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New water strategy

March 20, 2012

Droughts, floods and extreme weather have forced Bolivia to find new ways to save and use water.

19.03.2012 global 3000 klima bolivien
Climate change has forced Bolivia to rethink its water managementImage: DW

Water Strategy for Bolivia

06:52

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Project goal: securing a reliable water supply for Bolivia’s rural areas
Project size: 370 water storage basins
Project reach: around 500 families stand to benefit
Investment: around 1.55 million euros ($1.96 million)

Precipitation in Bolivia has become unpredictable. When it does rain, the showers are shorter and more intense than they once were. That leads to periods of both flooding and drought, posing major challenges for rural regions where farmers are losing their entire harvests. Now, an initiative to improve the country’s water management and irrigation systems is aiming at helping farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change. A pilot project in the Andes has helped set up a network of water tanks, canals and a reservoir, and initiated reforestation.

A film by Michael Altenhenne

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