1. La Plata River Basin Raquel Flinker

3. Climate Map (Source: http://splashman.phoenix.wikispaces.net) 88% shared water resources 77% hydroelectric power

4. Amazon Rainforest

5. Brazilian Sertão

6. La Plata Basin (Source: Wikipedia / USGS)

7. La Plata Basin Area of approximately 3,000,000 Km 2 Fifth largest basin in the world Second largest basin in South America Basin is shared by five countries: – Argentina: 29.7%, – Bolivia: 6.6%, – Brazil: 45.7%, – Paraguay: 13.2% – Uruguay: 4.8%

8. La Plata Basin Important and varied ecosystems: Pantanal (most extensive wetland in the world), Atlantic Forest, Chaco and Savannah Guarani aquifer (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay & Uruguay) 70% of the combined GDP of the five countries Agriculture, livestock and fishing are the main economical activities in the region Pantanal

9. Hydroelectric Potential Approximately 75 dams in the basin Three of the main dams are: – Itaipú - largest dam in the world: Paraná river between Brazil and Paraguay – Salto Grande: Uruguay river on border between Argentina and Uruguay – Yacyretá: Paraná river on the border between Argentina and Paraguay Paraguay: depends almost entirely on hydropower for its electricity Brazil: 46% of the electricity comes from dams on the Paraná River The hydroelectric potential in the basin is approximately 100,000 MW of which half is being utilized ItaipúSalto GrandeYacyretá

10. Water Resources Legislation CountryWater Resources Legislation Argentina No national water resources legislation - Provinces do not accept a federal regulation Provinces determine legislation locally Developing national guidelines regarding water resources Bolivia No national water resources legislation Several group conflicts regarding water rights and environmental impacts Brazil Has a water resources national policy Water agency created in 2000 Almost all states have water resources legislation Rivers/basins that extend through more than one state are classified as federal (does not specify sub basins conecting to federal rivers) Paraguay No water resources legislation Uruguay Federal water code exists since 1979 Public ownership of water in all five countries except Uruguay

11. 1969 Treaty In 1967, the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee (CIC) was established by the five countries as the coordinating mechanism of the Basin Two years later, in 1969, they signed the la Plata Basin Treaty, the main legal instrument of the Basin After this treaty, several other treaties were signed by two or three countries -> weaknesses of the 1969 agreement

12. Main International Treaties after the La Plata Basin Treaty TreatyCountries InvolvedYear Convention to Study the Use of the Rio Paraná's ResourcesArgentina and Paraguay1971 Rio Paraná's Joint CommissionArgentina and Paraguay1971 Yacyretá TreatyArgentina and Paraguay1973 Salto Grande Joint Technical Commission Creation TreatyArgentina and Uruguay1973 "Itaipú Binacional" Creation TreatyBrazil and Paraguay1973 Lagoa Mirim Basin TreatyBrazil and Uruguay1978 Three Party Corpus and Itaipú Treaty Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay1979 Rio Uruguay and Peperi Guaçu TreatyBrazil and Argentina1983 Rio Quarai Natural Resources Use and Development Cooperation agreementBrazil and Uruguay1992 Rio Pilcomayo Binational Commission Creation TreatyArgentina and Paraguay1993 Rio Pilcomayo Trinational Commission Creation Treaty Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay1995 Rio Bermejo Binational Commission Creation TreatyArgentina and Bolivia1995 80’s

13. Brazil´s Position Direction of water flow in the Amazon and La Plata Basins

14. Climate Change Region is affected by El niño and La Niña Increase in rainfall and river flow in certain regions causing: – Soil erosion – Increase in water levels and flood frequency – Change of river beds and riparian environmental conditions – Increase in hydroelectric production – Change in water quality due to suspension of sediments during floods Studies indicate that in certain regions of the basin, increases of 16% in annual rainfall result in 35% increase in discharge. The trend is thought to be linked partly to changes in land use, such as deforestation and increased soybean cultivation. 70% of the precipitation evaporates and only 30% reaches the rivers Vulnerable region: highly dependent on agriculture, hydroelectric power and navigation.

15. Future The revitalization of CIC, the Marco Project focused on the sustainable development of the natural resources in the La Plata Basin and the environmental protection and sustainable development project of the Guarani Aquifer are demonstrating a tendency in integrated basin management

16. Questions??? 1.What is your opinion on the different country legislations? 2.What went wrong with the 1969 treaty? 3.After many years of bilateral agreements, how can we promote multilateral cooperation? 4.How should these countries prepare for climate change effects?

17. Hidrovia Paraguai-Paraná Hidrovia agreement was signed in 1992 Can lead to erosion, flooding, loss of biodiversity and water contamination