 and 2070) potential distribution of the spectacled bear in Amazonas, northeastern Peru. The areas of “high”, “moderate” and “low” potential habitat under current conditions cover 1.99% (836.22 km2), 14.46% (6081.88 km2) and 20.73% (8718.98 km2) of the Amazon, respectively. “High” potential habitat will increase under all climate change scenarios, while “moderate” and “low” potential habitat, as well as total habitat, will decrease over the time. The “moderate”, “low” and total potential habitat are distributed mainly in Yunga montane forest, combined grasslands/rangelands and secondary vegetation and Yunga altimontane (rain) forest, while “high” potential habitat is also concentrated in the Jalca. The overall outcome showed that the most of the important habitats of the spectacled bear are not part of the protected natural areas of Amazonas, under current as well as under future scenarios.

The use of native Trichoderma strains has been proposed as a sustainable alternative to control cocoa diseases. The aim of this study was to assess indigenous Trichoderma strains from Bagua Province, Peru, with reference to their antagonistic characteristics in vitro and their potential for in vitro biocontrol against frosty pod rot (FPR) disease. A total of 199 strains were assessed for in vitro mycoparasitism, antibiosis, and potential antagonism. The effect of four strains was evaluated in vitro using epidemiological variables, yield, and efficacy at two sites (Copallín and La Peca). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were reported for all variables evaluated in vitro and in vitro. Mycoparasitism ranged from 32% to 100%, antibiosis from 33.36% to 57.92%, and potential antagonism from 42.36% to 78.64%. All strains were found to affect the in vitro-assessed parameters in addition to enhancing the productive yield. The efficiency ranged from 38.99% to 71.9% in Copallín, and 45.88% to 51.16% in La Peca. The CP24-6 strain showed the highest potential for biocontrol under field conditions when considering its effect on both sites.

During the latest decades, the Amazon has experienced a great loss of vegetation cover, in many cases as a direct consequence of wildfires, which became a problem at local, national, and global scales, leading to economic, social, and environmental impacts. Hence, this study is committed to developing a routine for monitoring fires in the vegetation cover relying on recent multitemporal data (2017–2019) of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery using the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. In order to assess the burnt areas (BA), spectral indices were employed, such as the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Burn Ratio 2 (NBR2), and Mid-Infrared Burn Index (MIRBI). All these indices were applied for BA assessment according to appropriate thresholds. Additionally, to reduce confusion between burnt areas and other land cover classes, further indices were used, like those considering the temporal differences between pre and post-fire conditions: differential Mid-Infrared Burn Index (dMIRBI), differential Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR), differential Normalized Burn Ratio 2 (dNBR2), and differential Near-Infrared (dNIR). The calculated BA by Sentinel-2 was larger during the three-year investigation span (16.55, 78.50, and 67.19 km2) and of greater detail (detected small areas) than the BA extracted by Landsat-8 (16.39, 6.24, and 32.93 km2). The routine for monitoring wildfires presented in this work is based on a sequence of decision rules. This enables the detection and monitoring of burnt vegetation cover and has been originally applied to an experiment in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon. The results obtained by the two satellites imagery are compared in terms of accuracy metrics and level of detail (size of BA patches). The accuracy for Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 in 2017, 2018, and 2019 varied from 82.7–91.4% to 94.5–98.5%, respectively.

Forest and land degradation is a serious problem worldwide and the Peruvian National Map of Degraded Areas indicates that 13.78% (177,592.82 km2) of the country’s territory is degraded. Forest plantations can be a restoration strategy, while conserving economically important species affected by climate change and providing forestry material for markets. This study modelled the species distribution under current conditions and climate change scenarios of five Timber Forest Species (TFS) in the Amazonas Department, northeastern Peru. Modelling was conducted with Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) using 26 environmental variables. Of the total distribution under current conditions of Cedrelinga cateniformis, Ceiba pentandra, Apuleia leiocarpa, Cariniana decandra and Cedrela montana, 34.64% (2985.51 km2), 37.96% (2155.86 km2), 35.34% (2132.57 km2), 33.30% (1848.51 km2), and 35.81% (6125.44 km2), respectively, correspond to degraded areas and, therefore, there is restoration potential with these species. By 2050 and 2070, all TFS are projected to change their distribution compared to their current ranges, regardless of whether it will be an expansion and/or a contraction. Consequently, this methodology is intended to guide the economic and ecological success of forest plantations in reducing areas degraded by deforestation or similar activities.

Anthropic activity affects the hydrogeomorphological quality of fluvial systems. River and valley classifications are fundamental preliminary steps in determining their ecological status, and their prioritization is essential for the proper planning and management of soil and water resources. Given the importance of the High Andean livestock micro-watershed (HAL-MWs) ecosystems in Peru, an integrated methodological framework is presented for morphometric prioritization that uses a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Weighted Sum Approach (WSA), geomorphological fluvial classifications (channel, slope, and valley), and hydrogeomorphological evaluations using the Hydrogeomorphological Index (IHG). Of six HAL-MWs studied in Leimebamba and Molinopampa (Amazonas region), the PCWSA hybrid model identified the San Antonio HAL-MW as a top priority, needing the rapid adoption of appropriate conservation practices. Thirty-nine types of river course were identified, by combining 13 types of valley and 11 types of riverbed. The total assessment of the IHG indicated that 7.6% (21.8 km), 14.5% (41.6 km), 27.9% (80.0 km), and 50.0% (143.2 km) of the basin lengths have “Poor”, “Moderate”, “Good”, and “Very good” quality rankings, respectively. The increase in the artificial use of river channels and flood plains is closely linked to the decrease in hydrogeomorphological quality.

The aim of this work was to determine in an exploratory manner the effect of excessive iron supplementation on iron, zinc, and copper contents in pork and pork offal. Pigs averaging 50 days in age and 15 ± 1.3 kg body weight were allocated to a control group (500 ppm dietary Fe) and a supplemental group (3000 ppm dietary Fe). After an iron supplementation period of 60 days, blood samples were analyzed to determine iron biomarkers, serum copper, and zinc contents. Animals were slaughtered to assess total iron, non-heme iron, heme iron, zinc, and copper contents in samples of nine meat cuts and some offal. Iron supplementation improved the iron status in pigs with increased hemoglobin and hematocrit, but did not affect serum levels of iron, zinc, and copper. Iron supplementation did not affect the heme and non-heme iron contents of the different meat cuts. Zinc contents decreased by 32–55% in meat cuts, where iron content increased in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. No differences of zinc and copper were observed in offal samples. High concentrations of iron supplementation reduce zinc content in pork.

Cacao plant cadmium accumulation has become a major concern, especially for small Amazonian producers. A sustainable alternative to address its toxicity is the use of cadmium removal bacteria. In this regard, 138 rhizosphere isolates from cacao were examined. Supported by their phenotypic characterization and in vitro cadmium tolerance, three hypertolerant bacteria were selected and identified as members of the Bacillus (S1C2, R1C2) and Pseudomonas (V3C3) genera. They were able to grow normally and reduce the cadmium content under in vitro conditions. However, only S1C2 and R1C2 evidenced to employ intracellular Cd2+ accumulation, suggesting the variability of bacterial detoxification mechanisms. Their bioremediation capacity for Theobroma cacao CCN51 was also analyzed. Surprisingly, we found high detectable levels of Cd2+ in the non-cadmium supplemented control, suggesting an extra source of cadmium in the pot. Moreover, despite their cadmium reduction performance under in vitro conditions, they exerted highly variable outcomes on stem cadmium accumulation. While S1C2 and R1C2 showed a considerable reduction of Cd content in cacao stems, the strain V3C3 did not show any effect on Cd content. This highlights the complexity of the plant–bacteria interactions and the importance of the in vivo test for the selection of promising PGPR bacteria. Overall, our results suggest the cadmium alleviation potential and promising prospects of native Bacillus strains associated with Amazonian cacao.

Peruvian aquaculture, specifically trout production, has had significant growth over the past ten years. However, the establishment and expansion of small-scale aquaculture have been carried out without considering the suitability of the land. In Peru, such land suitability studies have yet to be reported. Therefore, a methodological framework is presented for inland aquaculture, which may be replicated, with the necessary complements, for the entire Fisheries and Aquaculture sector in Peru. This work modeled the suitability of land for sustainable rainbow trout aquaculture in the Molinopampa district (Peru). Fifteen key criteria (socioeconomic, environmental and physicochemical) were identified for the proper development of fish activity. These were mapped using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to build peer-to-peer comparison matrices and weight the importance of the criteria. The weighted overlay of maps (criteria) made it possible to determine that 4.26%, 23.03% and 69.73% of the territory is “very suitable”, “moderately suitable” and “marginally suitable”, respectively, for the development of aquaculture. The implementation of this methodology will contribute to more effective investment planning and efforts, both by the government and by private initiative.