The University of Azuay and the Botanical Garden of Cuenca

On February 27, the Botanical Garden was inaugurated in our city. Francisco Salgado, Rector of the University of Azuay, opened the event with the following words:

"The Botanical Garden is to celebrate the fullness of life, it is to have the wonderful possibility that the best researchers in the world get together with children so that they learn by playing to respect and value life."

Johanna Ochoa, Coordinator of the School of Environmental Engineering, explains that the involvement of the University of Azuay in the project was born in 2020:

"Our participation is to develop the investigative potential and ensure that it is a space for the exchange of knowledge, where the scientific research carried out by the University of Azuay on issues related to the line of Environmental Sciences is shown."

The teacher pointed out that the School of Environmental Engineering wants to place in the new space, among other equipment and infrastructure, a weather station and a team for monitoring the quality of soil and water.

“We are interested in many nature-based solutions. Mitigate different environmental impacts that are generated, but from the implementation of natural infrastructure ", he said and added:

"Obviously, the main points that we highlight within the agreement that is about to be signed with the Botanical Garden of Cuenca, is that joint research projects can be developed in disciplines that interest both the administrators of the Botanical Garden of Cuenca and the University. of Azuay ”.

Antonio Crespo, Coordinator of the School of Biology, also mentioned that Danilo Minga, a researcher at the University of Azuay, did some previous studies for the Botanical Garden, specifically the study of the native plants that are going to be placed there.

“What we are going to do with the University of Azuay is to occupy the spaces of the Botanical Garden to do some demonstrative works, in the case of Biology we are going to make a pollinator garden. We are going to occupy for talks and student practices ”.

"It is basically a natural living laboratory that we will be constantly occupying both the School of Biology and the School of Environmental Engineering," concluded Crespo, for whom the physical proximity of the University of Azuay with the Botanical Garden is key.

UDA Correspondent