Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales

Analysis of Polylepis tarapacana tree rings in the Bolivian Altiplano reveals a severe, prolonged drought starting in 1316 that coincided with the abandonment of vulnerable settlements in favor of fortified Pukaras, suggesting environmental drivers for social conflict. The document warns that contemporary glacier retreat and increased water demand from mining, agriculture, and population growth may lead to similar water scarcity and political-economic conflicts in the 21st century.

• Researchers used the growth rings of Polylepis tarapacana, a small tree growing at 4,500-5,000 meters, to reconstruct precipitation in the Bolivian Altiplano back to the year 1290, establishing a 700-year regional chronology for the Southern Bolivian Altiplano between 17-23°S.
• A severe and prolonged drought beginning in 1316 and lasting until 1371 is identified as the longest dry period of the last 700 years. This period coincided with the abandonment of 'vulnerable' low-sector settlements and a transition to fortified hilltop sites known as Pukaras, supporting the hypothesis that water scarcity for consumption and irrigation caused social conflicts and instability in the local economy based on rain-fed agriculture and grazing.
• Since the 1950s, the Altiplano has experienced persistent warming and unprecedented glacier retreat. Combined with increasing water demand from population growth, mining expansion, and agricultural activities, these factors increase the future risk of water scarcity and potential political and economic conflicts in the 21st century.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2012). Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot11_SP.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales. 2012. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot11_SP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Los anillos de crecimiento de árboles relacionan sequías con conflictos sociales |date=2012 |url=https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot11_SP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2012los, 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 = {2012}, url = {https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot11_SP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }