I-EFECT.Param Analysis of the effects of changes in land use on the hydrology of slopes on the moor

The alpine neotropical wetland ecosystem that is covering the highest region of the northern Andes is called "Páramo". Due to special climatic circumstances, porous and light volcanic soils with large amounts of organic matter, and its topography formed by glacial activity, the superficial hydrology of the wasteland has notable characteristics. Directly or indirectly, provide environmental services to more than 100 million people. Unquestionably, the most important of these services is to become a source of water available for urban, agricultural and industrial use. Despite the importance as a source of water, there is still a lack of knowledge of the main hydrological processes that occur in these mountain ecosystems. The objective of the project is aimed at having a better understanding of the impact of land use changes in hillside hydrology on the moor. This will be possible if the evapotranspiration of the natural vegetation of the moor is quantified compared to the species introduced by man. That is the main tendency due to the intensification of human activities in this ecosystem. On the other hand, the impact of land use changes in the hydrological response of the hillsides of the Páramo will be quantified, through continuous monitoring. This provides information about the impact of alterations on vegetation and soil properties on the hydrological response. Given the high socio-economic importance of the moor as a water source for the high Andean lands, alterations in the hydrological cycle have to be minimized as much as possible.

6th UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PROJECT COMPETITION