The Andean Glacier and Water Atlas

A short selection of relevant international and regional initiatives The Andean Community (CAN) consists of four countries; Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. While initially established for regional integration of economy and trade, there has been an increasing attention on social, political, cultural and environmental aspects over the last two decades. The Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN), works with local partners in Ecuador and Peru to develop restoration practices in Andean ecosystems and the Andean Forest Landscape research strategy, which identified a set of high-priority research goals and objectives to support sustainable development in the Andes. The resolution on High Andean wetlands was adopted in 2002 by the parties to the Ramsar Wetland Convention. Dealing specifically with high Andean wetlands, (covering the countries Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, (as well as Costa Rica)), the High Andean Wetland strategy resolution aims to preserve biodiversity and strategic ecosystems that provides essential services for humans. It provides a strategy for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and wetland complexes in the páramos, jalca, puna and other High Andean ecosystems, including glaciers, lakes, lagoons, wet meadows, bofedales, mallines, highland vegas, salt pans and peatlands, rivers, water streams and other water bodies. Some countries are now also seeking to regulate activity on and in the vicinity of glaciers through specific glacier laws. While glacier legislation is normally incorporated into environmental laws, water management protocols and regional planning strategies (Cox, 2016), just a few countries have specific Glacial Laws. Argentina was the first country in the world to enact a Glacial Protection Law (Law 26.639), while Chile’s law has been under discussion in parliament since 2016. The Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan has also proposed a glacier protection law. All these laws have their origins in the wish to regulate and protect glaciers from mining activity. However, there is concern that such laws overlook the dynamics of glaciers and could prevent or delay actions needed to prevent glacial hazards (for example, the draining of glacial lakes) or other adaptation measures (Anacona et al. 2018). CASE STUDY generation of economic, social and environmental benefits provided by ecosystems. This strengthens the opportunities to establish sustainable management of water resources in the Andean region, by providing a remuneration for conserving natural environments.

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