Freshwater Conservation Program Patagonia Argentina
Introduction
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global, not-for-profit environmental organization working to create a world in which people and nature can thrive. We work together with key stakeholders in this iconic and vast territory, with the vision of protecting nature in balance with human development where natural systems support a vibrant and sustainable economy enabling people to improve their livelihoods.
The Patagonian region includes more than 20 watersheds in Argentina, covering over 800,000 km2. These watersheds showcase a great ecosystemic diversity, determined by strong latitudinal, topographic, precipitation and temperature gradients, with uneven distribution of water resources. Many of them are transboundary in nature, shared by Argentina and Chile.
Problems and Challenges
Patagonia is a region of striking contrasts, featuring vast extensions of steppes, forests, lakes and glaciers. It has important water resources, but the majority of the region has a low average annual precipitation, which is concentrated in the winter. This results in a high environmental sensitivity which, combined with increasing anthropic pressures, leads to various water-related problems. This situation is exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which alters precipitation patterns and water distribution in the region, generating prolonged droughts and increasing the risk of forest fires and floods.
Among the main pressures and issues related to the water environment, the following stand out:
Land degradation
Extensive cattle ranching is one of the main economic activities in the most arid areas of Patagonia, and overgrazing has affected soil quality extensively, as well as reduced water retention capacity and quality, with a significant part of the region affected by desertification.
Invasive exotic species
The presence and dispersal of introduced species constitute a significant concern, owing to the adverse effects they exert on water bodies and wetlands. These effects can lead to repercussions for ecosystems and their biodiversity, ultimately impacting the local economy and the quality of life for those who depend on these resources.
Red deer and grasslands
Exotic willow on riparian zones
Urbanization
Urban growth and tourist activity in some Patagonian cities has generated greater pressure on water courses, water resources and the associated ecosystems, affecting their environmental condition. Also, the lack of adequate sanitation systems in peri-urban and rural areas can lead to contamination of water bodies.
Natural resources extraction
The extraction of natural resources, like oil and gas, the building of dams for hydroelectric power, and the utilization of water for agricultural irrigation can all impact the availability of these resources. Moreover, these activities can disturb the natural flow and quality of water in rivers and lakes, resulting in adverse effects on biodiversity and the health of aquatic ecosystems.
The Program
Amidst these complex challenges, we at TNC have designed and are currently executing a Freshwater Conservation Program within Argentine Patagonia. With the mission of conserving our water ecosystems, the great connectors between nature and people, the program is structured around three building blocks, described below.
Building block 1: Generating Science
Applying science to prioritize and guide interventions.
From 2021 to 2022, a team of experts undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the primary watersheds in Patagonia. This encompassed an environmental characterization along with an analysis of prevailing stressors and challenges. In this process, we pinpointed key drivers of change and their respective opportunities. A condensed overview of each watershed, complete with its essential metrics, is showcased in the Control Panel outlined below, followed by ongoing components of the program:
Patagonia IP Freshwater Dashboard
Fortín Chacabuco
Freshwater conservation in a productive ranch.
In 2008, TNC initiated its activities in Argentina, specifically within the heart of Patagonia, at the Fortín Chacabuco Ranch. This unique site serves as an outdoor research hub, where agricultural production is integrated with the conservation of Patagonian grasslands.
Fortín Chacabuco Ranch
> Core activities: Development of guidelines and knowledge transfer for the sustainable use of productive wetlands and other freshwater ecosystems. Design and implementation of measures to improve carbon sequestration by wetlands. Assess and develop market opportunities that allow the control invasive species affecting freshwater systems (e.g. deer and wild boar).
> Direct beneficiaries: Rural community within the area of influence, small-to-large landowners, subsistence farmers, researchers, public sector.
Chimehuin & Malleo Rivers
Algal blooms as a trigger for citizen involvement in freshwater conservation and driver for implementation of Nature-based Solutions.
> Core activities: Monitor freshwater conditions and delineate possible sources of nutrient load. Provide decision makers with a science-based framework for subsequent regulation and management. Implement a citizen science module for the reporting of field conditions aimed at tourist guides, fishermen and other users. Design and test a set of nature-based solutions (artificial wetlands for improved sewage treatment, improved ranching practices, wastewater reuse, etc.) to deal with identified point nutrient sources.
> Direct beneficiaries: Local community, fishing community, small-to-large landowners, researchers, local non-profit organizations, public sector.
Monitoring Chimehuin-Malleo watershed
Identify and Protect
High conservation value areas in Patagonia.
> Core activities: Identify specific conservation “Hot Spots” (“Last-chance Ecosystems”). Enable cost-effective protection of ecosystems and its associated rural population, promoting changes in public and/or private policy. Monitoring, field intervention, collaborative management, education and awareness raising.
> Direct beneficiaries: Local community, fishing community, small-to-large landowners, researchers, public sector, grassroots groups.
Develop biological indicators
For cost-effective and affordable water monitoring.
> Core activities: Develop and validate standards for cost-effective monitoring. Knowledge transfer and awareness-raising. Capacity building.
> Direct beneficiaries: Local water users, public sector stakeholders, local non-profit organizations and local community as a whole.
Mallines (Wet meadow)
Preserving and safeguarding these wetlands is essential to ensure a sustainable future for both Patagonia and its residents.
Wet meadows found across Patagonia are commonly known as "mallines". These habitats play a crucial role in natural ecosystems, agricultural production, and various human activities:
- Hydrological function: Patagonian mallines act as natural regulators of the hydrological cycle. They store and filter rainwater and snow, mitigating extreme hydrological events like droughts and floods that naturally occur in Patagonia. This reduces soil erosion, safeguards watersheds, and provides essential water sources for cattle, wildlife and local communities.
Biodiversity: Mallines host a diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the region.
Rural livelihoods: These areas are vital for livestock farming due to their consistent water availability and high productivity. They ensure a year-round water supply and contribute to the subsistence of rural populations.
Recreation and tourism: Mallines often attract nature tourism, creating jobs and boosting local economies.
In essence, Patagonian mallines are immensely valuable ecosystems that offer a wide range of environmental, social, and economic advantages for the region. However, their high productivity in rural zones, coupled with urban pressures and recreational activities, has led to their intensive use. This, along with adverse climatic patterns, has caused their degradation to varying extents (approximately 30% of them).
Building block 2: Watershed Management
The aim is to strengthen the governance and integrated management of water resources throughout the entire watershed. The basin is the fundamental spatial unit for guaranteeing water in sufficient quantity and quality (water security) for the different needs:
> Environmental: Maintaining healthy ecosystems, aquifers and rivers.
> Domestic: Meet the sanitary and drinking water needs of urban and rural community households.
> Economic: Support productive economic activities such as agriculture, industry and energy.
> Urban: Develop healthy, dynamic and livable metropolises and cities with a strong culture of water care.
> Resilience to natural disasters: Build resilient communities, adaptable to climate change.
Integrated Management of the Chubut River watershed
>Principales actividades: capacitación y unificación de esfuerzos de comunicación en pos de la creación del fondo de agua de la cuenca del río Chubut. Implementación de proyectos piloto enfocados en resolver los problemas hídricos centrales de la cuenca.
>Beneficiarios directos: cooperativas de riego y de servicios hídricos, pequeños y grandes terratenientes/productores, investigadores, sector público, ONGs locales, sociedades civiles y comunidades de las cuencas hidrográficas en su conjunto.
Water Funds are entities that create and improve financial and management systems, bringing together public, private, and civil society participants with a shared objective: to ensure water security and sustainable watershed management using nature-focused strategies. These entities encourage collaborative efforts with a forward-looking approach.
Improved environmental and water management
Binational Watershed: Manso/Puelo Basin.
> Core activities: Collaborate to refine ecological and territorial planning, prioritizing safeguarding the water ecosystem. Foster inventive strategies for fire management and rehabilitation in fire-affected zones, amplifying ongoing efforts by local non-governmental organizations and community volunteers.
> Direct beneficiaries: Communities on both sides of the basin, landholders of varying scales, irrigation cooperatives, researchers, public sector stakeholders, local non-profit organizations, grassroots collectives.
Protect and improve management of southern binational watersheds
Río Grande & Río Gallegos
> Core activities: Develop guidelines with focus on wetlands (incl. peat bogs) and other freshwater systems, considering interactions among different activities in the watershed (O&G, ranching, forestry) for the sustainable use of productive landscapes. Convene stakeholders to improve environmental and territorial planning, with an emphasis on protection of the key conservation areas in terms of the watershed’s resilience.
> Direct beneficiaries: Local communities, small-to-large landowners, local non-profit organizations.
Building block 3: Bridging communities & nature
Build a corridor of urban nature reserves
Preserve biodiversity and connect local communities with nature.
> Core activities: Boost ongoing Urban Nature Reserves (UNR) initiatives. Expand their implementation to new areas, creating a network of conservation zones. Forge stronger connections between communities and their surroundings amid poorly planned urban expansion. Emphasize education, citizen science and awareness efforts.
> Direct beneficiaries: Local communities, researchers, public sector stakeholders, local non-profit organizations, grassroots collectives.
Contact
If you have questions about getting involved or any suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us at argentina@tnc.org.
