Páramos: Hidrosistemas Sensibles

Abstract

Páramos are vulnerable zonal ecosystems located in the tropical mountains of Central and South America, approximately between 3000 and 4500 meters above the sea level. Their special characteristics generate particular floral, ecological, edaphological, geomorphological and climatic typologies. Páramos have great ecologic, genetic and scientific importance due to their endemic flora and landscapes, as well as their socio-economical functions, represented by their fundamental roll in water regulation for water supply in some cities downstream. Some efforts have been done to quantify the water balance in these special hydrosystems. This paper presents an approximation to the hydrologic modeling of these hydrosystems, based on the integration of the AvSWAT model, a horizontal precipitation model, and a geographic information system. As a case study, the upper Blanco river basin was analyzed. This basin is one of the principal areas of the Chingaza páramo, the main Bogotá City water supply source. Protection of these ecosystems is stressed in order to preserve flow regimes, mainly those associated with dry conditions.