Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales

Analysis of Polylepis tarapacana tree rings in the Bolivian Altiplano reveals a severe drought period between 1316 and 1371 that coincided with the abandonment of valley-floor villages in favor of fortified 'Pukara' sites. This evidence supports the hypothesis that water scarcity triggered social conflict among Pre-Inca communities. The document warns that current warming, glacier shrinkage, and increasing demands from mining and agriculture may increase the risk of similar water-related conflicts in the 21st century.

• Tree-ring analysis of Polylepis tarapacana, which grows at elevations of 4,500-5,000m, allows for the reconstruction of annual precipitation in the southern Bolivian Altiplano back to 1290.
• A significant drought period occurred between 1316 and 1371, which is identified as the longest drought period recorded in the last 700 years.
• The transition of Pre-Inca settlements from 'vulnerable' valley-floor villages to fortified hilltop sites (Pukaras) coincided with the 1316 drought, suggesting that scarcity of water for irrigation and consumption triggered social conflict.
• Current environmental trends in the Altiplano, including persistent warming since the 1950s and sustained glacier shrinkage, combined with population growth and increased water demands from mining and agriculture, increase the risk of future water shortages and political or economic conflict.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2024). Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales. https://iai.int/en/los-anillos-de-crecimiento-de-arboles-relacionan-sequias-con-conflictos-sociales/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales. 2024. https://iai.int/en/los-anillos-de-crecimiento-de-arboles-relacionan-sequias-con-conflictos-sociales/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales |date=8 October 2024 |url=https://iai.int/en/los-anillos-de-crecimiento-de-arboles-relacionan-sequias-con-conflictos-sociales/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2024los, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://iai.int/en/los-anillos-de-crecimiento-de-arboles-relacionan-sequias-con-conflictos-sociales/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }