Poster The aim of the project “Assessing the effects of land-use change on agrobiodiversity” was to develop a framework for assessing the effects of land use change on agrobiodiversity and to build the evidence base for land-use strategies that favour the maintenance and use of agrobiodiversity. Young researchers from eight countries participated in the project. This poster represents the Bolivian case.

1. 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
Agrobiodiversityisembeddedinthelandusemanagementsystem.Thetraditional
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,shorterandmoreintenserainsaswellasshortdroughts
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,LANDANDPEOPLE
PARAGROBIODIVERSITY,LANDANDPEOPLE
AGROBIODIVERSITY
LAND AND PEOPLE
Assessing the effects of land-use change
on agrobiodiversity
Authors: Helga Gruberg and Dunja Mijatovic. Photo credits: Helga Gruberg
The 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
networksandthehighlevelofself-organizationofthelocalinstitutionsthatgovernthemanagement
of land and crop diversity.
Farmers’ perceptions of ecosystem
services provided by different land
uses
The 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.
Regulatoryecosystemservicessuchasdroughtandfloodmitigationandsoilerosioncontrolare
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.