Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca, a life source

Lake Titicaca is one of the highest and ancient freshwater bodies in the world. It is located and shared between Peru and Bolivia at an elevation of 3,809m (12,500ft) above sea level. It is also the highest, commercially navigable lake in the world. This transboundary Ramsar site is one of the most important freshwater reservoirs in the world.

The lake plays an essential role in shaping the Andean plateau's microclimate and feeds the downstream Desaguadero River and Lake Poopó, supplying communities with fresh water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.

Since 2000, Lake Titicaca has experienced receding water levels. Between April and November 2009 alone, the water level dropped by 81cm (32in), reaching the lowest level since 1949. This drop is caused by shortened rainy seasons and receding glaciers unable to feed the lake's tributaries.

The Lake Basin Ecology: A Careful Balance

The Titicaca basin is home to unique biodiversity, harbouring more than 530 aquatic species. Endemic species, including numerous bird, fish and amphibians, are highly threatened by the fast past of change in the lake basin. The Titicaca Grebe is threatened due to a lack of nesting sites, the number of Titicaca Water Frogs is declining dramatically, and the Andes Carp is now on the Red List 'In Danger' status. Stresses like pollution, climate change and habitat loss knock the natural system out of balance.

A typical sight of Lake Titicaca are the Floating Islands, man-made islands built from layers of cut 'totora', a thick buoyant reed that grows abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The Uru communities harvest the reeds to make their islands by continuously adding reeds to the surface. In July 2019, local communities called on the Ramsar Convention to issue recommendations for their preservation. With the health of the lake at risk, the subsistence of indigenous communities is also at stake_{(see story)}.

Threats to Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca was once worshipped by the Incas who proclaimed its deep blue waters were the birthplace of the sun. Today the lake is polluted by untreated sewage, dumping from mining sites and solid waste, agricultural and industrial run-off.

A study in 2014 found mercury, cadmium, zinc and copper in four types of fish that form part of the local population’s diet at levels higher than those advised for human consumption. ^{(Article: Science Direct)}

Women as drivers of change

In an effort to protect Titicaca's unique ecosystem and improve transboundary cooperation using a gender approach, IUCN’s BRIDGE initiative implemented a leadership process aimed to empower local woman in the sustainability and protection of the Lake. Women play a key, although often unrecognized, role in water gathering, use, administration and sharing.

Women organized and implemented collective actions to improve the environmental conditions of the lake and raised awareness among the wider population. Such actions included cleaning lakeshore campaigns.

Indigenous rural women have great knowledge about water and natural resources, but there is also a gap in opportunities to access formal education and participate in decision making processes.

IUCN’s BRIDGE initiative seeks to empower women by promoting a stronger participation in water monitoring activities and supporting the development of a network of leaders aimed at strengthening local water governance.

Through a series of dialogues, training spaces and planning tools, groups of motivated indigenous women learned more about water governance processes, transboundary cooperation and water monitoring. The BRIDGE workshops addressed key environmental issues such as ecosystem degradation, climate change, transboundary water management and women leadership.

The training meetings recognized the knowledge and skills women brought towards the sustainable management of natural resources. The initiative also combined technical tools with traditional knowledge and new technologies.

Outcomes and Next Steps

• Three local workshops trained 84 women and 68 men in water monitoring and quality tests;
• A local monitoring plan was developed;
• Field monitoring equipment was delivered to the communities to test key water quality parameters;
• Water quality regulations from both countries were reviewed and results from field tests compared;
• A GPS and drone will help local communities identify and map environmental issues;
• A network for data analysis and sharing is undergoing, and information and communication technologies are being developed to facilitate access to the data (such as mobile phone applications).

In the future, the network will further push the agenda for more investment in water and sanitation, including waste water treatment. The participatory water monitoring process will need to be recognized by national authorities, and negotiations with government agencies conducted.

Enhancing local participation in water monitoring and governance provides many benefits and is an effective way to improve transboundary cooperation. Investing in local governance, women empowerment and technical capacities has been a productive and effective first step.

Further Information

^{IUCN BRIDGE - Building River Governance and Dialogue}

^{Guía de monitoreo participativo de la calidad de agua _[PDF]}

_{^{Aguas Compartidas: Enfoques y herramientas para una mejor gestion del agua}}

^{Mujeres Unidas en Defensa del Agua}

^{Líderes para la gestión sostenible de cuencas transfronterizas _[YouTube]}

^{BRIDGE Andes: Construyendo diálogos para una mejor gobernanza del agua}

^{IUCN Water Programme}

E-mail: water@iucn.org - Web: www.iucn.org/water and www.iucn.org/regions/south-america -Twitter: IUCN_Water and UICN_SUR - Facebook: IUCN.Water

^{Produced by Emilio Cobo, Laura Pineiros, Claire Warmenbol, with contributions from colleagues and partners across the IUCN Network. Photos ©IUCN/Efrén Icaza. 2019}