Conveners

United Nations University: Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS)
Pantanal Regional Environmental Programme (UNU/PREP)

Co-conveners:

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso
UNESCO/MAB Programme
The Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil
UNESCO

Collaborators:

Everglades Pantanal Initiative (EPI)
Ministry of Environment of Brazil
SESC-Pantanal

Introduction

The Pantanal is the largest continental wetland located in the center of South America.  The Pantanal represents crucial habitats for native and migratory birds, fish, wildlife, and provide natural system for water quality control.  The importance of this region as an ecological sanctuary has been recognized at national and international levels as a biosphere reserve, national parks and Ramsar sites.  Although most of this wetland lies in Brazil, a large portion of the Pantanal drainage basin is stretched out to Bolivia and Paraguay.  The Pantanal has remained pristine until recently due to its remote location.  Today, however, there is an increasing pressure for its development, thus there is a need for the region to respond appropriately to these demands. Therefore, a concerted action by these 3 countries is required to ensure its sustainability.  One of the alternatives for actions could be the interlinkages approach.

Interlinkages approach seeks to foster better coordination among multilateral environmental agreements to promote integrated approach to environmental management and implementation at national, regional and international levels.  In the Pantanal wetland case, there is a need to address the different dimensions of synergies and inter-linkages among multilateral environmental agreements relative to wetlands. These are the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Climate Change, the World Heritage Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species.  The broad objectives of these conventions are mutually compatible and there is a scope for close cooperation among these agreements. The Ramsar convention also establishes the need for an international cooperation “to consult with other Parties about implementing obligations arising from Ramsar in respect of transboundary wetlands, shared watercourses and coordinated conservation of wetland flora and fauna” (Art.5).  The focus will be given to the Ramsar Convention, which provides a series of guidelines for the “wise use” of wetlands.  The Conference of the Parties adopted guidelines which include the need to improve institutional and organizational arrangements; to address legislative and policy needs; and to increase knowledge and awareness of wetland values.   Major priorities of this workshop include integration of current knowledge about management policies, and the development of innovative and strategic approaches to land and water management.

Objective

The primary objective of this workshop is to foster dialogue between policy makers, academicians and NGOs of Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay for the emergence of common and coherent policies for the sustainable development of the Pantanal wetlands focusing on the integrated approach for wetland management.

Focus

• Identify common regional trends, issues and concerns on wetland management.
• Promote the establishment and effective management of a regional representative network of the protected areas.
• Identify how the conventions are integrated and implemented to conserve and manage the wetlands.
• Provide stakeholders awareness of global, regional and national activities related to integrated approach of wetland management.
• Promote understanding of and provide knowledge for policy formulation and strategies to implement integrated approach of wetland management at the national and regional levels.
• Create a basis for further cooperation and research, and share information on their best practices.

Workshop Activities

The core activity will be a sub-regional (Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay) workshop targeting R&D scientists, policy-makers from relevant government agencies, as well as scholars working on regulatory regimes regarding wetland management related issues, non-governmental organizations, private sector institutions, and stakeholders involved more widely with integrated management approach.  Experts and specialists from the region and abroad will act as resource persons for the workshop.

Scope

The Ramsar Convention; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Convention on Climate Change; the Convention on Migratory Species; and the World Heritage Convention.

Notes:

1.       The workshop will be conducted in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

2.   The recommendations will be primarily submitted to the parties involved in the wetland management of these three countries.