Digital Herbarium: Review and strategic guidelines to strengthen floristic documentation in Manabí, Ecuador

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the importance and development of digital herbaria through a literature review that would allow for the formulation of strategic guidelines to strengthen floristic documentation in the province of Manabí. To this end, an integrative review methodology was applied, supported by elements of systematic review. This allowed for the organization and comparison of twenty scientific articles and complementary sources selected according to criteria of relevance, quality, and currency. The results showed that digital herbaria are becoming essential infrastructures not only for the conservation, research, and management of biodiversity, but also for academia, as they facilitate data standardization, global interoperability, and open access to botanical knowledge. This fosters collaboration among institutions, researchers, and students, expanding their educational and scientific impact. Furthermore, the review revealed that these repositories require rigorous technical standards, robust institutional structures, and community participation to ensure their sustainability. Based on these findings, guidelines were designed, distributed across three dimensions: technical, organizational, and socio-educational, aimed at the creation and strengthening of a digital herbarium in Manabí. In conclusion, the integration of these guidelines allows for the consolidation of a viable and necessary proposal to document the provincial flora, improve access to botanical data, and support conservation actions in a diverse and environmentally vulnerable territory.