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Friends and colleagues,

The end of March and all of April have left us many teachings and stories in each of the countries. Earth Hour was celebrated worldwide with great participation and Latin America and the Caribbean weren’t an exception. This year, presidents, mayors, members of parliament and, of course, civil society got involved, demonstrating that environmental commitment continues to grow and is becoming more relevant in our region year after year.

This month we have continued to work for conservation, achieving important milestones.

In Wildlife, WWF used 129 trap cameras to monitor the jaguar populations in the tri-national border between Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. And a scientific expedition of WWF-Ecuador counted river dolphins in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador.

In the work related to Oceans, a new study of WWF-Brazil cited overfishing in 38 fish stocks. The survey also suggested changes in consumption patterns.

In Climate & Energy, WWF-Mexico launched the 2019-2020 edition of One Planet City Challenge, in which 11 cities are participating, including two of its largest cities.

Regarding Forests, WWF-Bolivia has prepared its Management Plan for the Natural Integrated Management Area, San Matías. In the same light, Paraguay achieved an international agreement for the effective monitoring of deforestation. In Argentina, Fundación Vida Silvestre achieved a great impact with its "Tocá madera" campaign, which conveyed deforestation problems in the Gran Chaco region.

In Governance, WWF-Colombia and El Espectador, one of the country's most important newspapers, launched the "Bibo" campaign, which will raise awareness and educate Colombians about their relationship with biodiversity.

In relation to Finance, WWF-Chile opened the fund for citizen environmental initiatives in the country, with the objective of involving civil society in the fight against waste.

Finally, regarding Markets, WWF and the Hondurean Sugar Producers Association (APAH) presented the “Sustainable Guiding Principles” guidebook for the sugarcane sector.

Enjoy this new edition,

Roberto Troya

Vice president & Regional Director

WWF-LAC

Latin America and the Caribbean connected to nature during Earth Hour 2019!

This year, 322 cities in the region joined the world's largest global movement and turned off the lights of 152 monuments and landmarks. In addition, more than 5 million people were reached in social networks, with a media coverage of more than 287K mentions within a diversity of channels.

In addition to promoting WWF's #Connect2Earth, several campaigns focused also on Biodiversity, Climate Change and the reduction of plastics pollution.

Over 64 thousand images of species in their natural habitat yield key results for their conservation

For four months, WWF used 129 trap cameras to monitor this emblematic species on the tri-national border between Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The area where the study was developed is ~ 300,000 hectares, divided into two protected natural areas (in Ecuador and Peru) and an indigenous territory (in Colombia).

Scientific expedition counted river dolphins in the Ecuadorian Northern Amazon

On March 19, a team of Ecuadorian and Colombian scientists undertook an expedition to the Aguarico River and its tributaries, in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador. There were 48 individuals of the two species of river dolphins that exist in the country, and most of them were pink dolphins.

The research follows the classification of pink dolphins as an endangered species, which is why it is of great relevance. The data obtained will allow scientists to determine the size of their populations in the area, identify their habitats and important areas for conservation and determine the threats they face.

New study cites overfishing in Brazilian fish stocks

Produced by WWF-Brazil, the Seafood Guide Brazil evaluated 38 species of fish. The study provides data on the status of fish stocks, information on the types of fish production (fishing and aquaculture) and their environment. It points out that the main factor of degradation is overfishing - when fish stocks are exploited beyond their natural reproductive capacity.

The document reveals that, if there is not a long-term change in the fisheries management system, the commercial exploitation of some species may become unviable and unsustainable.

Mexico launches 2019 edition of WWF's One Planet City Challenge

Mexico launched the 2019-2020 edition of the One Planet City Challenge with a biking event around the Explora park in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, in order to encourage government officials and citizens to participate in the WWF-led initiative. To this date, eleven Mexican cities participate, including a few of the country’s largest urban areas such as Mexico City (9 million people) and the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (5 million).

A New Management Plan for the Natural Integrated Management Area is ready in Bolivia

The San Matias Natural Integrated Management Area, with an extension of 2.9 million hectares, once again has its main management tool: the management plan. It incorporates a tourism component for the first time, the plan was prepared with active and effective participation of the communities in the area. Moreover, this is an important tool to achieve the conservation of the Pantanal, as well as the species that inhabit it, and to ensure the ecosystem services provided by this wetland. The update, carried out by WWF-Bolivia and the Noel Kempff Mercado Museum of Natural History, was presented in coordination with the National Service of Protected Areas and with the support of WWF-Netherlands.

Paraguay reaches international agreement for effective deforestation monitoring

The National Forestry Institute of Paraguay (INFONA) and World Resources Institute (WRI) signed an agreement to improve the monitoring system for changes in forest cover. This agreement was promoted by WWF, through the conservation programs and advocacy strategies that foster transparency and sustainable development, from the strengthening of the application of public policies.

“Tocá Madera” deforestation campaign reaches more than 6 million people

Thanks to the “Tocá Madera” (Knock on Wood) campaign, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina has achieved the awareness of 6 million people about the deforestation problem in the Gran Chaco. The action was focused on Instagram with images of native trees of the Chaco, so people could touch and "like" the wood through their cell phones and, with each like, help change the “luck” of the Chaco Forest.   

Environmental campaign focuses on human well-being and biodiversity

Over the next two years, WWF-Colombia and El Espectador, one of the most widely read newspapers in the country, will seek to help Colombians understand the relationship that biodiversity has with their well-being and to make citizens more aware, informed and able to exercise the greatest power they have: to act and to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment. How? through Bibo's environmental awareness and education campaign, which is a huge opportunity to support the urgent call for a New Deal for Nature and People.

Today, Bibo has nearly 50 editorial contents, presence in the press, radio and television, and reaches more than 17 million Colombians per year.

WWF opens fund for citizen environmental initiatives

WWF-Chile wants to include the community in the search for solutions to plastic pollution and waste in general. To achieve this goal, the call to apply for the REDUCE+ fund was opened.

This fund will provide up to $2,270 USD for environmental education projects in order to support their actions, dissemination and innovation that promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling throughout the country, including single-use plastics.

Sugarcane sustainable principles were presented in Honduras

As a result of the agreement made between WWF and the Hondurean Sugar Producers Association (APAH), both entities presented the “Sustainable Guiding Principles” guidebook. The purpose of this document is to establish sustainable principles and criteria for the harvesting and production of sugarcane in Honduras, allowing the self-management of the different processes within the sugarcane sector in an environmentally-friendly way.