Multi footprint evaluation of Andean hydropower integrating nature-positive water footprint, life-cycle assessment and eco-hydrological resilience in the Mantaro Basin

The scoping review focuses on the combination of the nature-positive water footprint framework and life-cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the sustainability of hydropower production in the Mantaro River basin, one of the main energy sources of the Central Andes. Hydropower in the basin is a source of electricity in Peru and it is placing more strain on fresh water and high altitude ecosystems. This review is a synthesis of multidisciplinary (hydrology, energy systems, and ecosystem science) evidence that was published in 2010–2025 in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The analysis reveals significant trade-offs between water, land, and carbon footprints and reflects on the eco-hydrological limits and governance lapses which limit nature-positive outcomes. Combining NP-WF and LCA presents prospects of basin-based management policies that optimise the renewable energy production, water-usage efficiency, and biodiversity resilience. The results indicate the necessity of transdisciplinary models to direct the low-carbon energy shifts in the ecologically delicate mountain systems.