WATER AVAILABILITY, PROTECTED AREAS, AND NATURAL-RESOURCES IN THE ANDEAN DESERT ALTIPLANO

The arid Andes between 18 degrees and 30 degrees South are located in the transition zone between the tropical and westerly circulation belt s. Precipitation rates are lower than 150-200 mm/yr. Results from pale oclimatic and isotope hydrologic research suggest that modern recharge of the water resources in this area is very limited, or even below th e level of detection. The groundwater resources of today were formed w hen precipitation rates were greater than at present by a factor of 2. 5. Thus, water is a resource that is renewed extremely slowly, or is e ven non-renewable. The distribution of mountain protected areas along the 7,500 km Andean Cordillera and the extent of the arid diagonal, th e zone of extremely low precipitation that crosses from the western fl ank in southern Ecuador and Peru to the eastern flank in Argentina, ar e compared. This indicates the very low density of protected areas wit hin the arid diagonal and the potential for endangerment of diversity in this highly sensitive, dynamic, and harsh environment. Scientific k nowledge about the age and origin of water resources and maps of water protection zones are the basic elements required for decision making. This type of information should help to resolve the growing conflict between the users of water, especially between the expanding mining in dustry, conservationists, and local communities concerned with the int egrity of the fragile mountain ecosystems. Establishment of a series o f new protected areas would be a modest but efficient measure for pres erving the unique mountain environment and guaranteeing water resource s for the benefit of both human development and nature conservation.