From Sierra to Sea: Participatory scenario planning to promote integrated watershed management for people and nature along the Cañete River Watershed

The “De la Sierra al Mar” (Sierra to Sea) project is an initiative in Peru’s Cañete River Watershed (CRW) to foster water security and biodiversity conservation. Along the CRW, over 340,000 people are relying on the services the diverse ecosystems provide, but the basin faces mounting threats from climate change and unsustainable land practices.

The Smithsonian Institution is working to address these challenges by promoting evidence-based and participatory scenario planning, empowering stakeholders to chart future trajectories and guide decision-making in water and land uses, including Ecosystem-based Adaptation strategies. Crucially, the project interacts closely with the Cañete Water Resources Council, which develops the CRW’s integrated Watershed Management Plan, ensuring local ownership and alignment with community needs.

Through rigorous research and inclusive dialogue, The Smithsonian seeks to bolster climate resilience and foster co-benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. With this project, The Smithsonian is building a path toward a thriving and resilient future for the Cañete River Watershed and its inhabitants.

Project Status

In 2022, The Smithsonian assessed the health of aquatic ecosystems in the Cañete River basin. This information investigated the presence and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates across various bodies of water in the basin and tested the correlation between these findings and the different land uses in the area. During the study, it was registered the perception of the local population regarding the degradation of the CRW ecosystems and the possible causes behind them. To amplify these efforts, The Smithsonian will undertake participatory scenario planning that will engage stakeholders to classify drivers of change and identify future scenarios to be modelled in the watershed context.