Drought in the Oasis of Central Western Argentina

Abstract

Written by a social scientist, E. Montana, and a natural scientist, J. Boninsegna, this chapter takes the case of droughts in Mendoza, central-western Argentina, to explore how interdisciplinary research could inform policy decisions in several areas and for different time thresholds. Some examples are taken from recent experience, others are propositions about how decision making in the field of water management, agriculture, infrastructure, and services could take advantage of a more structured approach to the incorporation of interdisciplinary knowledge. The chapter deals with the occurrences of droughts and episodes of water scarcity in the context of an arid region with irrigation agriculture and a complex Mediterranean climate. It is focused on the Mendoza River basin, in central-western Argentina, and valid for many oasis territorial configurations in drylands at both sides of the central Andes. The first section discusses the climatological conditions that characterize the basin and their impact on water scarcities. The second section deals with the vulnerabilities of the basin, paying special attention to the social and economic structures of the basin in setting up conditions of vulnerability. The following section focuses on the adaptive capacity of rural producers, linking this capacity to the social and economic structures. Finally, the need to establish a structural policy in relation to water efficiency best practices in order to cope with eventual onsets of drought is discussed, both in terms of preparedness and to allow a planned expansion of the oasis. The sensitivity of the population and economy of the region to climate variability and the new threats of global warming have posed the question on how to reduce their vulnerability, integrate climate in their activities and foster the best possible adaptive strategies for facing inevitable climate change consequences.