Resumen: 

The ecology and sustainable management of Aulonemia queko must be considered for its preservation and sustainable management in the southern Andes of Ecuador. Andean Tropical Montane Forests (ATMF) are recognized for their high biodiversity. The species composition in these forests is extremely diverse, facilitating the formation of forest communities whose structure is highly heterogeneous due to biotic and abiotic factors.

The functional traits, composition, diversity, and biomass of forest communities in AMF are uniquely distributed in response to climatic, topographic, and edaphic factors. Species richness, biomass, and tree density decrease with altitude, while low temperatures do not favor tree diversity or biomass.

Mature forests exhibit greater diversity and higher basal area and height, determining biomass. Functional traits constitute a vital part of the vegetation structure in AMF, manifested in the diversity of functional species groups. These traits respond to environmental conditions and successional age.

Bamboo, particularly A. queko, has emerged as a key element influencing the structure, composition, and resilience of montane forests. Its dominance profoundly impacts forest dynamics, altering nutrient cycling, light availability, and resource competition. Bamboo species improve nutritional composition through high litter production and rapid decomposition, accelerating the return of nutrients to the soil.

The propagation of A. queko faces challenges due to its sporadic and cyclical flowering, with phenological periods that can occur every 25 to 30 years. However, there are propagation techniques that utilize vegetative parts and hormones to improve rooting capacity.

Globally, bamboo is a versatile and crucial plant for millions of people, being integrated into sustainable management programs due to its role in poverty alleviation and its potential as a renewable resource. In Ecuador, although bamboo is widely distributed, its management has been limited due to a lack of knowledge about its economic potential.

This research is based on the need to understand the ecology and sustainable management of A. queko, a key plant in the montane ecosystems of the western slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. This bamboo, characterized by its distribution between 2.000 and 3.500 meters above sea level, plays an important role in the ecological dynamics of tropical montane forests, particularly in its interaction with the diversity of woody species and in the regeneration of secondary forests.

In addition to its ecological role, A. queko is highly valued by rural communities, as its culms are used to make numerous handicrafts, which are sold in local, regional, and international markets. Previous studies conducted in the Chaucha, San Gerardo, and Molleturo forests have provided key information on the ecological and floristic differences between the forest types in which A. queko may or may not be present. In the primary forests of Chaucha and San Gerardo, which have high tree diversity and biomass, the presence of A. queko was not recorded. On the other hand, in the secondary forests of Molleturo, which present a distinct floristic structure, the species was found in abundance, highlighting its ecological role in these disturbed ecosystems.

The research also addresses a very detailed analysis of the production, distribution, and marketing chain, identifying key actors in the various production chains associated with the sustainable use of A. queko in the province of Azuay.