Implementación de Dos Sistemas de Biorremediación como Estrategia para la Prevención y Mitigación de los Efectos del Drenaje Ácido de Roca en la Cordillera Blanca, Perú

Climate change effects are exceptionally intense in the tropical Andes. Their consequences constitute a threat to the conservation of ecosystems in the high Andes and to the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided to the population. During the last 40 years Peruvian glaciers have had an estimated reduction of 43% of their surface area, with serious consequences for the supply of water in terms of quantity and quality. The alteration of water quality due to acid rock drainage (ARD) is one of those consequences of glacier recession. Although further research needs to be conducted, it is proposed that glacier recession exposes mineralized rocks rich in sulfur. Oxidation reactions and leaching of minerals produce acid rock drainage. Metals are then mobilized toward bodies of water in lower areas, creating toxic conditions in aquatic ecosystems and in the human population that uses this resource. In this article, we propose bioremediation as a low-cost,  effective strategy to mitigate the impacts of ADR,  presenting two participatory methodologies used in the field for this purpose. Between 2013 and 2017, the Cordillera Blanca Rural Community of Recuay, Ancash, implemented a process of Participatory Action Research, connecting their local and scientific knowledge to remediate the water of the Chonta Canal, which had been altered by ADR. The community designed and implemented a bioremediation system which recovered the quality of the water used for agriculture. The same experience was replicated and improved by the Shallap-Huapish-Toclla Committee of Water Users in 2016, who implemented a pilot project in the province of Huaraz, Ancash. These  two experiences were developed with the support of The Mountain Institute and the Universidad Nacional Santiago Antunez de Mayolo in Huaraz.