Hydro-ecological monitoring of high-elevation wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia

The document describes the use of a WEAP model and a 36-year remote sensing dataset (1984–2020) to analyze bofedales wetlands in Bolivia's Katari watershed. It identifies that while glacier retreat in the Cordillera Real is evident, bofedales currently show a greening trend potentially due to increased meltwater and higher temperatures, though long-term decline is expected as aquifer recharge drops. The study also notes that human activities, including overgrazing and mining-related groundwater extraction, are deteriorating wetland health.

• Bofedales wetlands in Bolivia, particularly in the La Paz-El Alto region, are deteriorating due to human pressures including urbanization, overgrazing, dam construction, and groundwater extractions for mining.
• Remote sensing analysis of 222 satellite images from 1984 to 2020 shows that wetlands below 4,200 metres are greener and more productive than those above 4,600 metres, likely due to more constant groundwater outflows and higher temperatures.
• Climate change has caused a dramatic loss of glacier area in the Cordillera Real; however, bofedales currently exhibit a general greening trend, possibly due to increased rainwater and snow melt.
• Despite current greening, climate change is expected to negatively impact the wetlands in the long term as precipitation patterns alter and glacier retreat leads to a decline in aquifer recharge.

APA

Fernandez, J., Wickel, B. (., & Escobar, M. (2021). Hydro-ecological monitoring of high-elevation wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/211027c-burton-fernandez-katari-wetlands-2109g.pdf

Chicago

Fernandez, Jeanne, Bart (A.J.) Wickel, and Marisa Escobar. Hydro-ecological monitoring of high-elevation wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/211027c-burton-fernandez-katari-wetlands-2109g.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fernandez |first1=Jeanne |last2=Wickel |first2=Bart (A.J.) |last3=Escobar |first3=Marisa |title=Hydro-ecological monitoring of high-elevation wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=October 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/211027c-burton-fernandez-katari-wetlands-2109g.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fernandez2021hydroecological, author = {Fernandez, Jeanne and Wickel, Bart (A.J.) and Escobar, Marisa}, title = {{Hydro-ecological monitoring of high-elevation wetlands in the Katari watershed, Bolivia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/211027c-burton-fernandez-katari-wetlands-2109g.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }