Conference Agenda

Alluvial gold mining is one of the main drivers of land use change and environmental degradation in Peru's southern Amazon region. In the Malinowski River basin (Madre de Dios), this activity has caused the accelerated loss of primary forests, which affects essential processes for regulating the local climate. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between mining expansion, deforestation, and climate variability from 1984 to 2025. Landsat images were processed using QGIS and Google Earth Engine (GEE) to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and detect changes in vegetation cover over time. SENAMHI climate records were used to assess climate trends. The results revealed a progressive loss of forest cover with peaks between 2015 and 2018 and sustained mining area expansion, even during years of overall deforestation and land use change reduction. A positive correlation was found between deforestation and land use change (r = 0.85; p < 0.001), as well as moderate associations between rising temperatures and mining expansion (r = 0.30–0.63). Additionally, a strong negative correlation was identified between annual rainfall and mining activity (r = −0.80; p = 0.003), suggesting that loss of forest cover reduces evapotranspiration and affects local moisture flows. We conclude that the expansion of alluvial gold mining in the Malinowski River basin primarily drives land use changes and local environmental degradation. The progressive loss of forest cover associated with this activity transforms the landscape and alters the biophysical processes that regulate the regional climate.

In the fishing industry, approximately 35% of captured products are lost or wasted. These by-products not only represent an economic loss due to the high value of essential mineral compounds but also contribute to environmental pollution. In response to this issue, an alternative has emerged: the production of agricultural biostimulants through enzymatic hydrolysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the germination index of Lactuca sativa var. Tropicana seeds treated with a biostimulant derived from fish waste combined with algae, and to compare it with an algae-based biostimulant through a phytotoxicity assay. The results showed a germination index greater than 80% at dilutions of 0.01% and 0.001%, indicating the absence of phytotoxic substances in the biostimulant. This proposal demonstrates its potential as a sustainable alternative to agriculture.

This research synthesizes the assessment of the climate impact on the endemic species Begonia octopetala in the coastal hills ecosystem of Peru up to 2065 using ensemble modeling, which combines machine learning and statistical algorithms (Maxent, Random Forest, BioClim0, and GLM). The model was fed with CMIP6 bioclimatic variables to project habitat suitability under Shared Socioeconomic Trajectories (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5). The results reveal a critical loss of suitability under the pessimistic scenario (SSP5), projecting the total disappearance of suitable habitat by 2065. Only the SSP1 scenario shows the persistence of suitable microclimates, albeit with severe fragmentation. These findings quantify the species' vulnerability to radiative forcing and underscore the need to implement adaptive conservation strategies based on identified climate refugia

Abstract– Fullerene C₆₀, a nanomaterial, has been shown to demonstrate high antioxidant potential. The conjugated spherical structure of the compound enables its ability to accept multiple electrons and neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, its application in dermal applications is limited by its insolubility in water and low bioavailability. To enhance the efficacy of these materials, fullerene derivatives functionalized with polar amino acids, such as methionine and cysteine, were developed to improve their solubility, biocompatibility, and antioxidant capacity in dermal applications.

The chemical functionalization of fullerene with amino acid functional groups was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The functionalized fullerene samples exhibited a substantial enhancement in solubility within aqueous media, thereby overcoming the aggregation characteristic of pure C₆₀. In cell assays, the functionalized derivatives exhibited adequate biocompatibility at low concentrations, in contrast to pure C₆₀, which demonstrated significant toxicity after 24 hours. In terms of antioxidant capacity, the formulations with the functionalized product exhibited a significant reduction in ROS production, with the 3% C60-Methionine formulation demonstrating the highest efficacy.

In comparison to a commercial dermal product, the experimental formulations exhibited satisfactory antioxidant performance in the initial phase; however, they demonstrated diminished cellular stability after a 24-hour period. This study underscores the potential of methionine and cysteine modifications to enhance the properties of C60, presenting promising alternatives for safer and more functional antioxidant dermal formulations.