Stockholm university

Research project Sustainable management and governance of water and soil in Bolivia

Water and soils are among the most important natural resources, without action, the pressure on these resources is likely to increase as a result of growing population, evolving food demand and the effects of a changing climate.

Tunari
Tunari

The establishment of a multidisciplinary programme between the Universities of Lund, Stockholm and UMSS, offers multiple benefits, being the most relevant the possibility to build a strong network of individuals and organizations working on water and soil science from a transdisciplinary perspective, linking research and postgraduate studies to develop research capacities generating products with scientific quality and social relevance. The main objective of this Sub-Program is to contribute to solving problems in Rocha river basin (Cochabamba) related to environmental deterioration and unequal access to water and soil resources. This objective is accomplished through knowledge generation actions; training of new researchers and active participation in discussions and incidence in public policy. The expected outcomes of this Sub-Programme are; 36 - 48 young professionals trained within an interdisciplinary Master of Science programme and involved in research activities for 4 years (2 cycles, 2 years each); 10 UMSS research centers will be strengthened through partnership with Swedish universities as a result of joint design and research projects supervision; 4 UMSS researchers trained in Swedish Universities, producing at least 16 published peer reviewed scientific articles and 4 Ph.D. theses; UMSS researchers will develop new capacities as co-supervisors of the doctoral theses. The number of highly qualified researchers at UMSS will be increased, an important step towards reaching the critical mass of researchers for developing local PhD programs in the near future; a  multidisciplinary water research platform at UMSS will connect researchers in different faculties to each other as well as to external stakeholders to follow up, compile and provide information, guidelines and technical support related to water issues in Cochabamba; and last but not least important, we expect to develop research partnerships between UMSS, LU and SU that remain in long term after the WASSP ends.

Project description

Food and Water are fundamental human rights and are constantly under threat. Worldwide, and specially in developing countries such as Bolivia, Water and Soil management is a strategic area for environmentally sustainable development of cities and peri-urban areas. Good water management not only results in a good service for the citizens but also contributes to the generation of welfare and has a positive impact on society and ecosystems as a whole. Although Bolivia has become a lower middle-income country, a large part of the population, are still living in poverty. These people are usually the most exposed to climate risks, pollution and other negative effects of the many environmental problems the country confronts. This holds particularly true for Cochabamba, considered one of Bolivia’s most polluted regions, where the use of water frequently compromises the natural ecosystem functioning by over-extraction of water resources. As a result, scarce, polluted and poorly managed water resources are about to bring people to water scarcity and ecological breaking points. Therefore, strengthening the capacities for a sustainable management and governance of water, soil and other resources, will significantly contribute to tackle the regional environmental challenges. Hence, the aim for the consolidation of the Water and Soil Network through the “Sustainable water and soil management and governance” (shortly Water and Soil Sub programme - WASSP) is to build-up research capacities and to improve the performance of researchers in order to address new challenges, promoting coordinated development of knowledge on management of water, land, and related resources, to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.

Project members

Project managers

Fernando Jaramillo

Universitetslektor, Docent

Department of Physical Geography
last

Members

Monika Quinones Winder

Professor

Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences
Monika Winder

Fernando Jaramillo

Universitetslektor, Docent

Department of Physical Geography
last