DendroRegulation: Enhancing COA Regulations and Dendroclimatic Potential using Tree-Ring in Southern Ecuador

ABSTRACT This study aims to strengthen dendroclimatic research by analyzing tree rings from Handroanthus chrysanthus and Bursera graveolens in southern Ecuador. The research was conducted in the "Laipuna" Nature Reserve, specifically in the Municipality of Macará. The goals include developing dendrochronological records, determining the dendroclimatic potential of the species for evaluating the relationship between precipitation and tree growth. Chronologies were correlated with regional climate parameters (National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Ecuador, INAMHI; Climatic Research Unit Time-Series, CRU TS 4.08; El Niño land precipitation index, CRU TS 4.03), as well as with spatial patterns of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies, and proposing enhancing Organic Code of the Environment (COA) regulations. This was carried out to promote the use of forest species with dendroclimatic potential, including faculty number thirteen. Two tree ring widths chronologies were developed based on the 39 H. chrysanthus and 53 B. graveolens trees. The correlations between tree growth and climatic variables shows strong correlations with precipitation during the rainy season. Our enhancing COA regulations were to “Implement measures for the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of all long-lived forest species with dendroclimatic potential in southern Ecuador.” The findings suggest that enhancing COA can support the conservation and sustainable management of these forest species. These findings help the local climate adaptation strategies and improve environmental policy in the region. Keywords: Dendrochronology, tree-ring, dendroRegulation, dendroclimatic potential, dendroclimatology.