Facing the challenge of the Andean Zone: the role of modeling in developing sustainable management of natural resources

Abstract

The Andean eco-region faces problems of population, agricultural productivity, pressure for land, and overexploitation of natural resources. Actual knowledge of the Andean eco-region is vast, but results from research and development have been site-specific and have been seldom successfully integrated. CONDESAN, the Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean eco-region - through associate institutions is developing a methodology to evaluate different scenarios to improve land and water management for a sustainable and more productive agriculture.

The methodology integrates the available knowledge of crop, livestock and soil loss simulation models. Technical coefficients obtained from research at different sites are used as inputs in animal (alpaca, sheep, cattle) production simulation models. These models are linked to the EPIC model to evaluate the impact of alternative management practices on long term soil erosion and crop production. A regional economic impact model combines the outputs of the previous models to evaluate productivity, loss of soil fertility, adoption of land use alternatives, and marginal benefits accrued by farmers and by society over a time span of 30 years.

The paper addresses different land use scenarios at both farm and regional level, simulating the most commonly encountered constraints in the Andean farming systems. Alternatives that minimize natural resource erosion and increase households’ profitability were selected and analyzed. The IRR ranged from 5 to 56% with and overall value of 9.23%. Benefits accrued roughly equally to farm households and to society as a whole.