Echoes of the Andes: Community Health and Climate Resilience in Ecuadorian Páramo Communities.

The project ‘Echoes of the Andes: Community Health and Climate Resilience in Ecuadorian Páramo Communities’ aims to produce actionable, community level evidence to strengthen climate resilience and wellbeing in Ecuador’s páramo regions, ecosystems vital for water regulation, biodiversity, and Indigenous livelihoods but threatened by climate change and severe data scarcity. In partnership with the University of Saskatchewan and ESPOCH, the research integrates socioeconomic information with satellite derived environmental indicators to address the lack of reliable, fine scale data needed for effective local planning. The project focuses on four methodological objectives: assembling a harmonized socio environmental dataset; creating accessible maps that illustrate community conditions and climate risks; developing a context specific Healthy Communities Indicator combining social, environmental, and climate dimensions; and applying econometric modeling to identify key drivers of community wellbeing. These components together aim to inform targeted, evidence-based interventions. Expected outcomes include a documented dataset, community friendly maps, a validated indicator, and an analytical report, along with a draft academic manuscript. While this phase does not yet involve Indigenous engagement, it establishes foundational tools and methods for deeper collaboration in future stages. Ultimately, the project strengthens international research partnerships and produces scalable approaches applicable to other remote, climate vulnerable regions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Oscar Zapata

Student:

Partner:

Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Sustainability and the Environment; Natural Resources; Health and Related Sciences and Technology

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: