Water imbalances: stakeholder disparities and resiliency in Arequipa, Peru
Abstract
Arequipa is Perus second largest city and serves as an important cultural, agricultural, industrial, and economic center. The citys landscape has changed dramatically over the past several decades through internal rural-to-urban migration, agricultural expansion into previously arid unoccupied zones, loss of traditional farming areas through expansion of the citys urban core, increasing industrial activities, and continued expansion of a large copper mine. Due to the citys extremely arid climate, stakeholders predominately rely on the Chili River to meet their water demands, putting increasing stress on a limited resource. This is of particular concern due to the unknown future effects of climate change on the rivers seasonal water availability. This work focuses on the coupled human and environmental system of Arequipa, the potential threats to ecological and human resiliency, the effects and interconnections of environmental and social stressors, and questions that need to be answered to develop sustainable adaptive strategies. Ecological stressors to be discussed include the increasing demand on Arequipas limited water resources, agricultural soil and water quality, and changes in farming practices. Social stressors to be discussed include the economic instability and disparity among the citys population, loss of traditional farming practices and knowledge, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These research questions were addressed through the analysis of soil and irrigation water from agricultural fields across the city, analysis of the rivers water quality, and surveys with farmers and agencies to understand perceptions and issues related to agriculture and water quantity and quality in Arequipa. This case study and the understanding of the interconnections between environmental change, resiliency, and Arequipenos has wide applications to other urban areas including those undergoing rapid development and in arid environments in general.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFMGC25K0765T