Gonzalo Guillén Beker Director for the Environment Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

Climate change and mountains: The Climate change and mountains: The case of the Rio Santa in Perucase of the Rio Santa in Peru

Gonzalo Guillén BekerGonzalo Guillén Beker

Director for the EnvironmentDirector for the Environment

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PeruMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

The challenges of climate changeThe challenges of climate changeMountains, physical aspectsMountains, physical aspects

It is expected that future climate warming will It is expected that future climate warming will be particularly pronounced in cold areas be particularly pronounced in cold areas such as mountains.such as mountains.

In contrast to how mountains appear to us, In contrast to how mountains appear to us, their ecosystems are fragile and highly their ecosystems are fragile and highly susceptible to degradation and susceptible to degradation and environmental changes.environmental changes.

The list of impacts associated with climate The list of impacts associated with climate change in mountain regions is very complex.change in mountain regions is very complex.

Mount AlpamayoMount Alpamayo

The challenges of climate changeThe challenges of climate changeMountains, social aspectsMountains, social aspects

As well as the environments in which they As well as the environments in which they live in, mountain societies are characterized live in, mountain societies are characterized by a marked complexity and vulnerability, by a marked complexity and vulnerability, traits that are enhanced in the context of traits that are enhanced in the context of climate change and high uncertainty. climate change and high uncertainty.

Llamas in PeruLlamas in Peru

Peruvian FarmersPeruvian Farmers

The challenges of climate changeThe challenges of climate changeTropical mountainsTropical mountains

If the conditions and the predictions are critical to the If the conditions and the predictions are critical to the mountains and its people in general, they are even mountains and its people in general, they are even more so for tropical mountains. more so for tropical mountains.

In Peru, reality and forecasts are not encouraging: in In Peru, reality and forecasts are not encouraging: in the last 30 years the glacier surface lost about 25% the last 30 years the glacier surface lost about 25% of its 3170 km² and as tropical glaciers are of its 3170 km² and as tropical glaciers are particularly sensitive to temperature increase, some particularly sensitive to temperature increase, some estimates indicate that they could disappear estimates indicate that they could disappear altogether in the coming decades.altogether in the coming decades.

Huayhuash Mountain ChainHuayhuash Mountain Chain

The Case of the Santa River Basin, The Case of the Santa River Basin, Cordillera Blanca, PeruCordillera Blanca, Peru

In Peru, the Andes are divided into three In Peru, the Andes are divided into three main chains: the Eastern, the Central and main chains: the Eastern, the Central and Western Chain.Western Chain.

The Andes

Eastern Chain Central Chain Western Chain

• Cordillera Blanca

Perú

PNH

The HuascaranThe Huascaran

Glacier retreat at the Cordillera Blanca Example: The Yanamarey Glacier

1970: 723 km² of glacier area 1997: 611 km² of area left = 112 km² glacier or 15.46% loss

2007: It is estimated that the loss is 22%


A case that illustrates the challenges of A case that illustrates the challenges of climate change is the Santa River basin, climate change is the Santa River basin, which rises in the Cordillera Blanca and runs which rises in the Cordillera Blanca and runs to the Pacific Ocean through a deep valley to the Pacific Ocean through a deep valley between the Cordillera Blanca and her between the Cordillera Blanca and her neighbor, the Cordillera Negra.neighbor, the Cordillera Negra.

Lake ParónLake Parón


The Santa River goes trough many different provinces, covers 316 km and has an area of 14.954 km². If we consider that this area is equivalent to almost one third of the territory of Switzerland, we can get an idea of the challenges that may be involved in managing this territorial level.


The social context of the Santa River basin is The social context of the Santa River basin is very complex and is characterized by social very complex and is characterized by social diversity and low institutional, commercial diversity and low institutional, commercial and political integration.and political integration.


Better local management of mountain Better local management of mountain ecosystems: forests and grasslands.ecosystems: forests and grasslands.

ConclusionsConclusions

Existing capacities to respond to increasing Existing capacities to respond to increasing climate variability only exist at local levels.climate variability only exist at local levels.

In Peru, we are currently developing a set of In Peru, we are currently developing a set of initiatives to strenghten institutions.initiatives to strenghten institutions.

It is necessary to establish priority actions.It is necessary to establish priority actions.

Thank You!Thank You!

Documents

Gonzalo Guillén Beker Director for the Environment Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru