2. General CharacteristicsGeneral Characteristics
Location:
– Bolivia: Departament of Tarija
– Argentina: Provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Chaco and
Formosa
Watershed area: 123,162 Km2
River length: 1,300 Km
Population: 1.2 million inhabitants
Sediment charge: 8kg/m3
Total Discharge: 100 million tons/year (80% of the
sediment load of the Plata River)
5. Institutional FrameworkInstitutional Framework
Binational Commission
Project Steering Committee
GEF-
UNEP
GS/OAS•BC Rep. Argentina
•BC Rep. Bolivia
•Nat. Director Argentina
•Nat. Director Bolivia
Executing Unit
Nat. Directors
Tech.Coordinators
OAS, UNEP Spec.
Local & Intl. Consultants
Support Personnel
Stakeholders
NGOs
Academic comm.
6. ObjectivesObjectives
Promote the sustainable development
of the binacional basin of the Bermejo
river
Incorporating the environmental concerns into
the national policies, plans and programs.
Establishing a basin vision and integrated
management of the natural resources,
Promoting the establishment of regional
coordination mechanisms and public
participation and consultation
7. FORMULATION PHASEFORMULATION PHASE
(august/1997 to october/2000)(august/1997 to october/2000)
The first phase of the Bermejo SAP, called
FORMULATION, was outlined to identify priority
transboundary environmental problems and formulate a
Strategic Action Program, with a focus based on the
concept of binacional basin.
In function to it, a work plan was designed centered in five
main areas:
– 1. Elaboration of specific Basic Studies (22)
– 2. Formulation of projects (6)
– 3. Implementation of Demonstrative Pilot Projects(8)
– 4. Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
– 5. Formulation of the Strategic Action Program
8. Finals Documents of the FormulationFinals Documents of the Formulation
PhasePhase
The technical teams of Bolivia and
Argentina formulated three documents
that are the basis for the next stage of
implementation of Bermejo SAP:
– Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
(TDA)
– Strategic Action Program, long term
– Project Document (Project Brief),
short term
10. Transboundery Diagnostic AnalysisTransboundery Diagnostic Analysis
The Transboundary Diagnosis presents an
identification and characterization of the main
Transboundary Environmental Problems of the
basin
Each Environmental Problem has been
characterized and evaluated, taking into account
the following aspects:
– · Symptoms and Effects
– · Transboundary Manifestations
– · Causes: Direct and Basic
11. Soil Degradation
Floods and Other Natural
Hazard Events
Water Scarcity and
Availability Restrictions
Loss of Biodiversity and
Biotic Resources
Diminished Quality of Life
and Endangered Cultural
Resources
Destruction of vegetative cover by
deforestation and overgrazing
Clearing of land for agricultural activities
Contamination by industrial and urban
wastes
Water misuse and contamination by
agricultural and livestock activities
Over-exploitation of forest resources
Uncontrolled fishing and hunting activities
Clearing of land for agriculture
Inadequate agricultural practices
Overgrazing
Pollution of water sources
Urban expansion in flood-susceptible areas
Agricultural activities in areas prone to flooding
events
Destruction of vegetative cover
Unemployment and seasonal sub-employment
Deficient health, sanitation and education
services.
Deficient political,
legal, and institutional
framework
Poor inter-
jurisdictional planning
and coordination
Inadequate
community awareness,
knowledge, and
participation in
sustainable resource
management
Deficient financial and
support mechanisms
Inadequate access to
and application of
sustainable
technologies
Figure 1. CAUSAL CHAIN RELATIONSHIP FOR PRIORITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Direct Causes
(human origin)
Environmental
Problems
Water Resource
Degradation
Rainfall seasonality
Reduced water
availability in the dry
season
High sediment load
and fluviomorfologic
dynamics
High groundwater
salinity contents
Adverse natural
conditions (soil,
topography,
geology, climate)
Extreme river
highflows
Extreme climatic
events
Inadequate water infrastructure
Depletion of groundwater supplies
Common Basic
Causes
Direct Causes
(natural origin)
12. Strategic Action Program - LongStrategic Action Program - Long
TermTerm
This document is the main product of the SAP first phase; it
describes the group of high-priority actions that both
countries have coincided in identifying as necessary to
address the main environmental problems
It also establishes the institutional framework and it
determines the financing needs for the selected projects.
STRATEGIC ACTION AREAS:
- Soil Degradation
- Water Scarcity and Use Restrictions
- Water Resource Degradation
- Loss Of Biodiversity And Biotic Resources
- Floods And Other Natural Hazard Events
- Diminished Quality Of Life and Endangered Cultural
Resources
14. Project Document (project brief),Project Document (project brief),
short termshort term
The Project Brief is the beginning of the SAP implementation phase, it is
conformed by studies, demonstrative projects and institutional actions, of
short term, that on the whole represent the catalytic instrument for the
implementation of the long term Strategic Action Program.
The financing requested was approved by the GEF Council at the
beginning of November/2000.
Financing:
– GEF: $US 11.04 millions
– Governments: $US 8.43 millions
This Implementation Phase began on June/2001, it will have a 4.5 year
duration.
The components of the project have been selected to develop
incremental activities and they have a character of support the efforts of
the regional, national and binational institutions and in the implementation
of the long term SAP
15. Development of Basin
Institution
Institutional
Strenghthening of
the Binational
Commission
Legal framework and
implementation of
economic instruments
Donor Roundtable
Meeting
Planning System
Integrated
Managment
Program of
Water Resources
Information
System
Environmental Education and
Awareness
Public
Participation
Pilot Projects
• Soil management and Erosion
Control
• Sustainable Development of
Natural Resources
• Consolidation of Protected Areas
• Protection and rehabilitation of
water quality.
• Carbon Fixation.
Basic Studies
- Land-use planning.
– Studies on Nat.Res.,
– Biodiversity and Water
Resources.
–Consolidation of
Protected Areas.
IMPLEMENTATION
OF LONG-TERM SAP
$us. 470 million
136 projects
SHORT-TERM SAP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKSHORT-TERM SAP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
16. Public ParticipationPublic Participation
Besides being a specific activity of the program, the Public
Participation is a work philosophy and an important
component that gives support to the Bermejo SAP.
Diversity of social actors: government's institutions
(national, subnationals and municipal), academic,NGOs,
producers organizations and the projects beneficiaries.
In the elaboration of the Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis participated more than 30 institutions and 260
specialists of different disciplines
More than a thousand people have contributed with their
time and ideas during the different phases of the program
Participation Mechanisms: seminars and workshops,
intergovernmental working group, work meetings, modern
mechanism of communication (electronic mail, WEB
page), interviews, surveys and community works
18. NUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONNUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Workshop and Seminars: 12
- Argentina 4
- Bolivia: 8
Participants: 1.069
Participation of institutions in the work program elements of the
Formulation Phase: 30
Contracts executed during the SAP Formulation Phase:
- Experts/consultants: 80
- Institutions: 20
- Construction companies: 4
Participation of Specialist and Technicians: 260
Compilation of plans, programs and projects for the SAP: 260
19.
20.
21. Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
TDA/SAP process proved vital in the determination of
priorities, identification of needed actions, and
establishment of basin-wide, cross-sectoral support.
Active stakeholder participation and information
sharing are critical elements for sustainable natural
resource management (pilot demonstration projects
are essential component)
The combined work carried out among technical
teams, in 2.000 km. of distance, with divergent points
of view and priorities, and the coordination with
Washington DC and Nairobi
The wide public participation
Incorporation of local agencies and organizations into
most project activities to the largest degree possible.
22. Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
Regional Workshops have obtained by far the best
response in terms of accumulated total number of
participants (over 1000) that developed a very active
participation in plenary and group activities during the
meetings.
Frequent and wide dissemination of Project information,
progress and outputs has been welcomed by the
recipients in the basin. However it was rather low the
number of those who acknowledge receipt formally or
provided comments or suggestions on the material. The
same happened with the Web Site Forum.
On the contrary, personalized interaction with a limited
number of persons, as in the case of the Governmental
Working Group established in Argentina integrated by
representatives of the provincial governments, succeeds
better in configuring a permanent consultation
mechanism.
