Mountain freshwater ecosystems and protected areas in the tropical Andes: insights and gaps for climate change adaptation

Although protected areas (PAs) play an important role in ecosystem conservation and climate change adaptation, no systematic information is available on PA protection of high-elevation freshwater ecosystems (e.g., lakes and watersheds with glaciers), their biodiversity and their ecosystem services i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental conservation 2022-03, Vol.49 (1), p.17-26
Main Authors: Quenta-Herrera, Estefania, Crespo-Pérez, Verónica, Mark, Bryan G, Gonzales, Ana Lía, Kulonen, Aino
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Aquatic ecosystems
Area
Biodiversity
Climate adaptation
Climate change
Conservation
Conventions
Creeks & streams
Ecosystem conservation
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Elevation
Fresh water
Freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater lakes
Freshwater resources
Glacial lakes
Glaciers
Glaciohydrology
Grey literature
Hydrology
Lakes
Literature reviews
Mountain ecosystems
Mountains
National parks
Nature conservation
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
Protected areas
River ecology
Subject Review
Water conservation
Water resources
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:Although protected areas (PAs) play an important role in ecosystem conservation and climate change adaptation, no systematic information is available on PA protection of high-elevation freshwater ecosystems (e.g., lakes and watersheds with glaciers), their biodiversity and their ecosystem services in the tropical Andes. We therefore combined a literature review and map analysis of PAs of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and national systems of PAs and freshwater ecosystems. We found that seven national parks were created for water resources protection but were not designed for freshwater conservation (i.e., larger watersheds). High-value biodiversity sites have not been protected, and new local PAs were created due to water resource needs. We quantified 31 Ramsar sites and observed that PAs cover 12% of lakes, 31% of glacial lakes and 12% of the total stream length in the tropical Andes. Additionally, 120 watersheds (average area 631 km2) with glaciers and 40% of the total glacier surface area were covered by PAs. Future research into the role of PAs in ecosystem services provision and more detailed freshwater inventories within and around PAs, especially for those dependent on glacier runoff, will fill key knowledge gaps for freshwater conservation and climate change adaptation in the tropical Andes.
ISSN:0376-8929
1469-4387
DOI:10.1017/S0376892921000382