Impacts of Climate Change and its perception in communities surrounding Lake Titicaca, Peru-Bolivia.

Background Lake Titicaca underpins the livelihoods, culture, and ecosystems of high Andean Aymara and lakeside communities in Peru and Bolivia. Recent multi-year declines in lake level, rising temperatures, and greater climate variability threaten water supply, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and public health. This study characterizes climate change impacts and local perceptions in lakeside sectors to inform adaptation and cross-border management. Methods A multidisciplinary, participatory approach combined: (1) exhaustive document review of physical and cultural drivers; (2) fieldwork (November 2024 and June 2025) in Quehuaya (Cohana Bay, Bolivia), Capachica (Puno Bay, Peru), Guaqui (Bolivia), and Puno urban area; and (3) participatory methods including community workshops with social mapping and surveys, six in-depth interviews, and a MINCETUR ecotourism seminar survey (n = 26). Data were triangulated with institutional meetings and synthesized quantitatively. Results Eighty-five percent of respondents reported observed climate change indicators; seventy-four percent noted decreased rainfall, and fifty-eight percent reported hotter days. Sectoral impacts included agriculture (61% affected; reduced yields and altered planting calendars), fishing (52% decline in species or volumes), livestock (50% impacts on pasture and water; 42% increased disease), and tourism (27–29% affected by reduced navigability and pollution). Fifty-three percent reported local adaptation actions (e.g., tolerant crops, water reservoirs, traditional practices), while external support from government or NGOs was limited (~18–19%). Primary needs were financing (76%), improved climate information (52%), and organizational strengthening (26%). Participatory mapping documented shoreline retreat and cultivation of exposed lakebeds. High perceived urgency and reported migration increases (53%) highlight socioeconomic vulnerability. Conclusions Communities around Lake Titicaca face a chronic water-deficit syndrome driven by climatic and local stressors, producing cascading ecological, economic, health, and cultural impacts. Reactive localized adaptations exist but are insufficient. Effective response requires integrated binational strategies: improved water storage and irrigation, wetland restoration, pollution control, real-time climate information, targeted financing, and strengthened institutional coordination.