WATER EROSION RISK AND FOOD SECURITY: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Water erosion reduces soil fertility and productivity, negatively impacting crop yields. The transported material not only affects water quality but also significantly shortens the lifespan of water infrastructure. The Catamayo-Chira transboundary basin, spanning an area of 17,199 km2, serves as the primary water source for agriculture in the Ecuador-Peru border. Ongoing sediment production within the basin has drastically decreased the volume of the Poechos reservoir, northern Peru's largest irrigation system, raising concerns about its potential complete filling in the near future. To identify vulnerable areas to water erosion, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized. By integrating meteorological, topographic, land use, and soil type data, a GIS-based model was developed to map the spatial variation of soil loss. This approach facilitated the identification of critical areas necessitating soil conservation actions. Within the basin, approximately 65% of the land exhibits high to critical erosion due to a combination of intense rainfall, steep slopes, limited vegetation cover, and erodible soils. Soil losses of around 200 tons per year have been observed. In the absence of effective soil loss management practices, sediment production, and transportation continue to pose significant challenges for the expansive agricultural lands in northern Peru, thereby jeopardizing regional food security.