Water resource research and education in mountain communities

High elevation páramo (wetland) ecosystems in the Andes are important water sources for local communities and downstream agricultural and urban users. These headwater catchments, however, are often impacted by human activities (eg agricultural production) that affect both stream water quality and fl...

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Main Authors: Roa García, María Cecilia, Roa García, C.E., Brown, S., Cordero, E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: International Mountain Society (IMS) and United Nations University 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44227
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author Roa García, María Cecilia
Roa García, C.E.
Brown, S.
Cordero, E.
author_browse Brown, S.
Cordero, E.
Roa García, C.E.
Roa García, María Cecilia
author_facet Roa García, María Cecilia
Roa García, C.E.
Brown, S.
Cordero, E.
author_sort Roa García, María Cecilia
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description High elevation páramo (wetland) ecosystems in the Andes are important water sources for local communities and downstream agricultural and urban users. These headwater catchments, however, are often impacted by human activities (eg agricultural production) that affect both stream water quality and flow. Knowledge about water availability, quality, and use is essential for effective management but is often lacking, particularly in smaller mountain communities. Studies of natural resources in mountains, conducted jointly with local actors and with the participation of youth, are a way for rural communities to learn about their resources, appropriate this knowledge, and improve their quality of life. Research projects that involve youth in remote rural zones, where education is not of the same quality as in urban centers, represent an important opportunity for youth to acquire skills and relevant knowledge for their personal development and for participation in development processes. The present article presents a process and the results of a project that studied water resources in Bolivia and Colombia with local youth and water users. The research themes in the 2 countries were different, responding to the concerns of their respective communities, but the results had a similar major impact on the lives of young researchers, on the communities' perception of the state of their natural resources in particular water and on the role of knowledge in generating creative options for improving resource management and the quality of life in mountain communities.
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publisher International Mountain Society (IMS) and United Nations University
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spelling CGSpace442272024-08-27T10:34:39Z Water resource research and education in mountain communities Roa García, María Cecilia Roa García, C.E. Brown, S. Cordero, E. water resources research land degradation community involvement capacity building recursos hídricos investigación degradación de tierras participación comunitaria creación de capacidad etíopia development High elevation páramo (wetland) ecosystems in the Andes are important water sources for local communities and downstream agricultural and urban users. These headwater catchments, however, are often impacted by human activities (eg agricultural production) that affect both stream water quality and flow. Knowledge about water availability, quality, and use is essential for effective management but is often lacking, particularly in smaller mountain communities. Studies of natural resources in mountains, conducted jointly with local actors and with the participation of youth, are a way for rural communities to learn about their resources, appropriate this knowledge, and improve their quality of life. Research projects that involve youth in remote rural zones, where education is not of the same quality as in urban centers, represent an important opportunity for youth to acquire skills and relevant knowledge for their personal development and for participation in development processes. The present article presents a process and the results of a project that studied water resources in Bolivia and Colombia with local youth and water users. The research themes in the 2 countries were different, responding to the concerns of their respective communities, but the results had a similar major impact on the lives of young researchers, on the communities' perception of the state of their natural resources in particular water and on the role of knowledge in generating creative options for improving resource management and the quality of life in mountain communities. 2008-08 2014-10-02T08:33:27Z 2014-10-02T08:33:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44227 en Open Access International Mountain Society (IMS) and United Nations University
spellingShingle water resources
research
land degradation
community involvement
capacity building
recursos hídricos
investigación
degradación de tierras
participación comunitaria
creación de capacidad
etíopia
development
Roa García, María Cecilia
Roa García, C.E.
Brown, S.
Cordero, E.
Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title_full Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title_fullStr Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title_full_unstemmed Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title_short Water resource research and education in mountain communities
title_sort water resource research and education in mountain communities
topic water resources
research
land degradation
community involvement
capacity building
recursos hídricos
investigación
degradación de tierras
participación comunitaria
creación de capacidad
etíopia
development
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44227
work_keys_str_mv AT roagarciamariacecilia waterresourceresearchandeducationinmountaincommunities
AT roagarciace waterresourceresearchandeducationinmountaincommunities
AT browns waterresourceresearchandeducationinmountaincommunities
AT corderoe waterresourceresearchandeducationinmountaincommunities