STRATEGIC ACTION PROGRAM For the Binational Basin of the Bermejo River

General 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)

Eco-regiones Cuenca del Río Bermejo

Institutional Framework Binational Commission Project Steering Committee GEF- UNEP GS/OASBC 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.

Objectives 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

FORMULATION PHASE (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

Finals Documents of the Formulation Phase 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

TRANSBOUNDARY DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS SAP SHORT- TERM SAP LONG-TERM (20 years) 136 PROJECTS $US 470 MILLION SHORT TERM (4,5 years) 35 PROJECTS $US MILLION (w/GEF financing) catalyzes - ENDORSED/ W/STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT - ORIENTED TO RESOLVE PRIORITY PROBLEMS - CATALYZES IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG- TERM SAP LONG-TERM SAP SAP LOGIC STRUCTURE

Transboundery 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

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)

Strategic Action Program - Long Term 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

EFFECTS/ SYMPTOMS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS TRANSBOUNDARY MANIFESTATIONS DIRECT CAUSES COMMON BASIC CAUSES SPECIFIC BASIC CAUSES STRATEGICACTIONSSTRATEGICACTIONS PROJECTSPROJECTS TDA SAP IDENTIFICATION OF CAUSE-CHAIN RELATIONSHIPS

Project Document (project brief), short 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 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

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 FRAMEWORK

Public 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

SAP Formulation Methodology

NUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Workshop and Seminars: 12 - Argentina 4 - Bolivia: 8 Participants: 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

Lessons 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 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.

Lessons 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.

DEMONSTRATIVE PILOT PROJECTS

SEDIMENT CONTROL IN THE TOLOMOSA RIVER 31 GABIONS DIKES BUILTS IN 1998

SEDIMENT CONTROL IN THE TOLOMOSA RIVER 11 EARTHEN DIKES BUILTS IN 1998

USES OF STORED WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL

Environmental Education (Formosa)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN YUNGAS

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

IV workshop for the SAP Formulation (05/13/99).

Workshop for the SAP Formulation

Meetings with Stakeholders

Community Work –Meeting with stakeholders