Spanish

Dear friends and colleagues,

In the past month, Oceans in LAC played an outstanding role. In Colombia, the marine protected areas were expanded and the Aichi target was exceeded. The International Congress of Marine Protected Areas, IMPAC 4, took place in Chile. In Ecuador, a pioneer group promotes sustainable fishing. In Suriname, a new game to involve children in the conservation of sea turtles was launched.

On the Forests arena, Peru committed to the fight against deforestation, and in Brazil, the government revoked a mining project in the Amazon. Regarding Climate and Energy, Mexico was a main actor in MEXIREC, the sixth International Renewable Energy Conference.

In Markets, WWF-Paraguay promoted the installation of sustainability criteria throughout the local beef production chain. On the Wildlife front, WWF presented the report ‘Untold treasures: new species discoveries in the Amazon 2014-15’, that lists 381 species discovered in the Amazon. Finally, in Freshwater, WWF-Guatemala/MAR will develop a Management Plan for the Belize River Watershed.

Enjoy this new edition,

Roberto Troya

Vicepresidente y Director Regional

WWF-LAC

Colombia is committed to protecting the oceans

Being the only country in South America with coastlines on both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, Colombia has a major responsibility with its marine and coastal ecosystems. The National Government expanded the area of one of the most biodiverse marine areas on the planet: the Malpelo Flora & Fauna Sanctuary (SFF), which grew from 950,000 to 2,667,000 hectares. It also signed an order to establish the Yuruparí-Malpelo National Integrated Management District (DNMI), with an extension of 2,691,000 hectares. In addition to this announcement, Codechocó declared the Bajo Baudó Encanto de Manglares Regional Integrated Management District (DRMI), an area with an extension of 311.565 hectares of crucial ecosystems for the country. With the declaration of nearly five million new hectares under protection, Colombia has exceeded the Aichi Target and now has almost 14% of its marine and coastal ecosystems under protection.

IMPAC4: September was the month of the ocean in Chile

Oceans were the protagonists of the month in Chile. Between September 4 and September 8, the International Congress of Marine Protected Areas, IMPAC 4 Chile, took place in La Serena-Coquimbo, one of the most important events in the world for marine conservation, held every four years. This year’s theme ‘Marine Protected Areas: Bringing the people and the ocean together’ marked a strong opportunity to showcase WWF´s (and partners´) work on MPAs and the link between ocean protection and sustainable development. The Oceans Practice, leaded by WWF International president Yolanda Kakabadse and WWF´s Ocean Practice leader John Tanzer, was on the ground sharing our stories and approaches.

The "bolseros" of Bajo Negro: Ecuador´s sustainable shrimp fishing pioneers

The following is a first-person account of a recent trip to the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador. Daylin Munoz-Nunez (WWF-US) and Rafaela Chiriboga (WWF-Ecuador) went on a two-day journey to document the work being done to create a sustainable, well-managed artisanal shrimp fishery. They spoke with fishermen, known as bolseros, about the project and what it means to the community.

The Sea Turtle Game

Getting kids involved in conservation always sounds great. The challenge is how to achieve it. WWF-Suriname launched the Sea Turtle Game (in Dutch), a board game that teaches kids (and/or adults) about their life cycle, and the threats against sea turtles that live off the coast of the Guianas. With 22 steps and tip cards, the kids resolve questions and respond as they play. The tokens for this game are made from plastic bottle caps, so there is a little bit of recycling added to the fun. Hanneke van Lavieren, WWF-Guianas marine coordinator, launched the game at a kid´s vacation event in Suriname on August 29th. Whoever plays this game, is definitely a winner.

WWF-Peru presented advances in the conservation of the Amazon, with indigenous communities and authorities

In Peru, more than 50% of GHG emissions come from deforestation and forest degradation. In order to protect them, the Joint Declaration of Intent was signed between the Governments of Peru, Germany and Norway, in collaboration with indigenous organizations, national and local authorities and civil society. Nowadays, 34 indigenous communities in the Loreto region have been granted land titling, providing legal security to 739 families that inhabit nearly 160,000 hectares of Amazon forest. Furthermore, it was imperative in strengthening the management of 5 Reserves for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.

Brazilian government leaves the idea of exploiting Renca but promises to return

Pressured by environmentalists, haunted by public opinion and alerted by politicians, including allies, the government of Brazil saw no other way than to give up the idea of developing industrial-scale mining projects in an area the size of Denmark, in the Amazon: the Reserva Nacional de Cobre e Associados (Renca). It was an important step in avoiding projects that generate deforestation and social degradation, in the name of creating more jobs and attracting investments to the mining sector. But WWF-Brazil alerts that other threats to Conservations Units in the country are still ongoing. The Amazon region needs a complex planning that takes into account its incredible biodiversity, the essential environmental services for the planet and the perspective of local populations.

WWF promotes a just transition to 100% renewable energy during MEXIREC

During the sixth International Renewable Energy Conference (MEXIREC) in Mexico City a WWF Delegation pushed to include in the final declaration of the conference explicit references to the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions, the need of a better understanding of the financial risks of climate change, the role of the corporate sector in scaling-up renewables, the leadership of non-State actors in advancing the just, inclusive and transparent energy transition, and human rights of the most vulnerable workers to the decarbonization of the economy. A 100% Renewable Energy vision adds to the global efforts to achieve both: the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

WWF promotes the conformation of The Paraguayan Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the initial step to guiding the formation of the The Paraguayan Rountable for Sustainable  Beef (PRSB) was taken. WWF promotes the installation of sustainability criteria throughout the local beef production chain in Paraguay. After several meetings in which the terms and conditions were discussed with the sectors: primary, industrial, inputs and consumption, environmental and civil society, the MOU was signed in August 22nd in the Rural Association of Paraguay. The next meeting of the PRSB provides for the election of authorities, the inclusion of new members and the approval of internal regulations, among other subjects.

381 new species were discovered in the Amazon, a global treasure that needs urgent protection

216 plants, 93 fish, 32 amphibians, 20 mammals (2 of them fossils), 19 reptiles and one bird, are a part of the findings that are increasing everyday, as the threats to large areas of tropical forest increase, raising concern about the irreversible - and potentially catastrophic -  consecuences of unsustainable policies and administrative decisions. WWF calls for urgent action to protect the world's largest tropical forest, which still hosts an immense amount of species unknown to mankind.

The first ever watershed management plan in Belize is being developed

The University of Belize through the Natural Resource Management Program from the Faculty of Science and Technology and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), will develop a Management Plan for the Belize River Watershed. The plan will be the first of its kind in Belize and serves as a model for much needed future watershed management.