Transformando la Gestión del Agua mediante el Control de Incendios en la Chiquitania

The report analyzes the hydrological impacts of forest fires and deforestation in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia, specifically focusing on the Curichi Grande and Tucavaca watersheds. It details the development of a multi-criteria prioritization tool using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and a hydrological model using WEAP to assess water availability and soil retention. Field findings from 2021-2022 highlight critical water scarcity and quality issues in local communities following the 2019 and 2020 fires, while the report argues that integrating fire risk into water management is essential for sustainable regional development.

• Deforestation in the Chiquitano Dry Forest increased by 640% between 1986 and 2020, growing from 1 million to 6.4 million hectares, primarily driven by agricultural and livestock expansion.
• The Curichi Grande and Tucavaca watersheds are identified as the most affected by fires, deforestation, and water resource issues; Curichi Grande had the largest total burned area (27%) during the study period, while Tucavaca was most affected by the 2019 fires (14% of its area).
• Local communities in the Tucavaca basin report severe water scarcity from August to October and a decline in water quality following the 2019 and 2020 fires, with ash and sediment altering the color and taste of water and contributing to cases of gastroenteritis and kidney problems.
• Hydrological modeling using the WEAP tool indicates a decrease in the soil's water retention capacity, resulting in increased surface runoff during the rainy season (November to March) due to soil compaction from the conversion of forest to agriculture.
• A multi-criteria prioritization tool was developed in Google Earth Engine (GEE) to identify restoration priorities based on five main indicator categories: water resources, biophysical/ecosystem criteria, territorial management, human impacts, and fire risk.
• The report identifies a governance gap in Santa Cruz, where unclear responsibilities between institutions and a lack of communication tools hinder effective water and land management, while national policies promoting agricultural expansion exacerbate deforestation and fire risks.

APA

Rodríguez, Y., & Fernández, J. (2024). Transformando la Gestión del Agua mediante el Control de Incendios en la Chiquitania. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ortiz-hidrico-chiquitania-sei2024-049.pdf

Chicago

Rodríguez, Yesica, and Jeanne Fernández. Transformando la Gestión del Agua mediante el Control de Incendios en la Chiquitania. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2024. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ortiz-hidrico-chiquitania-sei2024-049.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rodríguez |first1=Yesica |last2=Fernández |first2=Jeanne |title=Transformando la Gestión del Agua mediante el Control de Incendios en la Chiquitania |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=October 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ortiz-hidrico-chiquitania-sei2024-049.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rodrguez2024transformando, author = {Rodríguez, Yesica and Fernández, Jeanne}, title = {{Transformando la Gestión del Agua mediante el Control de Incendios en la Chiquitania}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ortiz-hidrico-chiquitania-sei2024-049.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }