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Participatory monitoring of hydrological processes and related ecosystem services in the tropical Andes
October 28, 2020 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am
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.