The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) at ESPOL participated in working meetings with representatives of the “SbNGIA Network—Nature-Based Solutions for Integrated Water Management in Vulnerable Communities,” an initiative of the Ibero-American Program for Science and Technology for Development (CYTED). The objective of these meetings was to address issues related to the Ecohydrology Demonstration Site (UNESCO) of the Manglaralto river-aquifer system.
During a week-long working visit to Girona, the dean of the FICT, Paul Carrión, maintained a schedule of academic collaboration with members of the CYTED network and the University of Girona. These meetings facilitated the exchange of experiences and the analysis of nature-based approaches to integrated water management, with an emphasis on their application in vulnerable communities. A visit by an expert from the University of Girona to Manglaralto is scheduled for the coming days. Additionally, several strategies for cooperation and strengthening research and outreach were discussed, focused on providing high-level training for FICT students.
As part of the technical agenda, a visit was made to a natural park in Catalonia designated as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention. This site served as a reference for learning about conservation practices and the sustainable management of water resources, providing valuable insights for strengthening the Manglaralto demonstration site and establishing it as a model for ecohydrological management.
FICT’s participation in these international forums contributes to institutional capacity building, fosters scientific cooperation, and promotes sustainable solutions for water management, in line with ESPOL’s commitment to sustainable development and the generation of applied knowledge.
