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.

Amazonian Strategic Cooperation Agenda

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.

Amazonian Strategic Cooperation AgendaPlan Synthesis

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

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

PROJECT OPERATIONAL STRUCTUREPROJECT OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

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

People at the Amazon BasinPeople at the Amazon Basin

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.

Gracias, Thank you, Obrigado, Dank U