Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes mountains

Industry

Changing hydrology in particular will influence many industry sectors, although industry also relies on the forests and biodiversity in the Andes for pharmaceutical products, food and raw materials. Mining is a key economic activity in the Tropical Andes, which relies heavily on water resources for production. Mining competes for water resources along with agriculture, other industries and human settlements. In areas where water becomes scarce, effective management systems become increasingly necessary. Competition for water resources has previously led to protests and vocal conflicts in some places. For example, around the Yanacocha mine in the north of Peru, the second largest gold mine in the world, farming communities came into conflict with the mining company regarding control over water flow (Bebbington and Williams, 2008). Tourism is also an important industry in the mountains, with many tourists drawn by the Andean mountains’ unique ecosystems and landscapes. Ecotourism and adventure tourism are particularly dependent on sustainable management and protection of key ecosystems. Cloud forests, páramos, glaciers and river systems will all be affected by climate change, which in turn will affect the tourism industry. Studies in the region also indicate that tourism generally has a negative direct impact on biodiversity (Barros et al., 2014). Tourism is therefore another stressor on ecosystems, but through effective management, tourism can often help finance the protection of ecosystems and the services they provide.

Yanacocha gold mine, Cajamarca region, Peru

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