Northern Andes

Waterfunds for Life in the El Cauca Valley, Colombia

Climate change projections for the South American Andes region indicate that water cycles will change. Rainy seasons will become even wetter, overwhelming the storage capacity of the mountainous cloud forests. High runoff from these types of events can create erosion and sediment-clogged streams, leaving less water available for people downstream. Meanwhile, dry season flows could become dangerously low.

 

Community Values at Risk

Agricultural operations depend on the water flowing out of the Andes forests. Projections show that water cycle changes and sedimentation could reduce sugar cane productivity by 9 percent. An economic analysis predicts each farmer on average would lose $240 per hectare per year.

 

Natural Solutions at Work

Recognizing the value of upland forest protection to their livelihoods, in the 1990s a consortium of sugar cane growers and processors in the Cauca Valley set up a fund to pay upland communities to keep trees intact and cattle out of streams. Now, with an understanding of the future risks to clean water from runoff and sedimentation, management strategies can be targeted and adjusted to protect water quality. The growers are working to identify new areas to protect, and to prioritize the highest-risk zones given the future scenarios.

• Focused and adjusted forest and watershed management in areas with steeply sloped banks and gullies to reduce sedimentation and encourage groundwater recharge that will improve availability and quality of freshwater resources

 

From Science to Action

To help them determine how to proceed, the Cauca Valley consortium is launching a study to compare the economics of continuing to fund upland forest protection, versus turning to an engineered approach, such as building a dam to trap water during the wet season.

In the meantime, similar water protection funds have sprouted across South America in hopes of duplicating the success of the Cauca Valley program. Thirty major cities now have water funds, including Bogota, Colombia; Lima and Quito in Peru; and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which are collectively helping to protect water supplies for 40 million people. Water managers in these places are looking to protect resources now and into the future.

 

Related Reports

Water and Climate Change Adaptation in the Americas
This document aims to highlight steps taken in the Americas to advance adaptation in the water domain, considering: good governance and institutional arrangements; financing; and efforts to strengthen capacities to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability. Look for two TNC projects highlighted in the case studies.

Report here: http://waterclimatechange.org/en/index.php

 

Page Updated: May 14, 2012