Implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Practices for

the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay River Basin

Project Overview

Organization of American States

Unit for Sustainable Development and

Environment

Agência Nacional de Água

Ministerio do Meio Ambiente dos Recursos Hidricos e da Amazonia

Legal do Brasil

Global Environmental Facility

United Nations Environmental

Programme

The Upper Paraguay River Basin is a 496,000 km2 transboundary river basin shared by Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

The Basin is one of the main components of the Plata Basin System, which drains almost 20 percent of the South American continent.

Physical Background

396,000km2 of UPRB are located in the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Two interdependent ecosystems: upper sub-basin (or Rim) (256,000km2) and lower sub-basin (or Pantanal) (140,000km2)

Upper Paraguay River Basin in Brazil

Planalto•Rainfall exceeds 1,400mm/per year

•Definite seasonality

•Land surface used mainly for agriculture

Pantanal•World’s largest freshwater wetland•Seasonal flooding (November-March)•Meander cut-off, stream captures, displacement of outfalls

The Upper Paraguay River Basin comprises two areas with significantly different water and natural resources conditions:

Natural Resources

•Rich and unique terrestrial and aquatic wildlife: 230 species of fish, 80 species of mammals, 81 of reptiles, and 650 species of birds contribute to the biological diversity of this large waterland

•Extensive diversity of highland and lowland forests and different kinds of Savanna (cerrado)

•Rich natural resources including lands suitable for agricultural and pastoral development

•Rich mineral resources including iron, manganese, copper, gold, limestone, etc. with good potential for exploitation.

Socioeconomic Background

•Sparse human population, with density of 2.2 hab/km2 in Mato Grosso do Sul and 2.5 hab/km2 in Mato Grosso,

•Agriculture and livestock production, tourism and mining,

•Paraguay-Paraná Waterway Project (Hidrovia).

•Expansion of the agricultural frontier in the upper sub-basin: mechanized production of soybeans and rice,

Environmental Problem Areas

Wetlands: Declining species diversity among terrestrial flora, diminishing number and diversity of animals

Land Degradation: soil erosion estimated at 300 tons/km2/year in the upper sub-basin; draining of wetlands, industrial farming, introduction of exotic species, mining activities

Water Quality: contamination of surface and ground waters

Environmental Problem Areas Environmental

Education Institutions:lack of

appropriate laws and regulatory regimes for environmental control and ineffective management

Human Resources: lack of institutional capacity

Stakeholder Involvement: lack of appropriate forums for encouraging participation

Fisheries: contamination, overharvesting, changes in species composition

Hydrology and flooding: flooding and channel movement

Urbanization and industrialization: surface or open cast mining, residential area encroachment, export processing zones etc

Economic Development: unregulated exploitation of lands and natural resources.

Project Background•Plan for the Integrated Development of the Upper Paraguay River Basin (EDIBAP). Conducted by the Government of Brazil/OAS/UNDP, 1978-1981, the Project formulated a series of economic development proposals for the Pantanal region, based on the principles of environmental conservation, ecological balance, and rational use of land.

•Upper Paraguay River Basin Conservation Plan (PCBAP). Conducted by the Government of Brazil/The World Bank, 1991, this plan employed an environmental zoning approach to delineate general and site-specific guidelines for the conservation, rehabilitation and preservation of degraded lands; created a geographic information system; and proposed the operation of a real time flood warning system designed to prevent negative impacts in urban and rural areas.

•Field Mission to the UPRB, the Government of Brazil invited UNEP, OAS, and the World Bank, 1996

Project Objectives

Protect habitat (land and water) and its biodiversity against present mismanagement actions,

Diagnose, recommend, and implement measures to enhance public environmental awareness,

Promote sustainable economic activities to replace present non-sustainable practices,

Provide tools to strengthen and support institutions, train professionals, and educate community at large,

Develop and implement an Integrated Water Management Program.

Project Components

Water Quality and Environmental Protection Conservation of the Pantanal Land Degradation Stakeholder Involvement and Sustainable

Development Organizational Structure Development Integrated Watershed Management Program

Implementation

Expected Key Results

•Improved environmental functioning of the Upper Paraguay River system

through preservation and protection of the river system and the Pantanal;

•Improved Public awareness, stakeholder participation, and organizational development;

•Improved individual capacities for economically sustainable development

and environmental protection, conservation, and management.