Four glaciological, meteorological, and hydrometric monitoring stations have been installed in the Vilcanota and Carabaya mountain ranges in southern Peru to measure in real time the melting and availability of water from the Killa Huasi and Allincapac glaciers, located between 4,800 and 5,300 meters above sea level. These stations will provide essential data for understanding the effects of glacial retreat—which has already reached 53% mass loss in the country—and for supporting water planning in communities that depend directly on the water supply from these glaciers.

 

The rapid retreat of Andean glaciers threatens the water supply for human consumption, agriculture, and livestock, in addition to increasing the risk of natural disasters such as landslides and floods. In Peru, about 20 million people benefit directly or indirectly from water from Andean glaciers, according to a glacier inventory by the National Institute for Research on Glaciers and Mountain Ecosystems. Scientists studying the hydrological connection between the Andes and the Amazon estimate that glacial melting could reduce the flow of the basin’s main rivers by up to 20%, affecting water availability during periods of drought.

The installation of the stations is part of the Amazon Basin Project – Implementation of the Strategic Action Program (ACTO/UNEP/GEF) and is carried out by the National Water Authority (ANA) of Peru. The initiative expands the capacity to understand and respond to the impacts of glacial retreat in the Amazon basin, contributing to the water security of millions of people and to the sustainable and integrated management of water resources in the region by the eight countries that make up the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).

Glaciological monitoring for water planning and adaptation

The stations installed will allow for a more in-depth study of the interaction between the atmosphere and the glacier and the hydrological dynamics of the mountain. The data, updated hourly, will be made available to the public through ANA’s Water Observatory, contributing to access to information for water planning.

 

The areas where the stations were installed are mainly agricultural and livestock farming areas, with communities directly affected by glacial retreat. Monitoring will provide an understanding of variations in water availability and support adaptation alternatives that ensure more efficient water use.

Awareness workshops

Before installing the stations, ANA held socialization and awareness workshops with communities in the Killa Huasi and Allincapac glacier areas, with the aim of strengthening the conditions necessary for the sustainability and functioning of the monitoring structures. At these meetings, training was also offered on the responsible use of water, the impacts of glacial retreat, and the importance of monitoring for local water security.

During one of the workshops, community leader Juan Vilcalca, from Pacaje, highlighted: “Having access to information and working side by side with the government to reduce waste and improve water quality is fundamental to the security of our families, crops, and livestock.”

By expanding glaciological monitoring in the Andean snowfields, the Amazon Basin Project strengthens the regional capacity to address the impacts of the climate crisis and contributes to improving the availability of drinking water for populations, ecosystems, and productive activities that depend on the Amazon Basin.