Peruvian Glacial Retreat Threatens Andean Communities and Ecosystems
Peru, home to over 70% of the world's tropical glaciers, has experienced a significant loss of glacial area, with a 29% reduction between 2000 and 2016. This alarming trend, as reported by the Journal of Water and Climate, suggests that these glaciers could vanish entirely by 2056. The retreat of these glaciers is having profound impacts on local communities, particularly those dependent on agriculture and livestock. Jenny, a resident of the Llanganuco basin, highlights the challenges faced by these communities, including erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures disrupting traditional agricultural cycles. The Andes, with their glaciers, wetlands, and rivers, are crucial for sustaining both local and distant ecosystems, including the Amazon Basin. The melting glaciers are also causing acid rock drainage, contaminating water sources with heavy metals, and exacerbating water scarcity in regions like Huaraz. 
