The main overall academic objectives are (i) to identify the relative and absolute contribution of various geomorphologic processes to sediment delivery at the catchment-scale, (ii) to evaluate the role of human impact on geomorphic activity, (iii) to analyse the effects of various control measures on sediment production and delivery. and (iv) to study and develop stakeholder participation models, which facilitate the dialogue between technical experts and their knowledge and insights, and different stakeholders and users, in order to achieve integrated catchment management. This overall objective is closely related to the major mission of PROMAS, i.e. to become a leading research institute with respect to natural resources management in the Andes.
Developmental overall objectives
The main developmental objectives of the project can be formulated as follows: (i) to contribute to the sustainable management of tropical mountain rivers through the development of catchment management strategies and techniques suitable for tropical mountain areas, (ii) to contribute to the optimisation of the use of rivers as a natural resource (drinking water, energy production) in the tropical mountain areas, (iii) to enhance the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the development and application of a sediment management plan for the Paute catchment and raise awareness of interdependencies between the different problems and social groups, creating possibilities for full participation of peasant communities and other marginalised interest groups, (iv) to enhance the local capacity with respect to research and teaching on geomorphic processes (soil erosion, mass wasting, fluvial activity) and catchment management and (v) to the enhance local and regional capacity to foster sustainable development through the promotion of a catchment council
More specifically, the project will allow to:
- identify the relative and absolute contribution of various geomorphologic processes to sediment delivery in a tropical mountainous basin
- identify the controlling factors on these processes through a study of spatial distribution of sediment transport in the river Paute's drainage network as well as the pathways connecting sediment sources to the river system.
- evaluate the role of human impact on sediment delivery and transport
- assess the historical evolution of river dynamics and bank erosion in the Paute basin
- extend existing sediment delivery models to take all relevant geomorphologic processes (mass movement, river incision) into account
- investigate the applicability of such a modelling structure to assess impacts of various land use scenario’s, planning regulations as well as specific control measures on sediment transport.
- evaluate the efficiency of a range of remediation strategies such as reforestation and revegetation efforts at strategic locations
- investigate in which way a stakeholder approach contributes to the management of environmental problems on the river catchment scale
- investigate the different interests and views of each actor with respect to river catchment management
- introduce a social learning perspective on natural resources management issues on a societal level