Public participation in the management of Gualeguay River Basin and wetlands

The Gualeguay River Basin in North-eastern Argentina is a component of the wetland-rich Paraná-Paraguay River Basin. It is located in the centre of the Entre Rios Province, where the confluence of the Uruguay, Gualeguay and Lower Paraná Rivers constitute a large delta. The river basin includes extensive wetlands, especially floodplains and marshes, but elevation of the riverbed drops more sharply than most regional rivers in the region, from 90 metres in the North to less than five meters at the confluence with the Paraná River–as the crow flies, some 300 km. The undulated relief of the river basin and the rather sharp drop of elevation from North to South probably explain why erosion as a result of deforestation leads to one of the highest sediment load observed in regional waters. This threatens the wetlands of both the Gualeguay Basin and the Lower Paraná Basin. In addition, agriculture and livestock farming advance into the wetlands of the basin without any control by authorities, environmental impact studies or mitigating measures. As a result, the environmental functions performed by wetlands in support of the regional ecosystem are being affected. Finally, the law regulating the use of natural resources is strongly inspired by a short-term, productive vision and the few provisions it makes in favour of sustainable development (e.g. the obligation to carry EIA for a large number of intervention types) are not being enforced. The main goal of the project is to stimulate the participatory development of a civil society agenda to foster agreement on a land and water management plan for the sub-basin that is ecologically, sociologically, economically and institutionally sustainable, and embedded in the Provincial Water law and the National Water Agreement. Specific objectives are: To reinforce the social and political processes in support of the application and enforcement of the Provincial Water Law in the Gualeguay River Basin, especially in relation to its wetlands, and their interrelation with the Lower Paraná forest and wetlands; To raise awareness on the ecological, economic, social and cultural importance of the river basin, its wetlands and its “native” forest, the benefits that could be accrued from their conservation, and the linkages between this basin and the wetlands of the Lower Paraná Main activities and results include: Two workshops, each involving 40 representatives of political and socio-economic actors to achieve support and commitment of all stakeholders to the envisaged participatory process and develop proposals aimed at improving the current situation. Organisation of a regional meeting to establish a temporary (sub-) river basin committee; Lobby of provincial legislators to call for increased attention for the need to manage wetlands in a sustainable way, and generate proposals for improved regulation of water and forest management and designation of protected areas in the Gualeguay Basin. Production of publicity and information material (flyers, brochures, posters, fact-sheets) in support of aforementioned activities Public awareness-raising on the need for wetland and native forest conservation by means of sessions in schools, libraries, and civil associations. The main expected result is that a Basin Committee, at least a temporary one, will be functioning, benefiting from the support of civil society at large, and ready to generate propositions for the development of a sustainable river basin management plan and deliver the inputs necessary to an increased appreciation of the value of the basin wetlands.

The main goal of the project was to stimulate the participatory development of a civil society agenda to get agreement on a management. The Gualeguay River Basin in North-eastern Argentina is a component of the wetland-rich Paraná-Paraguay River Basin. Erosion and loss of vegetation cover as a result of deforestation, agricultural and livestock farming are the main threats for the wetlands. The formation of the Basin Committee of Villaguay's stream in the city of Villaguay has been the main result of the project. Different stakeholders with different (political) agendas and goals have come together in the committee. Also stakeholders from the private sector were included in the process. The legal recognition of two protected areas in the low Paraná river in the project area shows an increasing detection of environmental problems. Additionally the incorporation of suggestions of stakeholders mobilized by the project in the “Law on Committees of Basin and Consortia” shows the recognition of the basin committee. Four mayor outputs were produced: Firstly a note with the title Protection and sustainable administration of the continental waters and their territories, secondly a note with the title Stop Illegal Fumigations, thirdly a booklet called To know to take care Citizenship for sustainable administration of public waters and fourthly several institutional and campaigns flags.