Sixteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Water supply of the Mantaro River Valley in the Peruvian highlands is under increasing pressure in the face of climate change, pollution, and intensified demand for water. Climatic changes are already causing uncertainties in water availability of the rural highland communities, whose livelihoods rely on water-dependent small-scale farming. Furthermore, the current water regime in Peru tends to prioritize water use of more powerful large-scale water users, such as export-oriented extractive industries and coastal agri-business, at the expense of water conservation and local water users in the highlands. Despite of the emphasis on participatory approaches in the Peruvian water governance structures, vulnerable water users still have limited access to representation in decision-making processes concerning water use in their living environments. Such water policies have created highly unequal water distribution schemes and with climate change, risk to further deepen vulnerabilities of the highland smallholders. Using the case of the Mantaro River Valley in the Central Andes, this paper examines perceptions of small-scale farmers on equity issues under current water regime and its impacts on their livelihoods in the context of climatic changes. The study draws on multi-scalar approach of vulnerability to analyze to what extent processes that reduce access to resources and representation place highland farmers at marginalized position when faced with increased challenges due to climatic changes.