Professor Fredi Portilla, a member of the university's Biotechnology and Environmental Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Ambiente INBIAM), presented his paper titled "Adaptation to climate change and environmental management historical soil of Aguarongo forest – Ecuador" during the first annual congress on climate change in Ecuador which was held at Universidad Politécnica Península de Santa Elena from the 14 to the 16 April. 

Professor Portilla's research in the Aguarongo forest  presented the historical management of the forest, practices of ancestral crops, the growth of the agricultural frontier, the advances of grazing and alternative methods for the sustainable management of natural forests. 

The congress was organized by the Ecuadorian Network of Climate Change (RECC for its abbreviation in Spanish) which is made up by 19 universities and 5 public institutions, UPS is the founding member. The congress was supported by ESPE, UPS, EPN, San Francisco, UPSE, INOCAR, and the Ministry of the environment.