Effects of land-use changes on structural characteristics of tropical high-altitude Andean headwater streams

•The water quality, structure and biological conditions of streams surrounded by pastures are severely impacted in Colombia Andes.•Pasture to Eucalyptus land-use conversion showed a positive consequence for the structural characteristics of Colombia Andes streams.•The use of visual-based rapid bioassessment protocols, coupled with physical, chemical and biological characteristics of stream water showed a low-cost useful tool to detect land-use disturbances in Colombia Andean streams.