| Title: | Planting waterscapes: Green infrastructures, landscape and hydrological modeling for the future of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia |
| Authors: | Castelli, G., C. Foderi, B.H. Guzman, L. Ossoli, Y. Kempff, E. Bresci and F. Salbitano |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Journal: | Forests |
| Volume (Issue): | 8(11) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 437 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/f8110437 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | urban stormwater and/or BMP assessment |
| Secondary Application Category: | land use change |
| Watershed Description: | 3,955 km^2 Pirai River, located in central Bolivia. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | The expansion of cities is an emerging and critical issue for the future of the planet. Water is
one of the most important resources provided by urban and peri-urban landscapes, as it is directly
or indirectly connected with the quality of the environment and life. Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the
leading city in Bolivia (and the second in Latin America) in regard to population growth and soil
sealing. Water is available to the city mostly from the Piraí River basin, and is expected to be totally
inadequate to support such powerful urban development. The project Aguacruz, which is financed
by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development, aimed to (1) restructure and harmonize
existing data on the landscape ecology, hydrological features, and functional aspects of the Piraí
River; (2) build hydrological scenarios for the future of the basin by introducing a landscape ecology
approach, and (3) involve stakeholders and local actors in decision-making processes oriented
to increase the resilience of the urban–rural landscape of the Piraì River and the city of Santa
Cruz. SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tools) tested five scenarios through simulating different
landscape settings, from the current previsions for urban expansion to a sound implementation of
green infrastructures, agroforestry, and regreening. The results indicate that integrated actions in
rural–urban systems can lead to a substantial reversal of the trend toward a decline in water supply
for the city. From a governance and planning perspective, the proposed actions have been configured
as to induce (i) integrated waterscape ecological planning; and (ii) the preparation and approval of
departmental regulations for the incorporation of green infrastructures in the municipalities. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | SWAT; ecohydrology; ecosystem services; land use change; landscape scenarios;
hydrological modeling; green–blue infrastructure; agroforestry; rural–urban governance; naturebased
solutions |