REGISTER NOW: Water, Wetlands & Fires: Innovative solutions for Green Recovery in South America
On the occasion of the World Environment Day in June, dedicated this year to ecosystem restoration, and that will also mark the launch of the UN decade for ecosystem restoration (2021-2030), Wetlands International will hold an online event on 3rd June from 3pm to 5pm to discuss innovative solutions for restoration of wetland ecosystems in the Parana Paraguay wetland system, entitled: Water, Wetlands and Fires: Innovative solutions for Green Recovery in South America.
Wetlands International is in line with the statement accompanying the Environment World Day according to which “We are the generation that can make peace with nature. This is our final chance to set things right. To halt and reverse the loss of ecosystems”.
South America is home to the world’s largest free-flowing river system, the Paraguay-Paraná wetland system. Extending 3,400 km from its source in the Brazilian Pantanal, through Bolivia and Paraguay to Argentina’s Paraná Delta, these wetlands store and regulate water, store terrestrial CO² and support millions of fishing and food production livelihoods. But, these wetlands are increasingly under pressure. They are being drained, dammed and developed over to make way for expanding cities, increased infrastructure and commodity-driven agriculture. Together with rising global warming, this is resulting in water scarcity, drought and fires.
Safeguarding and restoring the Paraguay-Paraná wetland system and keeping water in this landscape will be key to future resilience and a green recovery from the pandemic. Wetlands International has been demonstrating how agriculture can be adapted to wetlands, and how communities can enhance their livelihoods in harmony with the ecosystem. As a global climate leader and key donor to the region, the EU can play a significant role in raising global awareness and building solidarity for the innovative solutions that contribute to freshwater ecosystem resilience and green recovery.
In face of the global climate and water crisis, and in an era of economic and environmental interdependence, interregional cooperation is a powerful tool for finding solutions to these transboundary challenges. The EU Green Deal, is an opportunity for exploring a more sustainable economy, highlighting the preservation of natural ecosystems, strengthening green alliances, supporting local communities, and fostering climate adaptation and mitigation measures together with strong wetland’s ecosystems restoration efforts.
15.00 – 15.05 Welcoming by Jane Madgwick, Chief Executive Officer, Wetlands International
15.05 -15.10 Ms. Maria Eugenia Di Paola , Environment and Sustainable Development Coordinator, UNDP – UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
UN Environment LA – UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (TBC)
15.10 – 15.30 Presentation of the issue and solutions
- Mr Daniel Blanco, Director Wetlands International LAC (Argentina)
- Video on the fires along the Paraguay – Paraná Corridor
- Dr. Wolfgang Junk, Wetlands International Associate expert
15.30– 16.00 EU Green Deal and the programming in South America
- Mr Carles Puigmarti-Borrell, EUROCLIMA+, DG INTPA – European Commission
- Ms Delara Burkhardt, Member of the European Parliament
- Mr Pablo Iglesias Rumbo, EU Delegation to Argentina
- Ms Tanja Miskova, Upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU
- Mr Daniel Blanco, Director Wetlands International LAC (Argentina)
16.00 – 16.25 Q&A by the Audience
16.25 -16.30 Closing remarks by Jane Madgwick, Wetlands International
Don’t miss the opportunity. REGISTER NOW on Eventbrite
Download the position paper here