Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia

Water policies tend to misrecognize the complexity of community-managed irrigation systems. This paper focuses on water allocation practices in peasant communities of the Bolivian interandean valleys. These communities manage complex irrigation systems, and tap water from several surface sources, ma...

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Main Authors: Saldias, C., Boelens, R., Wegerich, Kai, Speelman, S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40386
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author Saldias, C.
Boelens, R.
Wegerich, Kai
Speelman, S.
author_browse Boelens, R.
Saldias, C.
Speelman, S.
Wegerich, Kai
author_facet Saldias, C.
Boelens, R.
Wegerich, Kai
Speelman, S.
author_sort Saldias, C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Water policies tend to misrecognize the complexity of community-managed irrigation systems. This paper focuses on water allocation practices in peasant communities of the Bolivian interandean valleys. These communities manage complex irrigation systems, and tap water from several surface sources, many of them located outside the watershed boundaries, resulting in complex hydro-social networks. Historical claims, organizational capacity, resources availability, and geographical position and infrastructure are identified as the main factors influencing current water allocation. Examining the historical background and context-based conceptualizations of space, place and water system development are crucial to understanding local management practices and to improving water policies.
format Journal Article
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publishDate 2012
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spelling CGSpace403862025-06-17T08:23:33Z Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia Saldias, C. Boelens, R. Wegerich, Kai Speelman, S. watersheds irrigation systems irrigation management community involvement water management water allocation water transfer socioeconomic environment rivers reservoirs water rights Water policies tend to misrecognize the complexity of community-managed irrigation systems. This paper focuses on water allocation practices in peasant communities of the Bolivian interandean valleys. These communities manage complex irrigation systems, and tap water from several surface sources, many of them located outside the watershed boundaries, resulting in complex hydro-social networks. Historical claims, organizational capacity, resources availability, and geographical position and infrastructure are identified as the main factors influencing current water allocation. Examining the historical background and context-based conceptualizations of space, place and water system development are crucial to understanding local management practices and to improving water policies. 2012-11 2014-06-13T14:47:32Z 2014-06-13T14:47:32Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40386 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Saldias, C.; Boelens, R.; Wegerich, Kai; Speelman, S. 2012. Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia. Water International, 37(7):744-759. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2012.733675
spellingShingle watersheds
irrigation systems
irrigation management
community involvement
water management
water allocation
water transfer
socioeconomic environment
rivers
reservoirs
water rights
Saldias, C.
Boelens, R.
Wegerich, Kai
Speelman, S.
Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title_full Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title_fullStr Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title_full_unstemmed Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title_short Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia
title_sort losing the watershed focus a look at complex community managed irrigation systems in bolivia
topic watersheds
irrigation systems
irrigation management
community involvement
water management
water allocation
water transfer
socioeconomic environment
rivers
reservoirs
water rights
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40386
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