Mekong Rio Mekong Rio International Conference on Transboundary River Basin International Conference on Transboundary River Basin
ManagementManagementPhuket, Thailand, 1Phuket, Thailand, 1‐‐3 May 2012 3 May 2012
Stakeholder involvement Stakeholder involvement South America: the Amazon case South America: the Amazon case
‐‐ Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
Ambassador Alejandro GordilloAmbassador Alejandro GordilloSecretary GeneralSecretary General
ACTO Permanent SecretariatACTO Permanent Secretariat
THE AMAZONGENERAL DATA
• Although the Amazon is said to occupy no more than 6% of the planet's surface area, it actually covers more than half of its tropical rainforest. In addition, it represents 15% of the global photosynthesis process and its rivers contribute close to 20% of the world's fresh water to the oceans. Its basin has 25 thousand kilometers of navigable rivers. The Amazon River extends over 6.9 thousand kilometers and has more than a thousand tributaries.
• The region extends over nearly 7.4 million square kilometers, which corresponds to almost 40% of the South American territory, as well as 54% of the total surface area of the eight Member Countries of ACTO.
• The 420 different indigenous and tribal peoples that live in the Amazon speak 86 languages and 650 dialects. At least 60 of them live in complete isolation.
THE AMAZONGENERAL DATA
• The Amazon is home to an exceptionally high species diversity, close to one fourth of the global total. It has been estimated to contain 30 thousand vascular plant species, including 5 to 10 thousand tree species. Two thousand of these have been classified according to their uses for food, medicine and other purposes.
• The Amazon is a vulnerable region due, among other aspects, to deforestation and agricultural expansion, as well as illegal logging, forest fires, illegal trade in wildlife and extreme climate events.
• According to the CBD document “Biodiversity Scenario: Projections of 21st Century Change in Biodiversity and Associated Ecosystem Services" there is a growing scientific consensus that the complex interaction of these and other challenges might lead to widespread Amazonian forest dieback.
• If current land use and climate change trends continue, deforestation and dieback will leave less than 50% of original Amazonian forest by 2030 and less than 10% of original forest by 2080.
THE AMAZONOPPORTUNITIES
• The Amazon countries have been acting decisively for many years to reduce the factors of biodiversity loss and enhance conservation and sustainable use.
• Various strategies and action plans have been adopted. Most respond to national needs, others fulfill international agreements and conventions like the CBD.
• The ACTO Secretariat works with other Secretariats of relevant biodiversity‐related conventions, like the Framework Convention on Climate Change, CITES and the CBD.
• Other Regional and international organizations related to the ACTO environment agenda: GEF/PNUMA, ITTO, UNFF, FAO, CAN, UICN.
Amazon Cooperation Treaty1978/1980
Species Preservation
Fauna and Flora
Incorporation to the national economies
Water Resources
Indigenous Cultures
Education
Health
Scientific and Technological
Research
Navigation
Tourism
Trade: Border populations
Infrastructure: Transport and
Communications
Environmental Preservation / Sustainable Development
South/South Cooperation
Decisions byConsensus
Sovereignty
ACTO
The ACT is signed in 1978.
Reason:Key region of strategic importance for the 8 Member Countries.
Interest:Address regional topics as a whole, not just specific problems of individual Amazon countries.
Approved in the 10th Meeting of Ministers of Approved in the 10th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs
of the ACT, November 2010of the ACT, November 2010
This Agenda incorporates a crosscutting and multisectoral approach in all the programs, projects and activities identifiedto respond to member country concerns and requirements and to the mandates of the ACT.
Thanks to the adjustment and revision mechanisms provided for its implementation the Agenda is a guiding, flexible and adaptable tool capable of adequately reflecting all the common interests.
An example of stakeholderAn example of stakeholder´́s involments involment
Project: Project: ““Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary
Water Resources in the Amazon River Basin Considering Water Resources in the Amazon River Basin Considering Climate Variability and ChangeClimate Variability and Change””
The most extensive watershed in terms of water volumeThe most extensive watershed in terms of water volumeI.I.Integrated management by 8 countries, 4 official languages and cIntegrated management by 8 countries, 4 official languages and countless ancestral ountless ancestral populations populations II.II.Management of Andean portion and plains (water flow) Management of Andean portion and plains (water flow) III.III.Basic sanitation and diseasesBasic sanitation and diseasesIV.IV.Subsurface waterSubsurface waterV.V.Exploration of aquatic resourcesExploration of aquatic resourcesVI.VI.Fishing volumesFishing volumesVII.VII.NavigationNavigationVIII.VIII.Climate variability and changeClimate variability and changeIX.IX.Melting Andean glaciersMelting Andean glaciersX.X.Water qualityWater qualityXI.XI.Heavy metalsHeavy metalsXII.XII.MiningMiningXIII.XIII.PoliticalPolitical‐‐institutional capacityinstitutional capacityXIV.XIV.Legal framework Legal framework XV.XV.Regional integrationRegional integration
CHALLENGES OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
The SAP is a key element to achieve sustainable use and integrated management of water resources and promote climate change adaptation through a program of support activities.
The SAP is a key element to achieve sustainable use and integrated management of water resources and promote climate change adaptation through a program of support activities.
Project ObjectiveProject Objective: Develop a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the : Develop a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the Amazon Basin and create an enabling environment for its future Amazon Basin and create an enabling environment for its future implementation.implementation.
OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE
Project Coordination UnitRegional Coordinator
NPEUBolivia
NPEUBrazil
NPEUEcuador
NPEUPeru
NPEUGuyana
NPEUColombia
NPEUSuriname
NPEUVenezuela
IMC
ACTO/PS
IMC IMCIMC IMC IMC IMC IMC
NPEU= National Project Execution UnitIMC = Inter Ministerial Committee
Steering Committee-PSC
•National Coordinators / Country Representatives •UNEP•ACTO/PS
UNEP
Co-funding Agencies
Conclusions
• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty‐ACT and ACTO are two examples of a South‐South cooperation process that began in 1978.
• The political will of its Member Countries to consolidate ACTO as an exchange and cooperation forum was ratified at the highest level.
• The New Amazonian Strategic Cooperation Agenda shows regional consensus on the Amazon and creates an unprecedented window of opportunity for all its members, organizations and other partners.