Advocating for free flowing rivers

Protecting the health and free flow of rivers is crucial for the survival of the La Plata Basin ecosystem and the people who depend on it. With a monitoring system for 31 rivers in the Brazilian stretch of the Paraguay river system, we are working to preserve the health of the rivers, and to signal and respond to potential threats. Together with local organisations and communities, we’ve successfully halted the construction of several small hydropower dams and other harmful projects, and advocated for stronger environmental protection of this unique natural area. In Brazil, efforts by network members led to the inclusion of the Pantanal area in the National Plan for the Recovery of Native Vegetation. In Argentina, we are building support for a national law to protect wetlands.

What we have achieved since the start
of our initiative in 2018

The importance of free flowing rivers

The La Plata Basin’s rivers are essential for the health of the wetland area and its people. They are the natural habitat of countless species. They are a source of food and water for drinking, washing and irrigation. They are a means of travel for thousands of riverine communities and play a central role in local culture, beliefs and practices.

Plans for small hydropower dams, canals and other infrastructure projects are putting the health of the La Plata Basin and its people in severe danger. Dams seriously impact the water levels of rivers and the ability of fish and other animal species to migrate, which in turn threatens the livelihoods of local communities. Nevertheless, new dams are being planned in many tributaries of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers, from upstream areas in Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to downstream areas in Argentina.

A proposed waterway, known as the Hidrovía Paraguay-Parana, also poses a grave threat to the free flow of the region’s rivers and the health of the wetlands. The waterway would cut straight through the Pantanal all the way down to mouth of the Rio de La Plata. Canalisation of large parts of the river, removal of rocky beds and dredging of deeper fairways would seriously harm local ecosystems and permanently alternate the flow of the river.

Wetlands without Borders: Keeping an eye on the rivers

The Wetlands without Borders network draws attention to these threats and increases awareness of the economic and social importance of free-flowing rivers. We work with local organisations and communities to ensure they are informed about harmful plans and projects, and their right to oppose them. We are working to expand local monitoring systems to ensure the free flow of rivers across the entire La Plata Basin.