Saving the Corredor Azul
Partner since 2017
in cooperation with Wetlands International LAC Brazil and Wetlands International Global Office
The 3,400 km long Paraná-Paraguay river system is one of the world’s last remaining examples of large, free-flowing rivers. This Corredor Azul (‘Blue Corridor’) is a system of amazing natural beauty and biodiversity and a unique myriad of land and water habitats. If dammed and tamed, its wetlands will be highly degraded and the value and benefits for people lost forever.
This program aims to safeguard the health and connectivity of the river system and its iconic wetlands – the Iberá Marshes and the Paraná Delta in Argentina, and the Pantanal in Brazil.
Since its start in 2017, the program has developed strategic alliances with over 25 key organizations in Argentina and Brazil, governmental as well as non-governmental, universities and knowledge centers as well as the private sector. Furthermore, seventeen community-based organisations have been involved in the sustainable use of wetlands resources and preservation of their local livelihoods.
Other successful results of the program so far include:
• Negotiated agreements with livestock ranches in the Paraná Delta and the Pantanal for better cattle raising practices (covering almost 34,000 hectares).
• Management plans for the Parana Delta Ramsar Site (243,126 ha), the Kadiwéu Indigenous Territory (538,535 ha) and the SESC Pantanal Ramsar Site (107,996 ha) have been developed or improved.
• 526 practitioners are trained in sustainable management of wetlands.
Safeguarding the Corredor Azul (Paraná-Paraguay wetlands system) as an ecological, social and economic asset for the entire region. In ten years, the aim is the conservation of 1 million hectares, the sustainable productive use of 300,000 hectares and the conservation of the fluvial corridor and the three iconic wetlands (Pantanal, Iberá Marshes and Paraná Delta) as a free-flowing connected system.
Including:
When the fires in their territory in the south region of the Pantanal got out of control, a group of 14 young men of the indigenous Kadiwéu community took matters into their own hands. By forming their own fire brigade, they have become true fire fighting heroes.
Conservation of the Ñembi Guasu indigenous reserve
A sustainable future for the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem
Embedding intelligence-based conservation in Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Restoring the Manafwa watershed
Saving the mangroves on Tristao
Safeguarding mangroves along the West and East African coasts
Restoration of the Guapiaçu watershed
Wetlands without Borders
Communities regreen
the Sahel
Seed-funding for Impact: Catalyzing private investments in ecological restoration
Guardians of the Amazon forest
Rewilding the Gran Chaco
Ecological restoration of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil
Landscape restoration of indigenous forest in Ghana
Restoring the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve
Scientific research for better restoration
Saving High Andean Wetlands for People and Nature
A resilient Zambezi river basin for people and nature
Resource Watch
Saving the Chocó rainforest in Ecuador
Photocredits
– Traveling in Pantanal © Rose Araujo
– Wetlands in Pantanal © iStock