Water extraction in the Andes: Adaptation to climate change

Project Number: 400.1022

The climate crisis is exacerbating the water crisis in many places and putting smallholder households in the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes under increasing pressure. Both the cultivation of sufficient food for self-sufficiency and feed for livestock is at risk due to a lack of water availability. As a result, sales of the associated alpaca wool and knitwear are also at risk of collapsing.

With our project work in the area of water harvesting in the Andes, we support smallholder households in dealing with climate change. Our aim is to improve the skills of smallholder families in water harvesting in order to adapt to climate change. To this end, our partner organizations impart important knowledge in the field of water management, for the construction of water retention basins and new water seepage pits as well as reforestation with local tree and bush stands on the banks of selected streams and river beds. Our partner organizations thus make an important contribution to replenishing water reservoirs and work together with both smallholder households and elected representatives of indigenous communities.

In addition to targeted work on water catchment strategies, it is also important to raise awareness among the general public and the responsible authorities in order to promote commitment to the protection of water bodies and the unique Andean wetlands.

Background information

In the context of climate change, extreme weather events such as drought and prolonged extreme cold, which leads to frost, are increasing in intensity and frequency. This also presents people in the Andes with major new challenges. While smallholder households could still count on five to six months of rain 20 years ago, today the figure is just four to five months.

Glaciers as water sources are also declining drastically. According to the authorities in Bolivia and Peru, the glacier retreat in the project region of the departments of Cusco and Puno (Peru) and La Paz (Bolivia) is between 70 and 90 percent. Important rivers are thus losing their most important water reserves and carry little water in the dry season, which makes supply and agriculture more difficult.

There is a great need for action, as over 90 percent of smallholder farming families in these departments have no technical irrigation infrastructure. They are dependent on acquiring new knowledge and methods in the field of water management and working with micro-irrigation methods. The Lake Titicaca region in particular is facing a serious crisis that is jeopardizing the water supply for almost three million people in Bolivia and Peru. A large part of the population is of indigenous origin. Aymaras and Quechuas are particularly well represented.

Project goals

Together with its partner organizations, Missi-on 21 supports smallholder households in acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of water management and in setting up water retention basins and micro-irrigation systems. Water harvesting strategies such as reforestation and the planting of Andean grasses and mosses are also intended to increase the water storage capacity of the surrounding ecosystems.

Target group

The activities are mainly aimed at smallholder indigenous communities in rural areas. Women play an important leadership role, as they are permanently present on the ground and play a key role in agriculture. However, the educational programs and all project activities relating to water extraction are open to all interested parties who wish to participate and expand their knowledge.

Activities

- Imparting skills and knowledge in the field of water management
- Construction of water retention basins and natural seepage pits on slopes
- Reforestation and planting of shrubs along strategic areas such as water source areas, river beds and wetlands
- Installation of micro-irrigation systems for the cultivation of food crops
- Imparting knowledge for dealing with enforcement authorities and about basic rights in water use

Project progress

Prodiasure

Unsere Partnerorganisation unterstützte 2025 die Wasserbehörden auf Gemeindeebene, die hier eine führende Rolle bei der Umsetzung von Massnahmen zur Wassergewinnung und zur Anpassung an die Folgen des Klimawandels spielten. Dazu gehören Aufforstungskampagnen und Baumassnahmen: Versickerungsgräben, Terrassen und Rückhaltebecken. So wurde etwa ein rundes Betonbecken mit einem Fassungsvermögen von 70.000 Litern Wasser gebaut. Das Wasser wird von den Familien für die agrarökologische Produktion und auch für den alltäglichen Verbrauch genutzt.

In der Gemeinde Copacati haben Aymara-Frauen eine führende Rolle bei den Massnahmen zum integrierten Wassermanagement übernommen und sind rege beteiligt, Wassergewinnungspraktiken in ihrer Gemeinde zu verbreiten und umzusetzen. Zudem sind sie aktive Mitglieder des Netzwerks der Wasserbeobachterinnen und des Titicacasees – und stellen in diesem Netzwerk auch die Präsidentin, welche die Pflege des Titicacasees leitet und fördert.

Fundación Machaqa Amawta

Die Stiftung FMA unterstützte 2025 die Bevölkerung der Gemeinde Macamaca dabei, ein Bewässerungssystem einzurichten und laufend zu verbessern. Dadurch erhielten rund 370 Personen Zugang zu Wasser. Ergänzend wurde der Stand an technischen Kenntnissen in der Gemeinde erhoben und die Projektteilnehmenden konnten sich zu nachhaltigem Verhalten im Verbrauch von Wasser und in der Wiederaufforstung schulen. Wichtig waren auch soziale Weiterbildungen: für eine Wasserbewirtschaftung, die durch gemeinsam getroffene Vereinbarungen und Entscheide getragen wird.

Diese Verbesserung des Bewässerungssystems im Rahmen eines gemeinschaftlichen Prozesses verbesserte auch die Bedingungen für die Produktion von Nahrungsmitteln und zur Schaffung von Einkommen. In diesem Prozess wurden Frauen und Männer als gleichberechtigte Akteure bei der Entwicklung von Lösungen für das Gemeinwohl anerkannt. Durch die Weiterbildung stärkte die Gemeinde zudem das Bewusstsein dafür, wie wichtig es ist, die natürlichen Quellen im Einzugsgebiet des Titicacasees zu schützen. Denn die Quellen bilden neues Grundwasser und speisen den See mit frischem Wasser.

This film by our partner organization IDECA is about coping with climate change in the highlands.