Participatory monitoring of hydrological processes and related ecosystem services in the tropical Andes

Invited Seminar by Wouter Buytaert (Imperial College of London)

Managing water resources in regions such as the Tropical Andes still faces many challenges, including a lack of locally relevant scientific evidence, and apprioriate governance arrangements to support evidence-based decision-making. Here we explore the application of participatory monitoring of hydrometeorological variables as a strategy to address these issues, using the iMHEA monitoring network as a case study. The iMHEA network was established in 2009 as a community of practice to increase the engagement of non-statutory actors such as NGOs and communities in the hydrometeorological monitoring and analysis process. iMHEA has proven to be a useful testbed for several new approaches to data collection and analysis, including the use of low-cost, open source sensors and loggers, participatory data analysis, valorizing local knowledge, and reflecting on the decision-making processes that affect local sustainable development. Here I will reflect on the major lessons learned, illustrated by iMHEA sites in Peru and Ecuador.