Abstract

BRAMBILLA SERRA, Dino Marcello. FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT IN ECUADOR. Aula Virtual [online]. 2025, vol.6, n.13, e485.  Epub Aug 07, 2025. ISSN 2665-0398.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16273110.

The objective of this study was to analyze flood risk management strategies in Ecuador, evaluating the effectiveness of institutional plans, social vulnerability, the integration of early warning systems, interinstitutional coordination, and the impact of climate change and unplanned urbanization. A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using advanced searches in SciELO, Scopus, and Dialnet with Boolean operators. From 140 initial records, after removing duplicates and applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 8 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis. Results show that, despite normative advances in institutional plans, implementation gaps persist: 33.3% of teachers did not promote student roles during emergencies and 51.7% of municipalities lack updated plans. Social vulnerability in coastal communities is medium (55%) and influenced by institutional and ecological factors. Early warning systems require the integration of technology and local knowledge, as only 28.6% of teachers practiced protocols in drills. Interinstitutional coordination is limited, and lack of coordination and resources affects management effectiveness. Climate change and unplanned urbanization have increased the frequency and intensity of floods, exceeding recent historical records by 42%. It is concluded that Ecuador needs an integrated approach combining multilevel governance, scientific and ancestral knowledge, resilient land-use planning, and continuous mixed-method evaluations, overcoming institutional fragmentation and promoting community participation.

Keywords : Risk management; floods; Ecuador; climate change; community participation.

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