Assessment of Sustainability and Biodiversity Indicators in Venezuelan Production Units in Agroecological Transition

Abstract

The soil–plant–atmosphere continuum constitutes a dynamic and interdependent system frequently disrupted by conventional agricultural practices. The present study corresponds to the preparation or reflexive diagnosis phase of action research aimed at improving agroecological techniques applied to soil management in production units undergoing agroecological transition, considering climate change scenarios. The geographical scope encompasses the municipalities of Libertador, Campo Elías, Sucre, Andrés Bello, Alberto Adriani, Tulio Febres Cordero, Pinto Salinas, and Zea (Andean Region), as well as the municipalities of Colón and Catatumbo in the Southern Lake Maracaibo region (Zulia Region). The methodology included a participatory diagnosis through mixed data collection techniques that enabled the description, recording, systematization, and interpretation of information, allowing for the evaluation of sustainability and biodiversity indices in production units. Sustainability indicators related to biodiversity were analyzed: cultivated diversity, plant species richness in plots, weed and pest management strategies, presence of forest patches, and tillage systems. Shannon diversity index (H') and Pielou evenness index (J') were applied for quantitative analysis, yielding J' values between 0.23 and 0.93 in production units ranging from 0.8 to 300 hectares, respectively. The results revealed lower acceptability of indicators in units exceeding 50 hectares and satisfactory values in smaller-scale units. The findings were shared with the research team and producers from both regions, promoting social appropriation of knowledge and strengthening decision-making processes grounded in local agroecological evidence.