Discover how ancient water-management systems in the Peruvian Andes are helping communities tackle modern climate challenges. This webinar explores the blend of Indigenous knowledge, archaeology and environmental science used to restore ancient dams, canals and wetlands, revealing how lessons from the past could strengthen water security in a chang
High in the Peruvian Andes, communities have been managing water in ingenious ways for thousands of years. Ancient systems of dams, reservoirs, canals, terraces and wetlands were designed to capture, store and slowly release water through the landscape. Many of these systems are still used today, but they face increasing pressure from climate change, changing rainfall patterns, population pressures and degradation. In this talk, I will introduce our research exploring whether ancient water-management knowledge can help communities respond to future climate change.
I will begin by looking at the problem: why water is becoming increasingly difficult to manage in the Andes, and why some of the solutions may actually be very old. I will then explain how we are combining several different approaches to understand these systems. We work with local communities to document traditional and Indigenous knowledge, using ethnographic research to understand how people use, maintain and understand their water landscapes. We combine this with archaeological and geographical field surveys, mapping, drones and other technologies to discover how ancient systems were constructed and how they have changed. But we don't just study the past. We are also working with communities to rehabilitate ancient water-management systems, such as high-altitude dams and wetlands, and then monitor what happens: how much water they store, how they affect groundwater and ecosystems, and how they benefit local communities. Finally, we are attempting to influence policy and practice in Peru by working with government agencies and NGOs to improve water security for those most affected by the current climate emergency.
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