{"id":186409,"date":"2025-06-15T13:11:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/186409\/"},"modified":"2025-06-15T13:11:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:11:23","slug":"a-map-a-myth-and-a-pre-incan-lagoon-the-man-who-brought-water-back-to-a-drought-ridden-town-global-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/186409\/","title":{"rendered":"A map, a myth and a pre-Incan lagoon: the man who brought water back to a drought-ridden town | Global development"},"content":{"rendered":"

One day in 1983, while studying a hand-drawn map from 1792 of his home town in Ecuador<\/a>, Galo Ram\u00f3n, a historian, came across a dispute between a landowner and two local Indigenous communities, the Coyana and the Catacocha. The boundary conflict involved an ancient lagoon, depicted on the map.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe drawing depicted a lagoon brimming with rainwater,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n. Ravines were depicted forming below the high-altitude lagoon, indicating that it supplied watersheds further down \u2013 contrary to the typical flow where a watershed feeds into the lagoon.<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n had discovered a long-forgotten ancient water management system conceived by the Paltas, a pre-Incan civilisation<\/a> that inhabited the semi-arid region more than 1,000 years ago.<\/p>\n

Galo Ram\u00f3n, a historian from Catacocha in Ecuador\u2019s Loja province, discovered a map from 1792 that led to the discovery of an ancestral water-collection system in the area. Photograph: Alejo Reinoso\/The Guardian<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n set out to recreate the Paltas\u2019 lagoon system and, 40 years on, the region has enjoyed an environmental regeneration, offering solutions for Ecuador \u2013 which regularly faces severe droughts<\/a> \u2013 and other parts of the world struggling to address water scarcity with limited resources.<\/p>\n

Galo Ram\u00f3n was born in Catacocha, southern Ecuador<\/a>, in 1952, a time when access to water for drinking and irrigation was unreliable. As a young man, he moved to Quito for university and to pursue his career as a historian. Eventually, he directed his research towards the history of the Paltas canton in Catacocha\u2019s province of Loja.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was born in Paltas, where people have very little water. Although I don\u2019t live there any more, I was eager to contribute with my knowledge,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

When Ram\u00f3n began his research in Catacocha, an urban area with a population of 8,000, people barely had half an hour of water a day. \u201cPeople here live in constant insecurity about the chances of rain,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

The region has highly variable rainfall patterns due to its location at the convergence of two ocean currents \u2013 the Humboldt and South Equatorial. When the Humboldt current predominates<\/a>, there is minimal rainfall, averaging about 300mm (12in) to 400mm a year. Approximately every seven years, when an El Ni\u00f1o occurs \u2013 warming sea surface temperatures \u2013 annual rainfall can rise to 4-5 metres.<\/p>\n

San Vicente del R\u00edo in the Catacocha mountains, one of the main beneficiaries of the restored Paltas system. Photograph: Alexis Serrano Carmona\/Mongabay<\/p>\n

In years with consistent rainfall, most of it occurs in just one or two months, with about 70% falling in March and April<\/a>. During this period, there are usually three to five intense tropical storms, when up to 850mm of rainfall can occur in the region \u2013 more than in many other parts of the country.<\/p>\n

But as the region has very steep, rocky and irregular soil with poor permeability, water rapidly runs off and waterways tend to dry out. From May to December, the region experiences no rain, strong winds and intense sunlight, which cause soil erosion and reduce moisture in the soil. Still, the Paltas people not only managed to survive but thrive in this environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I began a historical investigation into the Paltas, including a series of Indigenous myths that still survive,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n, \u201cas that, it seemed to me, could offer modern solutions to the problem of drought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n indicates the lagoon he found on a map from 1792 drawn up as part of a land dispute between Indigenous communities and a Catacocha landowner. Photograph: Alejo Reinoso\/Guardian<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n discovered that designs for the Pisaca lagoon were recorded in maps, wills, accounts of land disputes, property titles and interviews.<\/p>\n

He realised the Paltas had developed a system for sowing and harvesting water that involved collecting and infiltrating rainwater, groundwater and underground runoff (sowing) to recover it later when it reappeared in springs and wells downstream (harvesting).<\/p>\n

That system enabled the Paltas to regulate water flows and store water in aquifers for domestic use and irrigation during periods of drought. \u201cThe springs tend to increase significantly during the rainy months and then dry out by August due to poor soil permeability. Without the Paltas\u2019 system, water runoff is rapid, so you don\u2019t have a permanent source to feed the spring,\u201d Ram\u00f3n says.<\/p>\n

The main element of this system is the artificial lentic \u2013 or still water \u2013 wetland (cocha in Quechua) created at high altitudes to collect rainwater during the rainy months. The Paltas built these lagoons on fractured rocky terrain \u2013 the permeability of the pond bottoms allowed for slow water infiltration and aquifers to recharge.<\/p>\n

An artificial lentic wetland, or cocha in Quechua, created at a high altitude to collect rainwater. Photograph: Alexis Serrano Carmona\/Mongabay<\/p>\n

\u201cThen they planted hydrophilic plants inside the lagoon, which developed roots that helped retain the water, slowing infiltration so that the lagoon could last all year,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

As hydrophilic plants cover the surface of the lagoon, they also prevent excessive water evaporation. The Paltas also observed zones where plants retained their leaves even in the driest months of the year due to higher levels of soil moisture. This made it possible to follow the direction of the subsurface flow in the shallow aquifer.<\/p>\n

Little by little, the ancient water management system described in myths and stone carvings was aligned as a coherent whole<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Galo Ram\u00f3n, historian<\/p>\n

\u201cThe leaves are green because the aquifer is right below. So the Paltas observed that line of greenery in the dry months and were able to place the lagoons perfectly,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

The Paltas also built small dams along rivers to control runoff during the rainy season, which infiltrated downstream, creating a wet microsystem that maintained soil moisture. They also cared for headwater forests that captured moisture from the mist and planted vegetation on slopes to reduce erosion and surface runoff.<\/p>\n

More than 50 species of trees, shrubs and groundcover plants<\/a> emulating forest biodiversity enhanced the system, helping the Paltas retain water in their fields.<\/p>\n

The Serpent lagoon, as it is known by the community, which was the first to be restored from the Paltas system. Photograph: Alexis Serrano Carmona\/Mongabay<\/p>\n

Ram\u00f3n and his colleagues noted the remains of those systems during fieldwork and interviewed local people, collecting stories and traditions.<\/p>\n

That was when Ram\u00f3n deciphered the meaning of an Indigenous myth, that of \u201ctouro Cango\u201d (Cango the bull), he had heard as a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe myth said that the bull, which was responsible for bringing rain, lived in Catacocha while there were lakes, as he liked the grass that only grew in them. If there were no grass, he would not eat,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n. \u201cThis means that when the lakes disappeared, the bull disappeared too, along with the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grasses that Cango the bull ate were hydrophilic plants essential to the wetland. \u201cLittle by little, the ancient water-management system described in myths, documents, petroglyphs and stone carvings was aligned as a coherent whole,\u201d says Ram\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up to Global Dispatch<\/p>\n

Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team<\/p>\n

Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n

The Paltas\u2019 system faded from memory during the early 18th-century Spanish colonial period due to a decline in the Indigenous population from diseases such as smallpox and measles, landowners expanding their properties and the Catholic church draining lakes linked to pre-Christian rituals.<\/p>\n

The land was eventually given over to cattle and sugar cane. Even gardens were abandoned because of a lack of water, which increased food insecurity. Pisaca lagoon was the last to dry out, less than a century ago.<\/p>\n

One of the restored lagoons in the Pisaca hills, which provides water for people and crops. Photograph: Alexis Serrano Carmona\/Mongabay<\/p>\n

As a result of the disappearance of the Paltas\u2019 lagoon system, the Catacocha aquifers and springs became depleted, and water was available for only half an hour a day by 2001.<\/p>\n

In 2005, Ram\u00f3n, who by then was the leader of Comunidec, a human rights foundation<\/a>, decided to rebuild the Paltas\u2019 lagoon system.<\/p>\n

Estefan\u00eda Maldonado, a constitutional rights lawyer who became involved with the foundation from the outset, says their goal at that stage was to empower peasant communities and civil society.<\/p>\n

Vilma Collaguazo, 44, who lives in Catacocha, began attending project meetings and workshops early on. She remembers that when she first heard of the plan, she didn\u2019t believe it would work. \u201cWe had no idea how the lagoons were going to fill up, given that they were so big,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Comunidec secured resources, and the project began with the restoration of the lagoon on the eastern slopes of Pisaca mountain between 2005 and 2008. It is now the largest, with a storage capacity of 78,420 cubic metres.<\/p>\n

The local community working to reforest the Pisaca reserve. Photograph: Jos\u00e9 Romero<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the end of 2005, there were some hefty rains and the lagoons were filled,\u201d Collaguazo recalls.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince then, there was water almost year-round in the springs, and even new springs emerged. People had water to drink and for their crops, so we began to believe again.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2010, the Nature and Culture International Foundation<\/a> and bought 406 hectares (1,000 acres) of land around Pisaca, supported by Comunidec, to create a reserve, remove cattle and use the land to maintain the water system permanently.<\/p>\n

I live not far from the Pisaca lagoon and have plenty of water for my garden and my animals. It is truly a good thing<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Antonio D\u00edaz, Catacocha resident<\/p>\n

By 2013, 28 lagoons had been built, as well as other elements of the water management system, such as tajamares (small dams or weirs) and water reservoirs, that had been part of the landscape more than 1,000 years ago.<\/p>\n

Since then, local people have reforested the area with native plants that reduce water evaporation, conserve moisture and protect the slopes. The project has increased Catacocha\u2019s water availability from one to 10 hours daily and enhanced food security through community gardens, resulting in the creation of 250 lagoons and tajamares.<\/p>\n

Antonio D\u00edaz, who has been involved with the project since 2005, has reaped the benefits. \u201cI live not far from the Pisaca lagoon and have plenty of water for my little garden and my animals,\u201d he says. \u201cIt is truly a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antonio D\u00edaz by the lagoon he uses to irrigate crops. Photograph: A Serrano Carmona\/Mongabay<\/p>\n

Despite its success in reducing water scarcity and food insecurity, successive governments in Ecuador have not been persuaded to invest in rebuilding the systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps politicians don\u2019t see that it is an investment that will yield immediate returns,\u201d Ram\u00f3n says. \u201cThis year it rained little, so the hydroelectric plants lack water. When it rains, there is no runoff management. Ancient techniques allow you to do just that and could be a solution for all of Ecuador.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maldonado believes that Catacocha demonstrates how water scarcity can be addressed with positive environmental outcomes and without significant investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater is a constitutional right for all. Yet, how do you provide it to a rural community that may be in debt and lack the cashflow to carry out projects?\u201d she asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t necessarily need monumental projects to have water. We can also do it by recovering ancestral knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One day in 1983, while studying a hand-drawn map from 1792 of his home town in Ecuador, Galo…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":186410,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3843],"tags":[728,70,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-186409","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-environment","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114687561800532519","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}