Lake Titicaca Basin: Environmental Assessment and Action Plan

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Introduction:
The Fundación TIERRA publishes, in partnership with Diakonía and Pan Para el Mundo, the report “Propuestas para salvar el Lago Titicaca” (“Proposals to Save Lake Titicaca”), a technical document prepared by expert Xavier Lazzaro from the Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT).
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental situation of Lake Titicaca (with a particular focus on the “Lago Menor”) and formulates a series of strategic recommendations for its preservation.

Context and Objective:
Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, represents an ecosystem of critical importance for Bolivia and Peru. This document aims to provide an updated diagnosis of the environmental challenges it faces, including anthropogenic pressures and the effects of climate change, and to propose a framework for action towards sustainable management.

Document Content:
The report is structured around three main axes:

Comprehensive Diagnosis: A detailed scientific assessment of pollution sources, the phenomenon of eutrophication, and the impact of climate change on the lake’s ecosystem. The analysis identifies priority intervention areas, such as Cohana Bay and the river basins of the Katari and Pallina.
Technical Recommendations: The document presents a portfolio of 32 concrete proposals, classified into two categories:
1. Structural Measures: Including proposals for the improvement of wastewater treatment infrastructure, the implementation of ecological engineering solutions (such as constructed wetlands or vegetative filters), and restoration works.
1. Non-Structural Measures: Including actions for capacity building, environmental education, citizen participation, the promotion of sustainable tourism, and the establishment of enduring funding mechanisms.
Implementation Framework: The proposals are framed within the current regulatory framework and are designed to align with local socio-economic dynamics, aiming for a harmonious integration of environmental and development objectives.

Target Audience and Intended Use:
This publication is designed as a reference document for national and local public institutions, international cooperation organizations, academic actors, and civil society organizations. It aims to inform planning processes, decision-making, and the search for funding for preservation projects in the Lake Titicaca basin.