The Matanza-Riachuelo River, which runs through the city of Buenos Aires, is known to be one of the most polluted waterways in the world. Yet it also contains many important ecosystems that play a key role in the lives of millions of people, and countless plant and animal species. Wetlands without Borders member FARN is working to draw attention to the natural and cultural value and diversity of the Matanza-Riachuelo basin and other valuable ecosystems throughout the La Plata Basin. Through creation of the Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor, Wetlands without Borders aims to protect and restore the basin’s ecosystem, while enhancing the cultural bond of local communities to the area.
Strengthening resilience
Through Biocultural Corridors, Wetlands without Borders is reconnecting and strengthening the resilience of similar natural habitats and communities that share common socio-cultural practices throughout the La Plata Basin. The Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor is one of ten such corridors. Situated to the south of mega city Buenos Aires, it stretches about 70 km along the Riachuelo and La Matanza rivers and their tributaries.
As a first step to creating the Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor, the area’s biodiversity and cultural hotspots were identified. The Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor includes numerous wetlands that lie within this suburban area, including the Santa Catalina Nature Reserve, Ciudad Evita Nature Reserve, Laguna de San Vicente Municipal Reserve, the Erratchú Protected Landscape Project and the Ministro Rivadavia Ambá Project. A key goal of the Biocultural Corridor is to connect these areas and promote their sustainable management and protection. An interactive map, created by Wetlands without Border member Casa Río, highlights the unique features of the Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor’s unique hotspots, as well as other Biocultural Corridor’s in the Argentinian stretch of La Plata Basin.
The Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor is a mix of natural and cultural sites of importance
Wetlands without Borders is working to restore the Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor, e.g. by tree planting
Celebrating the Biocultural Corridor
FARN and Casa Río are actively engaging residents in the Biocultural Corridor. In 2022, the groups organised a festival in the Santa Catalina Nature Reserve in Lomas de Zamora. Over 200 people attended the two-day festival, which included cultural, political and educational activities. Hundreds of school children, students and other groups from the area visited the Santa Catalina Nature Reserve and attended presentations on its biocultural heritage. For some of the children, this is the first time they experience nature. The reserve is home to the Museo de Agrobotánica, Historia y Naturaleza (the Musuem of Agrobotany, History and Nature), the starting point for many educational activities.
Action to enhance the Biocultural Corridor’s natural reserves
Wetlands without Borders is also working to restore and rehabilitate the Matanza-Riachuelo Biocultural Corridor. Activities include tree planting and nurseries, as well as advocacy to strengthen protection of existing nature reserves, which are under pressure.
The Ciudad Evita Nature Reserve is located in the Buenos Aires suburbs, where there is a dramatic shortage of natural green spaces. It is one of the strategic spaces of the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and the well-being of area residents. But plans for further urbanisation of the area threaten the future of the nature reserve. FARN and local residents of Ciudad Evita have engaged with the Municipality of La Matanza and other regional authorities, raising concerns about the encroachment of construction into the reserve. In response to the pressure, the authorities agreed to act on their previous commitment to protect the area.
Santa Catalina Nature Reserve is also under threat. Despite legislation that protects the reserve, the area’s owner, Universidad de La Plata, wants to use the land for real estate development. FARN entered a dialogue with the responsible Ministry of Environment of Buenos Aires to convince them to effectively implement the environmental protection of this natural area, and will continue to advocate for the protection of this nature reserve and the rest of the Matanza-Riachuelo river basin.
