Abstract ID: 3.11629 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Bofedales—high-altitude peat wetlands of the Andes, locally known as ok’os or uqhu in Aymara—are critical ecological systems that regulate water, store carbon, and sustain rich biodiversity while underpinning the livelihoods of ancient pastoral communities. However, climate change, extractive activities, and socio-economic shifts undermine their ecological integrity and the transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). This project adopts a transdisciplinary approach, integrating Cultural and Political Ecology with the 3H (Co-in-Habitants, Habitats, and Habits) framework, to explore how ritual practices, cosmovision, and indigenous language use influence the biodiversity and ecological stability of bofedales. The study co-produces knowledge that merges remote sensing tools and ecological field work, with indigenous and local knowledge by combining satellite and UAV imagery analysis, botanical field assessments, participatory mapping, and ethnographic workshops. We hypothesize that the regulatory networks formed by cultural rituals and practices enhance the resilience and adaptability of bofedales to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. The insights gained are intended to inform sustainable management strategies and policy interventions, ensuring the long-term viability of these vital low-latitude alpine ecosystems and the cultural heritage of Andean herder communities.