Conservación Y Uso Sostenible De Macleania Rupestris (Kunth) A.C.S. By local communities in the Andean ecosystems of the provinces of Azuay and Cañar

The project raises the need to generate basic information for the sustainable use, propagation and conservation of the Macleania Rupestris (Kunth) ACS species, native shrub of the Andes, whose fruits have potential for their use within the production systems, mainly of local communities. A limitation for the sustainable use of this species is the lack of information about the current state of natural populations, their forms of propagation and the uses associated with this wild plant, whose knowledge is being lost little by little, therefore, this project has as main objective, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of M. Rupestris by local communities in the Andean ecosystem of the provinces of Azuay and Caño, and as specific objectives: 1) Characterize the populations of M. Rupestris in Azuay and Cañar; 2) Evaluate interest and exchange knowledge between local settlers where this species is located and other actors involved in the productive systems associated with M. Rupestris, and 3) Evaluate methods of propagation and conservation of M. Rupestris. Due to the importance of this species for food security and its in situ conservation, strategic partners such as INIAP and Maate, have indicated their interest and commitment to the development of the project. The active participation of university students and local communities through workshops, interviews, qualification work in different spaces will generate a positive impact on sustainable conservation and use. Research is expected to contribute to human well -being in the identified communities.

2nd UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH-LINKAGE PROJECTS