The Aymara community of Cachilaya is on the southeastern shore of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in Bolivia and the world. The Aymara are indigenous peoples of the Andean highlands, living at about 4000 meters above sea level or higher. We assessed agrobiodiversity, farmers’ perceptions of the ecosystem services and factors that confer resilience to environmental change. We used focus group discussions, participatory mapping and community assessment. These data were combined with information on agrobiodiversity from the long-term studies in the area conducted by PROINPA.

Agrobiodiversity Cachilaya is in the centre of origin of potato, quinoa and cañahua. Wild relatives of these crops are found throughout the landscape and used by local communities as food and fodder. Custodian farmers maintain about 100 varieties of several potato species, some of which are hardy although bitter in taste. The area is recognized as a “Micro-centre of Biodiversity” and the efforts of the custodian farmers have been acknowledged by the Bolivian government and supported by research institutions.In addition to crop production, wild species as well as creole animal breeds play a key role in livelihood strategies. Medicinal plants are collected or cultivated by farmers. About thirty wild and cultivated medicinal plants are commonly used. The lake and its wetlands are an important source of wild species including totora (Schoenoplectus californicus). However, the fish populations have dramatically decreased in the recent years.

Land-use change Agrobiodiversity is embedded in the land use management system. The traditional organization of cropping lands is composed of: aynoqas, kjochi iranas and sayañas:• Aynoqas are communal lands for rotational cultivation of potato, quinoa and

forage. • Kjochi irana are the floodplains where early varieties of potatoes, beans,

quinoa and other crops benefit from the moisture and richness of the lake sediments.

• Sayaña are individual family plots close to houses used for mixed crops, livestock and social events.

Sayaña are inherited and get divided into progressively smaller plots generation after generation. Many farmers are driven to seek economic alternatives outside their community. Usually, migrants come back for seed sowing and crop harvest. They commonly cultivate a relatively small number of varieties of improved seeds, which require the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

Resilience to environmental change Environmental change is making crop production more challenging, and local livelihoods are negatively affected by ecosystem degradation and decreasing soil productivity. Unpredictable, shorter and more intense rains as well as short droughts are having a negative impact on crops. High number of crops and varieties help mitigate some of the weather-related risks through a high diversity of traits such as frost or drought resistance. In the past, fishing was common in the villages located along the shores of Lake Titicaca. In recent years, number of fish has dwindled due to the pollution of Lake

cachilaya

PARAGROBIODIVERSITY, LAND AND PEOPLE

PARAGROBIODIVERSITY, LAND AND PEOPLE

PARAGROBIODIVERSITY LAND AND PEOPLE

Assessing the effects of land-use change on agrobiodiversity

Authors: Helga Gruberg and Dunja Mijatovic. Photo credits: Helga GrubergThe research is funded by The Christensen Fund.

The Andes Local potato varieties Floodplain fields Viviana Herrera, a custodian farmerParticipatory mapping

Campo performing a ritual Communal lunch Totora grass harvesting Natural fertilizer preparationResilience workshop

Fundación Gaia Pacha

ECOsysTEm sERVICEs

Water for human consumption

Water for agriculture

Soil fertility

Cultural importance

Pollination

Wildlife habitat

Soil erosion reduction

Pest and disease regulation

Drought mitigation

Flood mitigation

Titicaca caused by large amounts of waste and raw sewage dumped into the lake. In such a challenging environment, the community´s resilience is attributed to a dense fabric of social networks and the high level of self-organization of the local institutions that govern the management of land and crop diversity.

Farmers’ perceptions of ecosystem services provided by different land usesThe perceptions of Cachilaya farmers are strongly influenced by the Aymaran cosmovision (world view) according to which people, soil, plants, animals and everything else are integrated into the broader web of life. The Aymaran culture believes in the harmonic interrelation among nature, humans and the cosmos. Pachamama, the living earth, which sustains life, has a central role in the cosmovision. Regulatory ecosystem services such as drought and flood mitigation and soil erosion control are not perceived as provided by a specific part of the landscape. Good environmental conditions are the result of balance, and harmony in the nature. Provisioning, supporting (wildlife habitat) and cultural services were perceived as provided by Lake Titicaca and sacred sites.According to the Aymaran cosmovision, certain places have spiritual energy such as high mountain peaks, lakes, caves or rivers. An example of such a sacred place in Cachilaya is the Pukara Mountain where campos (yearly chosen farmers) observe different bio-indicators and perform rituals to protect the community against bad events like hail and frost.