The pre-launch workshop of the “Amazon Basin Project – Implementation of the Strategic Action Program to Ensure Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources of the Amazon River Basin Considering Variability and Climate Change” was held, with the participation of water resources experts from the eight Amazonian countries, members of the OTCA.

In her opening speech, the Secretary-General of the OTCA, Alexandra Moreira, mentioned that this project’s pre-launch is the result of many years of work. “This work is not from a single management, but it comes practically from the origins of the Treaty and is an effort of many years, of many people,” she emphasized.

She also explained that the basin, being so important and one of the most precious ecosystems in the world, deserves attention and responsibility.

Present at the opening were the program manager of UN Environment, Isabelle Van der Beck, the director of the National Water Agency of Brazil (ANA), Ricardo Andrade, and the directors of the OTCA, Carlos Alfredo Lazary and César de las Casas, executive and administrative, respectively.

Isabelle Van der Beck pointed out that this is a very important stage for the Amazon basin. “Now we have a plan of strategic actions to move forward with the integrated management of water resources in the Amazon basin as a whole,” she concluded.

The director of the National Water Agency of Brazil, Ricardo Andrada, explained that this week is very important for water resources. “We will be discussing the implementation project of the PAE and also the groundwater project that integrates this large project,” he concluded.

Water resources specialists from the Amazonian countries had the opportunity to conduct group work sessions, focusing on on-site interventions at the national level. On the second day, cross-cutting components, including national contributions, were discussed.

This workshop is key to defining the scope, activities, challenges, mapping of actors, and perspectives of the countries on management, for the success of the project. These issues were jointly addressed by over 30 specialists from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela who participated.

This recently signed cooperation agreement between the OTCA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the implementation of priority strategic actions of the Strategic Action Program (PAE) has funding of US$11.7 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and will be executed by the OTCA until 2024.

The Amazon Basin project will promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), aiming to improve ecological, social, and economic benefits, allowing countries to achieve their relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and convention targets in the Amazon Basin.

The project’s launch is scheduled for June this year, with the start of its activities defined in this workshop.