Ecosystem services in cryospheric environments of the Cordón del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina

TROMBOTTO LIAUDAT DARIO; BOTTEGAL, ESTEFANIA LAURA; SILEO NOELIA

Delhi

Congreso; 36th International Geological Congress; 2020

Rock Glaciers, recognized for their hydrological and ecological importance in a warming climate, are particularly frequent and well developed in the semi-arid Andes. These cryoforms are frozen freshwater reservoirs that contribute to the hydrological regime and they have a special importance for the Mendoza where, due to its semi- desertic climate, new sources of this vital resource are constantly being sought. Mountains provide very high levels of ecosystem services (ESS). Despite providing such an abundance of ESS, high mountains remain among the poorest studied ecosystems in this regard. This contribution is a study of the ESS in the Cordón del Plata mountains, particularly focusing on water resources scarcity considering the presence of rock glaciers one of the most important freshwater reservoirs in this cryospheric environment where the density of glaciers is low. The semi- desertic mountain area of the Cordón del Plata (with a mean annual precipitation of 374mm from 1989 to 2017 at 2500 asl and 510mm, from 1989 to 2017 at 3586 asl) has a great value in ESS, particularly providing water to the lowland areas and the local villages. The assessment shows that in this mountain area demand and supply are unbalanced. We suggest different approaches to package the concept of ESS into decision-making. However, there is an urgent need of new research and monitoring ecosystem services regarding the cryospheric environment in order to mainly maintain and protect the water resources of the area, which are perhaps one of the most important ESS in the Mendoza Andes.