Protection of wetlands affected by the Rosario-Victoria road connection

The cities of Rosario (Sante Fé Province) and Victoria (Entre Ríos Province) are located on the left and right margins of the Lower Parana basin in Northern Argentina. The river floodplain consists in a complex of wetland habitats that are of crucial importance for the urban population and the communities living on the numerous islands of the floodplain. The river and its wetlands constitute for instance a major source of drinking and domestic water. They also support fisheries and recreational activities, and constitute the livelihood base of the island communities. In addition they play an important role in controlling floods. These wetlands are being threatened by various activities and works such as disposal of untreated industrial and urban wastes, river dredging for the benefit of commercial transport, large dams built in the Upper Parana Basin, over-exploitation of fish resources, urbanisation and tourism development. In addition the region is being impacted by the 60km long road connection between Rosario and Victoria that has cut the ecosystem in two, as on a total length of 60 km waters can flow freely only on 12km (in various segments). This affects fish migration, fragments wildlife habitats, opens up pristine sites that formally could not be accessed and gives rise to a large number of activities in the wetlands, which results in a considerable increase in interest for real-estate development and the related threefold increase in land prices. Further developments related to the road are now planned. The road and future development were designed and implemented without serious attention being given to impacts on the natural system and the activities it supports, including one of the most important fisheries of the region. The degree at which the region is being threatened has lead to this project. Currently both NGOs involved are participating to the Environmental Impact Monitoring Commission for the Rosario-Victoria Road Connection, have launched awareness raising activities aimed at the general public, and are lobbying legislators at both national and regional levels. Through this project, the two NGOs aim at obtaining a juridical status that would allow a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based environmental ordinance for the wetland area. This initiative fits in the Water Programme of the Rios Vivos Coalition (of which both Taller Ecologista and Foro Ecologista de Parana are members), especially with respect to promoting a participatory process for the development of a regional sustainable management strategy for the extensive wetland corridor from the Pantanal to the Plata River. The general goal of the project is to protect the wetland system affected by the Rosario -Victoria road connection. Specific objectives are: * Promote the attribution of a legal status to the wetland system affected by the Rosario-Victoria road in order to come to sustainable and well co-ordinated management of the area. * Inform on the ecological and social importance of these wetlands as well as their relation to the wetlands of the Pantanal, Paraguay and Paraná * Raise awareness of the local population on the importance of wetland conservation and protection Main activities planned * Monitor the Rosario-Victoria Road Environmental Impact Assessment (RVR-EIA) and participate to the RVR-EIA Commission meetings * Constitute an 'inter jurisdictional' working group formed of both specialists and NGO representatives in order to identify the most appropriate legal status for the area, present it to the public and lobby for legal approval of the document * Production of awareness raising materials (documentation on the wetlands such as flyers, posters, radio broadcasts, CD ROM) * Give talks to schools, libraries, etc * Conduct an awareness raising campaign directed at the municipalities of Rosario and Victoria * Carry out a socio-economic survey of people and communities of the floodplain islands * Develop alliances with other sectors, such as public and private tourism organisations and companies, and fisheries, on raising awareness of users from these sectors. * Participate to meetings of Rios Vivos Coalition members working on the wetland system of the Parana-Paraguay River Basin

The general goal of the project was to protect the wetland system affected by the Rosario -Victoria road connection.This overall objective has not been reached yet with this project. However the different governmental levels are aware of the importance to protect the wetlands and some have adopted some measures which give improves the management of the wetland. An example is the National Management Plan for Fire which has been approved. Also successfull were: Promoting the attribution of a legal status to the wetland system affected by the Rosario-Victoria road in order to come to sustainable and well coordinated management of the area. The legislation has not been accepted yet however the subject has been put on the political agenda and the discussion continues. Informing on the ecological and social importance of these wetlands as well as their relation to the wetlands of the Pantanal, Paraguay and Paraná. This has been quite succesful Several meetings with politicians and NGO’s were held. Raising awareness of the local population on the importance of wetland conservation and protection was very successful through the use of the following media: A documentary Paraná River - Giant in danger Many printed materials like, posters, tools for teachers and tools for campaigns, publication for teachers, T-shirts, talks on schools, theater, and a radio broadcasting.