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

This fact sheet describes a project by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to monitor and model the hydro-ecological systems of bofedales wetlands in the Katari watershed of Bolivia. The project utilized a WEAP model and a 36-year remote sensing dataset to analyze the impacts of human activity and climate change on these high-elevation wetlands.

• Bofedales are high-elevation wetlands located in the Andes Mountains above 3,800 metres that regulate soil and nutrient cycles and water balance. In the watersheds northwest of the La Paz-El Alto metropolitan area, these wetlands support local communities and the urban water supply for 2.3 million people.
• The health of bofedales in Bolivia, particularly in the La Paz-El Alto region, is declining due to several human-driven factors: urbanization, overgrazing, the construction of dams, and groundwater extraction for mining. Climate change is also identified as a damaging factor, although the specific impacts are not yet fully understood.
• Remote sensing analysis of 222 satellite images from 1984 to 2020 shows that wetlands below 4,200 m are generally greener and more productive than those above 4,600 m, likely due to more constant groundwater outflows and higher temperatures.
• While glaciers in the Cordillera Real are retreating and snow/rainfall dynamics are changing, bofedales currently show a general greening trend. This temporary positive effect may be due to higher temperatures and increased supply of rainwater and snow melt, but long-term negative impacts are expected as aquifer recharge declines and vegetation reaches its adaptive limits.

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} }