Abstract

MAILLARD, Oswaldo; SALINAS, Julio Cesar; ANGULO, Sixto  and  VIDES-ALMONACID, Roberto. Environmental risks in the hydrographic units of the Chiquitanian hills, Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2019, vol.54, n.2, pp.83-95. ISSN 1605-2528.

We present the analysis of a case study based on data from environmental risks in the area of the Chiquitania mountain range, the natural boundary between the large continental Amazon and Plata basis. These mountains are responsible for the generation of water and precipitation patterns that mark the characteristics of this territory. We describe the severity of droughts for the period 1950-2018 with the index PSEI and for years 2010 and 2016 with the index PDSI, temporal fluctuation of the surface of the Concepción lagoon, as well as the impact of the change in vegetation coverage on erosión and sedimentation in the past (1986), present (2016) and potential future (2046). The results obtained show that the droughts of 2010 reached severe levéis with PDSI. Additionally, a marked tendency of increased deforestation is presented, especially for the San Julián basin, and a decrease in coverage for the Caceres basin is projected in the future. The Tucabaca basin presents the highest levéis of sediments retained as a result of water erosion and it is estimated that this trend will remain until the year 2046.

Keywords : Climate change; Chiquitanía; Droughts; Sedimentation; Water sources.

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