📋 Tender Overview
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (Senamhi), an agency assigned to the Ministry of Environment, prepared the study Impacts of Land Use and Climate Changes on Hydrological Responsible Responsible in A Peruvian Andean Watershed prepared by specialists from the Directorate of Hydrology.
This research, published in the International Journal of Water and Climate Change of the International Water Association (IWA), was developed within the framework of the program of compensation for ecosystem services (Mererese), in a high Andean basin located in the head of the Marino River, in the province of Abancay, Apurimac.
The objective was to analyze how the change in land use and climate affect hydrological responses in an Andean basin, as well as evaluate the relevance of the Merese program in front of these scenarios.
The study focused on the Rontoccocha and Ccayllahuasi basins, fundamental water recharge areas that supply water to the city of Abancay. For the analysis, the SWAT hydrological model was used, calibrated and validated with data from the Ecidrological Monitoring System of Rontoccocha and the Pisco Climate Database. 21 climate change scenarios and land use were simulated, which allowed to evaluate the effects on the flows and hydrological processes of the basin.
Among the main findings of the investigation, it is noted that the hydrological model managed to properly represent the flows in a context of data scarcity. Meanwhile, in the Andes of the Peruvian Southeast, the impacts of climate change exceed those generated by the change in land use. Understanding these impacts is essential to design better conservation and restoration strategies of Andean ecosystems.
At the global level, payments for ecosystem services (PSA) have consolidated as a key tool to face the climatic crisis and protect natural resources. In Peru, the Merese program is implemented by the companies providing services (EPS) and promotes agreements between communities and companies to conserve water sources. However, there is still limited scientific evidence on its effects, so this publication represents a valuable contribution to strengthen its design and implementation.
The full article is available for free at the following link: https://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article/doi/10.2166/wcc.2025.820/108507/impacts-Of-land-use-and-climate-changes-on
With this publication, Senamhi continues to consolidate its role as a key scientific entity in the generation of knowledge about climate change and water resource management in the country. This type of research allows to strengthen public policies based on evidence, oriented to sustainable and resilient territorial management against increasingly challenging environmental scenarios.
