How Bolivians and 11.11.11 fight against the drying up of Lake Titicaca

High in the Andes Mountains, on the border between Peru and Bolivia, lies the Lake Titicaca. Snow-capped mountains surround the azure waters, plants and animals live together in abundance, and the indigenous population lives on idyllic, small islands. A truly magical place.  

But the drought endangers life on and around Lake Titicaca. Because the water level of the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world is falling rapidly. The consequences for agriculture, fishing and tourism are enormous. Plants and animals disappear. And the more than 3 million people who live there lose their food and income.

Although water levels vary each year, the climate crisis is making the changes increasingly extreme. Since April 2023, in the middle of the rainy season, the water level drops by an average of 1 to 3 cm per week. But also in the rest of the Bolivian Highlands, lakes and other water sources are drying up.  

Various 11.11.11-partners therefore work together with local communities in Bolivia and Peru for sustainable water management. This also applies to our Bolivian partner Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático (PBFCC). Marcos Nordgren, expert in environmental sciences at PBFCC, explains the consequences for people and nature and tells how he tries to stop the injustice. 

"The climate crisis means the water level of Lake Titicaca is historically low. The situation is alarming. For example, tropical glaciers in the Andes, particularly in Peru and Bolivia, have lost more than 50% of their snow in recent decades. Combined with reduced rainfall in the region and higher temperatures due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, we see that the lake is drying up at an increasingly rapid pace." 

"Cattle farmers see their llamas and alpacas are dying due to lack of water on the plateaus. Farmers see their harvests fail, which means that less food is for families, more scarcity and the price of potatoes and onions, for example, is going up. There is also less fishing en less water which means families have to travel further to get supplies. In some places, they can no longer travel by boat and are moving around on foot." 

"Also toerisme is an important economic resource for the communities, but that is now decreasing due to the lack of water. Small islands that are known as tourist attractions, such as the Uros Islands, are no longer accessible because the channels have disappeared. In addition, the drying up of the lake is affecting the unique ecosystem, with consequences for aquatic plants, birds and wildlife." 

"We have been conducting for a long time campaigns to raise awareness among the population on sustainable water management and conservation. We urge local and regional authorities to take action short term, such as building wells and pumping water. But we also push for structural measures in the medium term, such as better collection of rainwater in reservoirs. In addition, we are committed to the reduce water pollution by mining companies and communities. Finally, we also support local people in digging canals high in the mountains. There we plant grasses and native plants that retain water better and prevent erosion."  

"This funding should not only go to measures to limit global warming, but also to measures to help the population adapt to the climate crisis, such as protecting water sources. It is crucial that this funding comes in the form of donations, not loans to avoid debt to countries."

"At the moment, the debt of countries like Bolivia is increasing. The international financial system needs to be thoroughly transformed. Because it cannot be the intention that the people and countries that are least responsible for the climate crisis should pay the most for it."