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Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Amazon River Basin Considering Climate Variability and Climate Change
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Project details
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Leading Organization:
Global Environment Facility (GEF)Implementing Agency:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, OAS National officeSummary:
###### Background
The Amazon River Basin occupies the entire central and eastern area of South America, lying to the east of the Andes mountain range and extending from the Guyana Plateau in the north to the Brazilian Plateau in the south. The Amazon River, which runs for approximately 7,100 km from its source in Peru to the Atlantic Coast of Brazil, is the world's longest, widest, and deepest river. Its discharge of approximately 210,000 m³ per second exceeds the combined discharge of the world's nine next largest rivers. Its hydrological characteristics are unique. The dense vegetation and large volumes of water that circulate throughout its extensive drainage network produce clouds over the Basin that generate high levels of precipitation and release heat, affecting the regional and global climate through tropical circulation patterns. Most of the Basin is covered by tropical rain forest, accounting for more than 56% of all broad leaf forests in the world. Its ecosystems are characterized by great biodiversity, with more than 30,000 plant species, nearly 2,000 fish species, 60 reptile species, 35 mammal families, and approximately 1,800 bird species. The Amazon River Basin is also an important source of natural resources for human economic development. It contains some of the world's largest known reserves of bauxite (nearly 15% of the world total), and industries within the Basin are some of the largest suppliers of iron and steel to world markets.
Given its expansive drainage system, the Amazon Basin is significantly affected by ENSO-type climatic variations (those causing a substantial decline in precipitation), considerably increasing the areas at risk from fire and defoliation. The last “El Niño” event of 1997 caused the worst drought in 25 years in the Amazon Basin. The drop in water levels in the Amazon River and its tributaries was substantial (Rio Negro alone registered a flow 8.6 meters lower than normal), drying-up areas usually flooded and altering ecological conditions that increased fire hazards throughout the Basin. Millions of acres of burned forest reduced visibility, caused respiratory problems, and closed airports at times. Lagoons and ecosystems became isolated because of drought, stranding recently hatched turtles, for example, and concentrating predators into smaller areas. Reduced river flows also caused power rationing and a reduction in river transport capabilities.
Current anthropogenic pressures on the Basin (defoliation, agriculture, mining, urbanization, etc.) are altering the condition of the plant cover and soils, which, in turn, modify and increase the area’s vulnerability to climatic cycles. Studies indicate that changes in soil moisture and evaporation, caused by deforestation, can lead to persistent drought. Deforestation has increased significantly in recent years.
Project Components:
* COMPONENT 1) Consolidation of a shared vision for the Amazon River Basin and formulation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Amazon River Basin.
* COMPONENT 2) Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Integrated Water Resource Management in the Amazon River Basin.
* COMPONENT 3) Forecasting the hydrological impact of climate variation and change and the implications for development.
* COMPONENT 4) Integrated and sustainable management of land and water resources.
* COMPONENT 5) Public participation for integrated management of water resources in the Amazon River BasinExpected Outputs:
To strengthen the institutional framework for planning and executing, in a coordinated and coherent manner, activities for the protection and sustainable management of the land and water resources of the Amazon River Basin, endeavoring to realize a shared vision for sustainable development in the region, based upon the protection and integrated management of transboundary water resources and adaptation to climatic changes.
* i. Make progress toward the integrated management of land and water resources, and adaptation to climatic variation and change, through more effective decision-making by the relevant national institutions, based upon the forecast impacts of climatic variations and changes on land and water resources.
* ii. Strengthen the shared strategic vision for the Basin as the basis for integrated land and water resource planning and management, adaptation to climatic change, and sustainable development.
* iii. Strengthen the technical-institutional structure for the identification of land and water resources at risk of environmental impairment (critical areas or “hot spots”) in order to recommend measures, plans, and projects to protect and/or rehabilitate them and, in association with in the responsible institutions in each country, initiate remedial measures.
* iv. Generate more knowledge about the types and sources of water pollution in the Basin, monitor them, and attack their root causes.
* v. Assess the vulnerability of ecosystems and local communities to climatic variations, particularly droughts, analyzing adaptation options to altered flows in the glacial headwater areas and other vulnerable regions.
* vi. Make progress toward the harmonization of legal framework, the development of economic instruments, technical and institutional capacities, and public participation and involvement for the management of land and water resources in the Basin.
* vii. Strengthen the TCA Secretariat as an effective coordination agency for countries in the Basin in the short-, medium-, and long-terms.To strengthen the institutional framework for planning and executing, in a coordinated and coherent manner, activities for the protection and sustainable management of the land and water resources of the Amazon River Basin, endeavoring to realize a shared vision for sustainable development in the region, based upon the protection and integrated management of transboundary water resources and adaptation to climatic changes.
* i. Make progress toward the integrated management of land and water resources, and adaptation to climatic variation and change, through more effective decision-making by the relevant national institutions, based upon the forecast impacts of climatic variations and changes on land and water resources.
* ii. Strengthen the shared strategic vision for the Basin as the basis for integrated land and water resource planning and management, adaptation to climatic change, and sustainable development.
* iii. Strengthen the technical-institutional structure for the identification of land and water resources at risk of environmental impairment (critical areas or “hot spots”) in order to recommend measures, plans, and projects to protect and/or rehabilitate them and, in association with in the responsible institutions in each country, initiate remedial measures.
* iv. Generate more knowledge about the types and sources of water pollution in the Basin, monitor them, and attack their root causes.
* v. Assess the vulnerability of ecosystems and local communities to climatic variations, particularly droughts, analyzing adaptation options to altered flows in the glacial headwater areas and other vulnerable regions.
* vi. Make progress toward the harmonization of legal framework, the development of economic instruments, technical and institutional capacities, and public participation and involvement for the management of land and water resources in the Basin.
* vii. Strengthen the TCA Secretariat as an effective coordination agency for countries in the Basin in the short-, medium-, and long-terms.Contacts:
Isabelle Vanderbeck, Task Manager
Telephone: 254-20-624339
Email: isabelle.vanderbeck@unep.orgProject Status:
ApprovedPrimary Beneficiaries:
Local communitiesResources:
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