Los desafíos de la investigación interdisciplinaria en biodiversidad y cambio climático

The report argues that climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes requires a shift from fragmented, traditional science to a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that integrates natural and social sciences with traditional knowledge. It identifies key barriers, such as the disconnect between scientists and policymakers, fragmented information, and a lack of institutional support for interdisciplinary work. The document highlights national examples from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for government-led funding strategies that prioritize transdisciplinary research to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and human well-being.

• Scientific research in the Tropical Andes is characterized by significant fragmentation, including a lack of communication between countries and a disconnect between research outputs and political decision-making.
• Effective climate adaptation requires a transdisciplinary approach that integrates natural sciences, social sciences, and the traditional knowledge of local and indigenous populations.
• The retreat of tropical glaciers in the Andes is presented as a primary example of a problem requiring an interdisciplinary response, involving meteorologists, glaciologists, hydraulic engineers, physicists, chemists, biologists, sociologists, economists, agronomists, and doctors.
• In Bolivia, the Alianza de Institutos para el Cambio Climático was created to foster holistic research, though it still struggles to overcome the traditional mentality of individual institutes.
• Colombia has implemented the National Integral Adaptation Program (INAP), which uses Participatory Action Research to involve local populations in adaptation strategies for high mountains, coastal zones, and public health (specifically malaria and dengue).
• Ecuador's Ministry of Environment leads interdisciplinary projects focused on water governance and the impacts of accelerated glacier retreat, specifically around the Antisana nevado.
• Peru's PROCLIM program conducted an integrated evaluation of the Mantaro River basin, resulting in a Climate Atlas and a regional strategy for climate change in the Junín region.
• To strengthen interdisciplinary research, governments must design funding strategies that prioritize holistic approaches and encourage collaborations between universities to avoid duplication of efforts.

APA

Sahley, C., Zaratti, F., Cuéllar, M., Cáceres, L., & Martínez, R. (n.d.). Los desafíos de la investigación interdisciplinaria en biodiversidad y cambio climático. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/DE3.pdf

Chicago

Sahley, Catherine, Francesco Zaratti, Mónica Cuéllar, Luis Cáceres, and Rodney Martínez. Los desafíos de la investigación interdisciplinaria en biodiversidad y cambio climático. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, n.d. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/DE3.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{sahleyndlos, author = {Sahley, Catherine and Zaratti, Francesco and Cuéllar, Mónica and Cáceres, Luis and Martínez, Rodney}, title = {{Los desafíos de la investigación interdisciplinaria en biodiversidad y cambio climático}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/DE3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }