Water Quality in the Napo River Basin (Ecuadorian Andean Amazonia): The Andean Amazon Rivers Analysis and Management project (AARAM) Author(s): Remigio Galárraga and Maria Cristina Torres Source: Mountain Research and Development, 21(3):295-296. Published By: International Mountain Society DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1659/0276-4741(2001)021[0295:WQITNR]2.0.CO;2 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/0276-4741%282001%29021%5B0295%3AWQITNR %5D2.0.CO%3B2

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GLORIA–EUROPE: Report on the Kickoff Meeting, 25–29 April, Vienna

Program (IGBP) is a link to interna- tional research programs. Close contacts also exist with the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) program of DIVERSITAS and the Global Terrestrial Observa- tion System (GTOS). GLORIA– Europe is also recognized by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) as a part of European envi- ronmental monitoring activities.

Kickoff meeting in Vienna GLORIA activities were officially ini- tiated on 1 January 2001. At the kickoff meeting organized by the The 18 target regions of the Gloria Research Initiative in Alpine Environments. coordinating group in Vienna, held from 25 to 29 April, 38 scientists GLORIA–Europe is a pilot project western Alps (France), (8) Entre- discussed and finalized the field of the Global Research Initiative in mont–Western Alps (Switzerland), manual for the basic GLORIA set- Alpine Environments, which will (9) Dolomites–Southern Alps tings. As an introduction, the coor- ultimately operate on a worldwide (Italy), (10) Hochschwab–North- dinating group demonstrated how scale (see MRD Vol 20 No 2, pp eastern Alps (Austria), (11) to establish a setting in the field: a 190–191). The project is funded by Tatra–Western Carpathians (Slova- prehistoric tumulus (Hallstatt Peri- the European Union as a contribu- kia), (12) Rodnei–Eastern Carpathi- od) close to Vienna, covered by tion to the fifth research and tech- ans (Romania), (13) Central Cauca- pannonic steppe vegetation, was nological development (RTD) sus (Georgia), (14) Cairngorms– chosen as a “perfect summit.” It was framework. The research consor- Scotland (UK), (15) Dovrefjell– an exciting experience for the par- tium is coordinated by the Institute Southern Scandes (Norway), (16) ticipants to discuss the GLORIA of Ecology and Conservation Biolo- Latnjajaure–Northern Scandes program and methodology on an gy of the University of Vienna (Sweden), (17) Southern Ural (Rus- old Celtic tomb far from the place under the leadership of Prof Georg sia), and (18) Polar Ural (Russia). where Celts live today. This group Grabherr and his team (consisting of scientists from all over Europe, of Michael Gottfried, Daniela A broad network who will be working in close cooper- Hohenwallner, Harald Pauli, and The supplier groups are based ation in the future, thus had a pro- Karl Reiter). It is made up of a data either at universities close to the found impression of the historic supplier group and a user group. target regions or at research insti- roots of modern Europe. Data suppliers are contractors tutes. Two NGOs are involved as The second day was devoted to responsible for implementing the users: CIPRA (International Com- the presentation of the particular basic GLORIA setting on summits at mission for the Protection of the target regions by the contractors. different elevations in their particu- Alps) and WWF International They provided an excellent lar target region (ie, the multisum- (World Wide Fund for Nature). overview of the differences among mit approach previously described Prof Martin Price (University of the Europe’s mountains while also in MRD). Highlands and Islands, Perth Col- stressing the similarities of Euro- The 18 target regions are (1) lege, Scotland) provides a link to pean high mountain systems. On Sierra Nevada (Spain), (2) Central the International Mountain Forum the third day, the draft version of Pyrenees (Spain), (3) Ritondu of (MF) and to socioeconomic per- the field manual was discussed and Corsica (France), (4) Central Apen- spectives on GLORIA, while the revised. This field manual will be nines (Italy), (5) Northern Apen- recently established Mountain the basic document used in field- nines (Italy), (6) Lefka Ori of Crete Research Initiative (MRI) in the work by all GLORIA partners. It is (Greece), (7) Mercantour–South- International Geosphere-Biosphere available to all interested parties

Mountain Research and Development Vol 21 No 3 Aug 2001 MountainNotes

295 and can be downloaded from the extended their stay in Vienna to methodology. The enthusiastic Internet at www.gloria.ac.at. see more of the Eastern end of the atmosphere of the kickoff meeting This final version of the multi- Alps, that is, the city of Vienna and convinced everyone that the GLO- summit approach is the result of 2 its surroundings. RIA initiative is on its way to estab- years of international discussions lishing a simple, low-cost but highly and cooperation. The GLORIA Plans for the future efficient ecological monitoring sys- coordinators received many useful The time schedule for GLORIA– tem at the European and, ultimate- comments, not only from the Euro- Europe is 1 January 2001 to 31 July ly, the global scale. pean contractors but also from 2003. The first outputs, that is, many other scientists and col- descriptions of the target regions, Georg Grabherr, Michael Gottfried, Daniela leagues around the globe. will be available in about 1 year. A Hohenwallner, Harald Pauli, Karl Reiter At the end of the meeting, dis- book will be produced as a final GLORIA, Institute of Ecology and Conserva- tion Biology, University of Vienna, cussions focused on a contract product, presenting the first com- Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. dealing with publication and han- prehensive comparison of Alpine [email protected] dling of data. A small group biodiversity based on a standardized Web site: www.gloria.ac.at

Water Quality in the Napo River Basin (Ecuadorian Andean Amazonia): The Andean Amazon Rivers Analysis and Management project (AARAM)

Significance of the Amazon region Tropical forests cover around 7% of the Earth’s surface and contain half of its species of animals and existent plants. The Amazon region is the habitat for almost half the tropical native forests of the globe and a huge natural savanna area. It is a region abundant in water, and its fluvial system is one of the largest in the world; some areas are therefore subject to periodic floods. Land use changes result in significant physical alterations that affect water flow, sediment transport, and the biogeo- chemistry of the fluvial systems in the region. It is thought that varia- tions in the water, solar energy, and carbon and nutrient cycles may have climatic and environmental impacts at local, regional, and global scales due to changes in the natural vege- tation cover in Amazonia. resources could endanger the sus- The AARAM project Ecuador’s role tainability and the future of the The regional Andean Amazon The Ecuadorian Amazon Territory Amazon Ecuadorian region. Land Rivers Analysis and Management is part of the Great Amazon Basin. use changes, change in vegetation project (AARAM) is funded by the Although it covers only 2.5% of the cover due to agriculture and ranch- Inter-American Institute for Global Basin, it represents almost 50% of ing in the upper basins, oil Change Research (IAI) and is being the total surface of Ecuador. This exploitation, and increased colo- carried out in Colombia, Peru, does not diminish the importance nization may have negative impacts Bolivia, and Ecuador. Its main objec- of studying it since actual land use on water quality, especially in the tive is to understand the effects of and the senseless use of its lower basins. land use change in the Andean 296

Amazon region on water quality in This effort also includes NGOs, waters), although in the upper the lower basin and thus contribute national institutions, municipal and basin there are high concentrations to effective natural resource man- provincial governments, the commu- of magnesium, potassium, silica, agement. The AARAM project coor- nity (native people from the zone and sulfates. The remaining param- dinates water quality analyses in the and settlers), and other national, eters maintain a certain level of uni- Napo River Basin, a tributary of the regional, public, and private entities, formity around the basin, with Great Amazon River, which carries such as CDC, CLIRSEN, CNRH, slight variations in the midbasin, the highest discharge of any river in DINAPA, ECORAE, and ECOCIEN- especially nutrients (ammonium, Ecuador. The Napo River Basin is CIA, among others. These entities nitrites, and nitrates). Nutrient vari- located in the northeastern Amazon develop various scientific activities. ations in the midbasin are mainly region of Ecuador. Student research is also carried out due to the fact that this is the most In order to determine water in relation to the main project areas. populated zone of the basin, with quality in the bodies of water, the In the future, we hope to make the more agroindustry and tourism. following environmental parame- results of this research available to Laboratories where analyses ters were analyzed: temperature, governmental institutions in each were carried out did not find con- pH, dissolved oxygen, minerals, region through seminars. centrations of hydrocarbons and nutrients, heavy metals, phytoplank- heavy metals above the detection ton, and zooplankton. The results Preliminary results: Based on field- limits, so there is a degree of uncer- of these analyses enabled us to work, it can be established that tainty about their presence in determine the state of the bodies of most of the sampling points meet waters. The outcomes of biological water and the degree of influence the standards of water quality set by analyses revealed a great diversity of of human activities in the zone. the Regulation of Control and Envi- phytoplankton—an indicator of The main objective of this ronmental Protection of Water water under normal conditions. ongoing project is to determine Resources (Ministerial Agreement water quality in the Napo River Not. 2144 RO 204-5-VI-89). This Perspective for the future: These results Basin as a first approximation. In agreement is based on criteria for represent the current state of water order to do this, a hydrochemical water used for human and domestic quality. It is therefore important to monitoring network including sev- consumption that requires conven- carry out more frequent sampling eral bodies of water was established, tional treatment (raw water) and in order to determine the temporal and 2 field campaigns were carried criteria for flora and fauna preser- trend of each of the principal out, one during the rainy season vation in natural cold and warm parameters studied. and the other during the dry sea- waters. Significant indications of This research project comple- son. The Napo River Basin consists water contamination were not ments investigations of this type of 2 geographical regions: the found, but some pollution was pres- that have been carried out in areas upper basin, or sub-Andean region, ent. Inputs of organic and inorgan- influenced by the oil industry. In where rivers come from the moun- ic constituents existed in propor- future, it is hoped that the water tain with clear water, and the lower tions that exceed the ecological around the basin can be character- basin, where the waters are turbid. equilibrium, although they have not ized to understand ecosystem yet produced noxious conditions. dynamics (biogeochemical cycles). AARAM activities in Ecuador These inputs probably come from This will enrich other research Two institutions carry out this proj- human activities throughout the activities related to biology, sustain- ect in Ecuador. One is the National entire region. able development, biodiversity, Institute of Meteorology and Temperature, pH, and the dis- ecology, and other fields. Hydrology of Ecuador (INAMHI), solved oxygen are within normal which is responsible for implement- limits. The main stream has been Remigio Galárraga ing and operating the monitoring favored by large discharges and Co-Principal Investigator, AARAM Project in network, carrying out fieldwork in acceptable water oxygenation char- Ecuador.

the area of discharge measure- acteristics; it effectively dilutes pol- Maria Cristina Torres ments, and providing support for lutants, allowing recovery of the riv- AARAM Research Assistant. modeling through hydrometeoro- er as it flows downstream within the Department of Water Sciences, National Poly- logical information and personnel. Amazon Basin. Mineral levels in technic School, Quito, Ecuador. [email protected] The second institution is the water depend on the type of soils National Polytechnic School (EPN), the water goes through and the geo- which coordinates the project and logical material dissolved. monitors and supports hydrobio- The results show that the waters geochemical modeling. are weakly mineralized (soft

Mountain Research and Development Vol 21 No 3 Aug 2001