We provide new insights on land use and climate change in human–environment dynamics of the equatorial Andes. We focused on two provinces (Cotopaxi and Napo) and three communities of Ecuador characterized by similar land tenure regimes but different socioenvironmental contexts. We integrate satellite data classifications and statistical analyses, longitudinal downscaled climate modeling, and interviews with smallholder farmers, to analyze environmental changes between 1991 and 2017, local impacts, and local adaptations. In Cotopaxi, our results reveal a significant growth of forest plantations, irrigated agriculture, and greenhouse infrastructure associated with specific topographic and soil conditions, land and water availability and accessibility, and changing economic opportunities. In Napo, the reduction of montane forest vegetation and expansion of shrub vegetation are noteworthy. These changes are likely linked to feedback mechanisms between conservation and development strategies, exacerbated by contemporary climate change and increased natural hazards risk. Our study shows that mean annual temperature in the region has increased, seasonal change has intensified, annual precipitation has decreased, and the number of frost-free days has increased in relation to the normal period (1961–1990). Our study supports the notion that wide-ranging human adaptations linked to climate and land use changes, market elements (including livelihood transitions, occupational multiplicity, and production rationales), and complex knowledge systems (both indigenous and nonindigenous) are critical to the sustainability of smallholder farmers in the Andes.

我们在赤道安第斯山脉的人类环境动态中提供有关土地利用和气候变化的新见解。我们重点研究了两个省（科托帕希和纳波）和厄瓜多尔的三个社区，这些社区的土地保有权制度相似，但社会环境背景不同。我们整合了卫星数据分类和统计分析，纵向缩小的气候模型以及与小农的访谈，以分析1991年至2017年之间的环境变化，当地影响和当地适应性。在科托帕克西，我们的结果表明与特定地形和土壤条件，土地和水的可利用性和可及性以及不断变化的经济机会相关的人工林，灌溉农业和温室基础设施的显着增长。在那坡 值得注意的是山地森林植被的减少和灌木植被的扩大。这些变化很可能与保护和发展战略之间的反馈机制有关，现代气候变化和自然灾害风险增加加剧了这些变化。我们的研究表明，与正常时期（1961-1990年）相比，该地区的年平均气温升高，季节变化加剧，年降水量减少，无霜天数增加。我们的研究支持以下观念：人类广泛适应气候变化和土地利用的变化，市场要素（包括生计转变，职业多样性和生产原理），