Hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling of high-altitude wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia

The project focuses on the Katari watershed in Bolivia, where high-altitude wetlands known as "bofedales" are critical for regulating water balance and supplying drinking water to La Paz and El Alto. These ecosystems are currently deteriorating due to climate change, glacier retreat, rapid urbanization, overgrazing, and mining-related groundwater extraction. To address this, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is using multi-temporal remote sensing data from 1984-2020 and the WEAP modelling platform to establish eco-hydrological baselines and evaluate potential conflicts between urban water demands and the preservation of these wetlands.

• High-altitude wetlands called "bofedales," located above 3,800 meters in the Andean plateaus, are essential for sustainable water supply because they regulate the soil and nutrients cycle and the water balance of mountain watersheds.
• The Katari watershed, covering approximately 700km2, provides a primary water source for the cities of La Paz and El Alto, but is experiencing severe water quality degradation due to rapid urbanization and a lack of environmental territorial planning.
• Wetland health in the region is declining due to a combination of climate change, the retreat of mountain glaciers, increased urban water demand, the construction of dams, overgrazing, and groundwater extraction for mining.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2021). Hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling of high-altitude wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia. https://www.sei.org/projects/hydro-ecological-monitoring-and-modelling-of-high-altitude-wetlands-in-the-katari-watershed-bolivia/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling of high-altitude wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia. 2021. https://www.sei.org/projects/hydro-ecological-monitoring-and-modelling-of-high-altitude-wetlands-in-the-katari-watershed-bolivia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling of high-altitude wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia |date=26 January 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/projects/hydro-ecological-monitoring-and-modelling-of-high-altitude-wetlands-in-the-katari-watershed-bolivia/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2021hydroecological, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling of high-altitude wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = jan, url = {https://www.sei.org/projects/hydro-ecological-monitoring-and-modelling-of-high-altitude-wetlands-in-the-katari-watershed-bolivia/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }