Editorial Transparency and Methodology: At Desarrollo Sustentable, our analytical work is based on the direct extraction, cross-referencing, and normalization of statistical databases from the world’s leading international organizations — World Bank, FAO, USGS, IRENA, and ECLAC. This page details our verification protocols, primary data sources, and indicator update criteria.
1. Editorial Mission and Research Leadership
Founded in 2013, desarrollosustentable.co is an independent digital portal specialized in economic analysis, ecology, and natural resources. Research and content direction is led by Juan David Montoya, an economist graduated from the Universidad de Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia), with over 12 years of experience analyzing sustainability, decarbonization policies, and natural resource balance sheets across Latin America and globally.
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Our editorial objective is to translate complex macroeconomic and environmental time-series datasets into clear, accessible, and rigorously structured resources for students, educators, researchers, and environmental professionals.
2. Primary Data Sources and Statistical Datasets
To ensure maximum analytical accuracy and neutrality, no indicator published on this site is based on unverified estimates. All data in our 2026 Natural Resource Profiles is compiled and cross-referenced from the following official institutional sources:
| Institution / Source | Reference Database | Key Extracted Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank | World Development Indicators (WDI) | Mining/agricultural GDP shares, access to clean drinking water, per capita CO₂ emissions, and mean annual precipitation. |
| FAO (United Nations) | AQUASTAT & Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) | Renewable internal freshwater resources, river basins, total forest area, and net deforestation rates. |
| U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | Mineral Commodity Summaries | Proven reserves and global annual production of copper, lithium, gold, silver, iron ore, and bauxite. |
| IEA / IRENA | Renewable Capacity Statistics & Global Energy Outlook | National electricity generation matrices (% renewable vs. fossil, solar, wind, and hydropower capacity). |
| ECLAC & National Ministries | Sustainability Reports & Environmental Accounts | National ecological transition roadmaps and official UN SDG 2030 indicator progress by country. |
3. Verification and Quality Control Protocol
- Extraction and Normalization: Data is drawn from the most recent statistical releases published by official multilateral bodies, ensuring units of measurement (km³, metric tons, hectares, gigawatt-hours) are standardized and directly comparable across nations.
- Cross-Checking: When minor discrepancies arise between national ministerial reports and multilateral databases, the United Nations / World Bank standardized methodology is given precedence, with qualifying context noted where relevant.
- Periodic Recalibration: Country profiles are continuously reviewed upon the release of new annual statistical compendiums (such as the annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries or biannual IEA World Energy Outlook updates).
4. Editorial Policies, Corrections, and Contact
For details regarding our broader ethical guidelines, conflict of interest disclosure, AI usage policies, and general editorial standards, please consult our separate Editorial Standards and Methodology page.
If you identify an outdated figure, a typographical error, or would like to suggest an official institutional dataset to enrich our country guides or thematic analyses, please write to us directly through our Contact page.
Last methodological review: September 2026 · Editorial Direction: Juan David Montoya