Ecosystem services provision, tourism and climate variability in shallow lakes: The case of La Salada, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

becominga key piece in addressing local water challenges and designing possible strategies for diminishing climaterisks. This paper explores how ecosystem services provision in La Salada shallow lake, Argentina, includingmaintenance of the landscape for touristic and recreational activities, have been affected by changes in climateconditions according to the local stakeholders´ perception. After mapping and prioritizing ecosystem servicesusing participatory research activities, it analyzes how this provision has evolved in response to the differentprecipitation scenarios already observed in the area. The results for the case of La Salada shallow lake indicatethat there is not a clear relationship between precipitations and the key ecosystem services provided bythe lake and their surrounding ecosystem, mainly due to the anthropogenic lake management, and that tourismdoes not seem to directly depend on climate conditions.