Unraveling bofedal change and degradation: Multidimensional analysis of pastoral management, local knowledge, and image analysis in Sajama National Park, Bolivia

Bofedales, high-altitude Andean peatlands, are critical to the sustainability of mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of pastoral communities. This study presents findings from a transdisciplinary research project focused on two bofedal systems, Sorapata and Aychuta, within Bolivia’s Sajama National Park. Using vegetation assessments from 2012 to 2018, we identified a marked decline in cushion-forming species (Distichia muscoides and Oxychloe andina), and a clear shift in community composition, indicating a trend toward desiccation. Land cover analyses from 2014 to 2021 revealed a contraction of dense bofedales and an expansion of dry bofedales and bare soil, indicating sustained degradation. These dynamics manifested differently across sites. In Sorapata, degradation was dominant, although localized irrigation practices implemented in 2018 facilitated partial recovery in one sector. These varied trajectories reveal simultaneous processes of decline and recovery. In contrast, Aychuta maintained relatively stable cushion-dominant vegetation, though vegetation surveys and land cover analyses both revealed early shifts in composition and cover associated with climate change. Together, these patterns reveal simultaneous processes of decline, stability, and recovery. Ecological findings align with interviews with indigenous herders, who attribute degradation to reduced precipitation, rising temperatures, and seismic activity, while emphasizing the role of water management in bofedal restoration. Our results highlight the vulnerability of bofedales to climatic and environmental stressors, emphasizing the importance of integrated water management strategies in their conservation under changing climatic conditions. We advocate for transdisciplinary approaches that combine ecological research, integrate multi-year vegetation surveys, remote sensing, and traditional ecological knowledge to enhance our understanding and conservation of these critical socioecological systems.