Towards inclusion of local ecological knowledge in ecohydrological modeling of high Andean peatlands

Perez N.; Postigo J.C.; Loisel J.; Montoya N.; Rado M. · Sustainability Science (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s11625-026-01890-0

Resumen

High-Andean peatlands (bofedales) are part of a social-ecological system managed and used by pastoralists as forage for their livestock and a water source during the dry season. Maintaining healthy bofedales is important for pastoralist communities as well as critical zone function (watershed management, including water flow regulation and soil carbon sequestration). In our study region, bofedales are found near the headwaters of the Vilcanota-Urubamba River, which eventually flows into the Amazon River, influencing millions of people and ecosystems. The scientific data needed to develop predictive, process-based ecohydrological models of bofedales remain sparse. In contrast, local pastoralists have a narrative of changing environmental conditions effect on those ecosystems and a deep understanding of bofedal functioning. We performed semi-structured interviews in four local communities on the north and south sides of the Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru. Interview results are intended to inform the development of a bofedal ecohydrological model and develop model outputs that may be of use for local communities. The most frequently discussed topics were the effects of drought on bofedal health and associated need for bofedal maintenance through irrigation suggesting human management of critical zone processes. We note that irrigation — despite its omnipresence across the study region — is seldom mentioned in ecohydrological studies of bofedales. Our study begins to address this knowledge gap; we present a landscape-scale bofedal conceptual model that emphasizes hydrological complexity and includes irrigation. By integrating local knowledge into a process-based model, we provide outputs that may be socially meaningful and trusted by local management actors. © The Author(s) 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco