Bridging Ancestral Knowledge and Ecosystem Science for Coastal Restoration in Latin America

Peer-review status: This manuscript has not been peer-reviewed. It is a preprint submitted for public dissemination and open feedback. This study documents the CALISUR methodology, a community-based mangrove restoration model rooted in ancestral ecological knowledge and applied across six intervention sites in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The methodology integrates scientific and traditional practices to address hydrological disruption, eutrophication, and sedimentation, using three key techniques: hydrodynamic rehabilitation, community-managed mangroves on eutrophicated soils, and the creation of new mangroves with recycled sediments. Ecological indicators and community participation are monitored across phases. The results show successful ecological recovery and social empowerment. This paper presents the methodology, results, lessons learned, and implications for scaling across Latin America.