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ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Office for Sustainable Development & Environment PROJECT SERIES, NUMBER 8 — OCTOBER 2005

AMAZON BASIN Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Basin

INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES IN THE AMAZON RIVER BASIN

COUNTRIES: , Brasil, , , , , and IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) EXECUTING AGENCY: Organization of American States/ Office for Sustainable Development and Environment (OAS/OSDE) LOCAL EXECUTING AGENCY: Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (OTCA) PROJECT DURATION: 2005-2007 (PDF-B Phase) GEF GRANT: 0.7 US$ millions CO-FINANCING: 0.6 US$ millions UNEP/OAS: 0.15 US$ millions PROJECT COST: 1.45 US$ millions

INTRODUCTION Negro, Xingú, Madeira, Tapajós, and Juruá subbasins. In terms The Amazon River Basin occupies the entire central and eastern of , from a hydrological standpoint, an estimated 65% area of , lying to the east of the mountain of the Basin’s total flows into the Atlantic comes from the range and extending from the Guyana Plateau in the north to Solimoes and sub basins, originating in the Andes the Brazilian Plateau in the south. The Basin covers more than and comprising about 60% of the Basin’s land area. 6,100,000 km2, or 44% of the land area of the South American continent, extending into Bolivia, , Colombia, Ecuador, Most of the Basin is covered by tropical , accounting for Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The Basin has widely more than 56% of all broad leaf in the world. Its ecosystems varying climatic and topographic characteristics, with elevations are characterized ranging from level at the River’s mouth, to an altitude of by great biodiver- 6,500 m in the Andes. sity, with more than 30,000 plant The Amazon River, which runs for approximately 7,100 km from species, nearly its source in Peru to the Atlantic of Brazil, is the world’s 2,000 species, longest, widest, and deepest river. Its discharge of approximately 60 species, 210,000 m_ per second exceeds the combined discharge of the 35 world’s nine next largest . The Amazon River system is families, and divided into 10 subbasins, the largest of which in area are the approximately 1

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Office for Sustainable Development & Environment

1,800 species. The Amazon River Basin is also an important n Water pollution and quality , resulting mainly source of natural resources for human economic development. from the indiscriminate use of agricultural pesticides, control It contains some of the world’s largest known reserves of bauxite of illicit crops, dumping of solid wastes and inadequate water (nearly 15% of the world total), and industries within the use and wastewater treatment from populated areas. Basin are some of the largest suppliers of iron and steel to world markets. Wood and wood byproducts, gold, and tin are THE PROJECT other products from the Basin that are increasingly in demand The goal of this project is to strengthen the institutional frame- for export. work for planning and executing, in a coordinated and coherent manner, activities for the protection and sustainable manage- The population of the Amazon River Basin is estimated at ment of approximately 10 million, mostly concentrated in urban areas the land along the river and its main . A high percentage of and water the total population consists of indigenous communities settled resources of mainly along the banks of the river and belonging, inter alia, to the Amazon ethno–linguistic groups. In recent decades, there has been an River Basin accelerated process of immigration into, and settlement within, in the face the Amazon River Basin. Population growth rates range from of ongoing 5.2% to 7.2%, well above the national averages for the Amazon climatic countries. These factors, combined with the high levels of changes being poverty, place constant pressure on the region’s natural experienced in the Basin. The proposed project endeavors to resources, and in particular on residual native forests. realize a shared vision for the sustainable development of the region, based upon the protection and integrated management The Andean slopes are subject to severe , with more than of transboundary water resources and adaptation to climatic 1,000 tons/km2/year of flowing toward the Atlantic changes. This goal can be stated as seven specific objectives: Ocean. Measurements in the upper Madeira River subbasin indicate that, of the 3,200 tons/km2/year of sediment produced, 1. Make progress toward the integrated management of land up to 60% reaches no farther than the Andean foothills, at and water resources through more effective decision-making which point, the sharply reduced longitudinal gradients lower by the relevant national institutions, to determine the the ’s carrying capacity resulting in internal sediment vulnerability of people and ecosystems to the consequent deposition within the Basin. Overall, the Amazon River changes in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. transports an average of 600 to 800 million tons of sediment 2. Strengthen the shared strategic vision of the Basin as the annually, with the majority of the sediment coming from the basis for integrated land and water resource planning Solimoes (62%) and Madeira (35%) river sub basins and and management. originating in the Andes. 3. Strengthen the technical-institutional structure for the ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS identification of land and water resources at risk of The main environmental problems of a transboundary environmental impairment (critical areas or “hot spots”) affecting the project area can be summarized as: in order to protect and/or rehabilitate these areas. 4. Generate more knowledge about the types and sources of n Anthropogenic pressures, owing to the uncontrolled expansion water pollution in the Basin, the means to monitor them, of human activities which contribute to the destruction of and the mechanisms to attack their root causes. fragile ecosystems. 5. Assess the vulnerability of ecosystems and local communities n and clearing of plant cover causing loss and to climatic variations, particularly those resulting in erosion, reduced , and in the rivers. and . n Changes in the hydrologic cycle associated with changes in 6. Make progress toward the harmonization of the legal frame- the global and exacerbated by the alteration of the work for the sustainable development and management of Amazonian forests due to the fires and the droughts. the Basin, the development of economic instruments, the

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AMAZON RIVER BASIN – WATER PROJECT SERIES, NUMBER 8 – OCTOBER 2005

strengthening of technical and institutional capacities, and the n A Framework Strategic Action Program (Framework SAP), promotion of public participation. agreed by the eight countries, outlining the policy, legal, and institutional reforms needed to address the critical issues within 7. Strengthen the TCA Secretariat as an effective coordination each subbasin as identified in the TDA, to be implemented agency for countries in the Basin in the short-, medium-, during subsequent phases of the project. and long-terms. n A consolidated Vision for the sustainable development of PRIORITY AREAS FOR ACTION the Basin, agreed by the eight countries, with established Detailed determination of project components and activities mechanisms and processes for its promotion and dissemination will take place during the project preparation phase, based within the region. upon the results of studies to be conducted and the public n Strategic alliances and agreements established among countries participation and involvement process. However, based on (within the framework of the TCA) and with financing preliminary consultations and the results of seminars, meetings agencies identified and briefed for the execution of priority and workshops held to discuss the conceptual underpinnings transboundary activities. of this initiative, the project has been designed around five pillars, or principal components: n Identified and jointly implemented measures, within identified “hot spots,” to combat water pollution and I. CONSOLIDATION OF A SHARED VISION FOR THE deterioration of water quality, to promote the exchange of AMAZON RIVER BASIN AND FORMULATION OF A knowledge and technologies, and to enhance mechanisms TRANSBOUNDARY DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS (TDA) for multinational and inter-institutional cooperation, including FOR THE AMAZON RIVER BASIN the development and/or harmonization of laws, regulations, This Component will consolidate and disseminate and operating protocols. a shared “Vision” for the Amazon River Basin to be developed and agreed by the eight countries of the II. INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING Basin. Through this Component, governmental AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR institutions responsible for land and water resources INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE management and the environment, academic MANAGEMENT IN THE AMAZON institutions, private enterprise, nongovernmental RIVER BASIN organizations (NGOs), and civil society, in general, The strengthening of the institutional and technical will develop and share major strategic objectives capacities of Basin-wide, national, and sub-national for the Basin, particularly with respect to trans- institutions to implement a shared vision is critical boundary issues requiring coordinated and joint to overcome the fragmented efforts taking action in areas related to the protection and place in the . This Component sustainable use of land and water resources, seeks to strengthen the technical and managerial adaptation to hydrological variability and climate capacity of water resource management institutions change. The expected results and outputs of responsible for the sustainable management of the this Component include: Basin, to support the regional coordinating role of OTCA, and to strengthen the capacity of Basin n A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of institutions to exchange information and experi- the Amazon River Basin, agreed by the eight ences on matters pertaining to land use, water countries, with the main environmental issues, their possible resources, climate, and meteorology. Specific efforts will be root causes, and "hot spots" within the Basin defined and made to upgrade the existing hydrometeorological stations in identified at the subbasin level. the upper, middle, and lower Amazon River Basins, in order to n An analysis of the political and legal framework governing the improve, qualitatively as well as quantitatively, the availability of development and management of the Amazon River Basin, necessary hydrological, physical-chemical, and biological infor- with an emphasis on reconciling policy conflicts, rationalizing mation within the Basin at appropriate spatial and temporal sectoral demands and requirements, and coordinating actions resolutions. The expected results of this Component include: for the sustainable development of the land and water resources n Strengthened capacity of national water agencies and sub- of the Basin. national institutions to implement the Framework Strategic

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ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Office for Sustainable Development & Environment

Action program and reforms identified during the TDA/SAP resources of the Amazon River Basin. Development of this formulation process. capacity will include obtaining or producing forecasts with respect to: (i) global climate variation and change; (ii) regional n Interministerial and intersectoral mechanisms for encouraging climate variation and related phenomena (i.e., ENSO); the participation and involvement of all relevant ministeries (iii) climate variation and change in selected areas of the Basin; and organizations from civil society in the process of develop- (iv) hydrological trends in the Basin and ing the project document, TDA, its principal sub basins, including its Framework SAP, and Vision for the glacial headwaters; (v) trends in the Amazon River Basin. Established sediment loads and surface discharges institutional arrangements for project of the major rivers of the Basin; and, execution, including the participation (vi) extreme hydrological events (droughts of civil society and indigenous groups, and floods). This Component also will with an emphasis on the most aim to consolidate and strengthen the vulnerable communities. preparation and execution of joint n Strengthened capacity of the OTCA to research projects, and promote the coordinate with sectoral ministries, exchange of scientific information, civil society, and stakeholders in general the formulation and knowledge, and experiences among the relevant agencies in implementation of plans and programs for integrated water the participating countries. This Component will seek to resource management and sustainable development within encourage closer contacts between the scientific community the Basin. and decision-makers, and to strengthen joint research groups on specific priority topics, thereby helping to shape a new n An operational hydrological-environmental information and decision support system (DSS) implemented and operating generation of scientists resident within the Basin. This in each country, to support decision-making in the Amazon Component will complement efforts to acquire and disseminate River Basin, oriented initially toward assisting the Basin information of the land and water resources, and climate, of countries and their communities in dealing with hydrological the Basin to all stakeholders and interested persons within the variability due to climate change and associated droughts and Basin and elsewhere. The anticipated results for this reduced instream flows. Component include: n New research programs into climatic trends and their n An operational information system for the exchange of data and experiences among Amazon countries in the fields of land effects within the Amazon River Basin conducted by staff and water resource management, climate, and meteorology, in academia and meteorological research institutions within and a Documentation Center for the Amazon River Basin the Basin. established within the framework of the OTCA and consistent n An operational hydroclimatological and soil use forecasting with the standards of IW-LEARN. system installed within the Amazon River Basin, providing data for enhanced forecasting and / modeling n A project document, agreed by the countries within the capacity at both the Basin and subbasin levels. framework of the OTCA, for a second, implementation phase. n An assessment of the vulnerability of specific communities and ecosystems to extreme hydrological events, especially III. FORECASTING THE HYDROLOGICAL IMPACT droughts and drought-induced fires, at the subbasin level. OF CLIMATE VARIATION AND CHANGE AND n Identified options to assist the most vulnerable communities THE IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT and identified ecosystems to adapt to extreme hydrological This Component will build a scientifically-based consensus events, initially focused on drought management and response on climate, within and among the Amazon countries, in the at the subbasin level and in the headwater areas of the interest of environmentally sustainable development and the Amazon River system. prevention of losses due to extreme events in the Basin. Specifically, the objective of this Component will be to n Defined and agreed strategic actions identified in the strengthen the capacity for forecasting the impacts and Framework SAP for reducing the impacts of development on consequences of climatic variation (in the short- and medium- climate variation and change, through horizontal cooperation terms) and change (in the longer term) on the land and water and with international support within the Amazon River Basin. 4 ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES Office for Sustainable Development & Environment

IV. INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT V. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR INTEGRATED OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE Whereas Components 1 and 2 specifically target the political- AMAZON RIVER BASIN legal and institutional factors contributing to the degradation of This Component consists of activities for the sharing of land and water resources in the Basin, at the subbasin level, this experiences and knowledge, the exchange of information, and Component will focus actions on the geographic manifestations the participation of civil society and stakeholders in the decision of these failures, targeting not only critical environmental issues, making processes required for project design and implementa- but also related socio-economic development problems in tion, and in general terms, for sustainable land and water selected “hot spots”, as identified through the TDA and public resource management and development in the Basin. Three participation processes. Specifically, this Component will seek groups of activities are envisioned: to implement sustainable land-use and conservation measures, i. The empowerment of participation and involvement by civil promote the rehabilitation of degraded lands and , and society through disseminating information to communities, initiate the adoption of sustainable land-use systems and water corporations, organizations, public gatherings, and the management practices in critical and vulnerable communities media (including radio, television, Internet, print media, and ecosystems (i.e., in specific “hot spots”). Priority socio- newsletters, etc.); through consultations with communities economic issues like human health, sanitation, and poverty and affected groups, including indigenous populations, alleviation, as identified at the World Summit on Sustainable NGOs, and the private sector within the Basin; and through Development (WSSD), will also be important aspects of this the identification and implementation of consultative Component. Expected results and outputs include: processes to empower communities and affected groups n Documented analyses of the principal threats to hydro- within the decision-making framework of the Basin and the biological resources from land-based activities in identified participating countries. critical areas of the Basin, by subbasin. ii. The generation and dissemination of scientific and technical n Harmonization, strengthening and implementation of knowledge on the Basin's water resources, land and water environmental zoning and land-use plans for selected use and management, climatic variation and change, water at-risk areas. quality and , aquatic biodiversity and fisheries, and hydrogeology, and the dissemination of information n Sustainable development (income-generating) plans of general interest to the public, scholars at all levels from and programs prepared and implemented at the primary to tertiary, and other entities concerned with the community level. Amazon River Basin. n Dissemination of appropriate technologies for optimal iii. The execution of pilot demonstration projects replicating and sustainable use of hydrobiological resources. best practices, in terms of methodological approaches, n Reduced pollution and results, and recommendations in other representative areas contamination caused by the of the Amazon River Basin. The results indiscriminate use of agricultural of these pilot projects will form inputs pesticides, wastewater from to the Framework Strategic Action populated areas, mercury in gold Program to be implemented during the mining, and as a result of natural second stage of the project. The selec- and anthropogenic alteration of . tion of pilot demonstration projects will be made in close consultation with the n Action plans and community oups during the project programs developed to improve affected local gr preparation phase. Actions are expected health and sanitation conditions to focus on water quality (pollution in selected areas. from mining and "garimpos"), environmental sanitation, n Numbers or acres of land subjected to sustainable ) potable water supply, sustainable fishing and fish farming, management practices, contributing to improved public hydrological warning and response systems for droughts and health, welfare, and economic well-being. floods, the rehabilitation of impaired areas, and land use 5

AMAZON RIVER BASIN – WATER PROJECT SERIES, NUMBER 8 – OCTOBER 2005

and soil conservation. The main results and outputs of the selection and characterization of priority problems, this Component include: and in the development of the technical proposals to solve them, will be facilitated. A Public Participation Program and n Local implementation teams formed in each subbasin, Public Involvement Plan will be developed during the project involving, among others, stakeholders, NGOs, indigenous preparation phase for implementation during subsequent groups, and the private sector. Teams actively involved in phases of the project. project design and execution. n Periodic consultations through public meetings for feedback Sustainability of the project is related to the strengthening of to project steering committee. the OTCA and participating national institutions (particularly those concerned with water resource management), the direct n Documented project ownership and the active involvement involvement and participation of affected communities, the of affected communities and groups, participating in the involvement of financing agencies during the initial stages of design, execution, and evaluation of the pilot demonstration project execution, and the incorporation of project results in projects. the environmental agendas of each country and each of the n Information compiled and synthesized in technical economic sectors involved. The participation of the Permanent documents on the technical, economic, social, and National Committees of the TCA, as inter-ministerial commit- environmental feasibility of the practices to be implemented tees, and the National Executing Agencies, will enhance the during the following phase in the control the principle sustainability of the project and contribute to the replication environmental problems identified. of sustainable practices within the Amazon River Basin. The n Hectares of degraded land and water ecosystems rehabilitat- participation and involvement of these agencies, as well as ed, and lands and waters protected from degradation, agencies of local government, stakeholder organizations, and within the Basin other interested groups from within civil society, will ensure that adequate institutional, human, and financial resources are PARTICIPATION AND SUSTAINABILITY available to implement agreed strategic actions in the Basin. During the project preparation phase, activities will be designed to ensure greater and more effective participation and involvement by civil society, particularly by stakeholders and indigenous groups, at the level of the principal sub-basins. For each sub-basin, a program of meetings and consultations with civil society will be conducted, involving local authorities, universities, academic and research groups, governmental insti- tutions, NGOs, industry, etc. A series of pilot demonstration Office for Sustainable projects also will be conducted in each sub-basin to address Development & the issues and areas most representative of the transboundary Environment problems affecting the specific area. In this way, the direct participation and involvement of affected communities in www.oas.org/osde

This document has been prepared by the Office for Sustainable Development and Environment of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, as the regional executing agency for the Amazon, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (implementing agency for the Global Environment Facility), and the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (OTCA). The document is intended to provide general information on the status, preliminary results and follow-up activities regarding project implementation, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of OTCA, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Organization of American States, or the GEF.

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