7 Communities Respond to Glacier Loss in Peru

by Asociacion Instituto Andino de Montana

Project Report | Apr 29, 2026
14th Report: Sustaining Mountain Solutions

By Paloma Rodriguez | Communications specialist

Photo: Ciril Jazbec

Dear friends,

Over the past months, our work has entered a quieter but equally important phase. While have limited new field activities, this period has been essential to consolidate, reflect, and sustain the long-term impact of the work you have made possible.

Today, we want to share not only what has happened recently, but also the broader journey we are building together.

What we have achieved together so far

Thanks to your support, this project has helped mountain communities in Peru respond to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the rapid loss of glaciers and increasing water insecurity.

Working hand-in-hand with communities, we have:

Strengthened participatory processes so communities identify their own priorities and solutions
Promoted the restoration of ancestral water systems, such as wetlands, dams, canals, and infiltration systems in 4 of the 7 communities that are part of this initiative
Helped recover and validate indigenous knowledge as a climate solution
Contributed to positioning these practices as cost-effective, nature-based adaptation strategies

These efforts are not isolated. They are part of a broader approach that combines local knowledge and science to build resilient mountain ecosystems and livelihoods.

Why this work matters

Mountain communities are on the frontlines of climate change. As glaciers disappear:

Water availability becomes unpredictable
Glacier Lakes Outburst Floods risks increase
Acid Rock Drainage worsens, contaminating water and damaging pastures and crops
Agriculture and livestock are severely affected
Entire ways of life are at risk

At the same time, these communities hold centuries-old knowledge that offers solutions not only for the Andes, but for mountain regions around the world.

Our role is not to impose solutions, but to support communities in revitalizing and scaling what already works, ensuring these practices continue to benefit both people and ecosystems.

What happened during this period

Although we were not able to implement new field interventions at the expected scale we focused on:

Maintaining relationships with partner communities
Preparing the next phase of interventions
Continuing to share knowledge and raise awareness about mountain solutions

This groundwork is critical. It ensures that when resources are available, we can act quickly, effectively, and with stronger foundations.

The challenge ahead

We are currently at a pivotal moment.

Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $35,258 of our $50,000 goal. This is a significant milestone—but we are not there yet.

With your support:

Communities can restore key water systems before the next dry seasons intensify
More young people can engage in local climate solutions
Proven approaches can be replicated in new communities

How you can help

Every contribution brings us closer to closing the gap.

Help us reach the remaining goal and turn plans into action.
Donate or share this project with your network.

Looking forward

We remain committed to working alongside mountain communities with a long-term vision: that they can thrive in healthy ecosystems, with sustainable livelihoods, and with their cultural heritage strengthened.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,
Instituto de Montaña team

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Dec 30, 2025
13th Report: Laraos restores ancestral water canal

By Paloma Rodriguez | Communications specialist

Photo credit: D. Chavez

Dear donors,

We are pleased to share an update from our project “7 Communities Respond to Glacier Loss in Peru,” highlighting a new community-led intervention in Laraos, located within the Nor Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve.

After more than 25 years, the Laraos Peasant Community carried out a large-scale communal workday (faena comunal) to clean and restore the ancestral Yunca Lara water canal and dam, marking a key step in the recovery of traditional water infrastructure affected by climate change and glacier loss.

A total of 78 community members (40 men and 38 women) participated in the activity, successfully cleaning and rehabilitating over 4 kilometers of canal. The workday began with a traditional offering to the mountain, expressing gratitude to nature and reaffirming ancestral practices that sustain the community’s spiritual and cultural relationship with water and land.

Community leaders emphasized the high level of organization and collective commitment demonstrated during the faena, which represents a milestone in strengthening community-led water governance and ensuring the continuity of shared water management practices in Laraos.

This intervention reflects the central role of local knowledge, collective action, and ancestral technologies in responding to glacier retreat and increasing water scarcity in the Andes.

As the year comes to a close, we send you our warmest Season’s Greetings and heartfelt thanks for your continued support. We look forward to having you accompany our work in the coming year, as Andean communities like Laraos continue to lead their own responses to climate change and protect vital water systems for future generations.

Photo credit: D. Chavez

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Sep 3, 2025
12th Report: Sharing knowledge between communities

By Paloma Rodriguez | Communications specialist

Photo credit: A. Espinoza

Dear donors,

We’re excited to share the latest updates from our project “7 Communities Respond to Glacier Loss in Peru.”
This period has brought significant progress, and we’re pleased to keep you informed.

1. Past Water Futures: Intercommunity Learning Workshop

Instituto de Montaña supported the Past Water Futures intercommunity learning workshop, organized by Dr. Kevin Lane (ICOMOS Water Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean) and his team. The event took place in the community of Racratumanca (Pamparomás, Huaylas, Ancash) on July 30–31, 2025, and brought together Andean communities and organizations such as ECLOSIO, DIACONIA, and Instituto de Montaña to exchange experiences on the current and future impacts of climate change on agropastoral systems and the ecosystems that provide water in the Andes.

The Miraflores Community was represented by one of its members, who attended alongside a representative of Instituto de Montaña, in response to a special invitation to the inauguration of the rehabilitated pre-Hispanic dam in lake Weetacocha (‘Lake of Flowers’).

On the first day, the project team introduced the Racratumanca rehabilitation initiative, explaining the techniques used, the achievements reached, and the challenges encountered. Visiting communities also shared their own experiences, highlighting their resources, realities, and the difficulties they face in the context of climate change.

On the second day, participants joined a field trip to Lake Weetacocha to visit the rehabilitated dam and attend its inauguration. This encounter strengthened ties among communities and opened new opportunities for collaboration in the sustainable management of water in the Andes.

2. Next Steps
In the coming months, we will continue coordinating the intervention actions

Photo credit: A. Espinoza

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