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Dear friends and colleagues,

In May, key events for the future of our planet were in the spotlight in Latin America and the World. WWF warned that the extension of gillnet closure will not save the vaquita in the Gulf of California, in Mexico. In Costa Rica, WWF Guatemala / Mesoamerica and other stakeholders designed a Fisheries Improvement Project’s (FIP) plan to increase the sustainability of the Mahi-Mahi longline fishing sector. In Colombia, 30 Colombian entrepreneurs concluded the microenterprise strengthening and local development' course, as part of a Choco region conservation project. In Ecuador the Achuar people continued their work to declare the first Indigenous protected area in the country. In Peru, the progress made in protecting indigenous people in isolation and initial contact was presented. In Chile, WWF launched a campaign to create a Marine Protected Area. WWF-Bolivia launched a new alliance with the Bolivian National Brewery (CBN) to improve water management. In Paraguay, a new food security and sustainable agriculture project, "Yerba Mate", started to benefit more than 400 rural families in the Atlantic Forest region. In Argentina, Vida Silvestre was part of the team that developed a new document called "National System of Marine Protected Areas", which presents proposals to defend the Argentinean Sea. Also, the first Amazon Atlas with a climate change approach was published thanks to the Amazon Vision initiative, with the participation of WWF, FAO, UNEP and IUCN. Internationally, the UN climate negociations in Bonn set foundation for climate action ahead of COP23, and despite United States intent to withdraw, world leaders keep working ahead on the Paris Agreement. Enjoy the reading,

Roberto Troya

Vice President & Regional Director, WWF-LAC

Extension of gillnet closure will not save vaquita

The vaquita, the most threatened marine mammal in the world, is still in danger despite the temporary ban on gillnet fishing in the Upper Gulf of California. The temporary ban, announced today by the Mexican government, will not be enough to protect the species or its habitat, warns WWF.

Actions towards the Mahi-mahi longline fishing without steel leaders in the Eastern Pacific Coast in Costa Rica

WWF Guatemala / Mesoamerica, together with stakeholders from the Mahi-Mahi longline fishing sector in Costa Rica, designed its Fisheries Improvement Project’s (FIP) plan. The Mahi-Mahi longline fishing without steel leaders is promoted since it is selective and generates less incidental fishing. Through the FIP development, key actors from this sector are working towards increasing sustainability of the Mahi-Mahi longline fishing sector of the Eastern Pacific Coast in costa Rica, and that its systematical improvement will be measured by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Choco, an entrepreneur region

30 Colombian entrepreneurs concluded the 'microenterprise strengthening and local development course, which was offered by the Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó. The program made part of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) project called Conservation of Biodiversity in Landscapes impacted by Mining in the Choco Biogeographic Region.

This initiative, which is also lead by UNDP and WWF-Colombia, will allow this 15 innovative businesses to receive both economical support and professional guide. The latter in order to maintain a balance between their commercial products and a sustainable living, while they preserve the abundant biodiversity of the Pacific region. At the end, 662 people -among employees and entrepreneurs- will benefit from this businesses that go from rice farmers to local ecotourism promoters.

The Achuar people from Ecuador are working to declare the first Indigenous protected area in the country

The Achuar territory comprises more than 679,000 hectares, located in the central-southern area of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Achuar people have developed life plans closely linked with conservation through alternative and sustainable livelihoods. This has resulted on their territory currently being the best-preserved Amazonian landscape in the country. SACRE is an initiative that aims to articulate both governmental and local efforts to strengthen the protection of the rainforest. The Achuar System of Conservation and Ecological Reserves would be the first official indigenous protected area in Ecuador, an important milestone for conservation efforts lead by indigenous comunnities.

Protecting indigenous people in isolation

In Lima, a publication was presented to illustrate the progress made in protecting indigenous people in isolation and initial contact. The achievements include the categorization of three Indigenous reserves zones and their control through the work of 33 protection agents distributed in 14 control and surveillance posts; As well as the approval of protection plans as a management tool. The details were collected in a 24-page publication which was produced by the Ministry of Culture, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and developed by WWF.

WWF-Chile launched the campaign "Guafo: let´s protect the doorway to the Patagonia" to create a Marine Protected Area in the south of the country

The next International Congress of Marine Protected Areas (IMPAC4), to be held for the first time in Chile in september 2017, will be the key to marine conservation in the country. In this line, WWF Chile launched a campaign to promote the declaration of a Marine Protected Area around Guafo Island, as the first step for a network of Marine Protected Areas in Patagonia, of more than one million hectares. Guafo is the gateway of the blue whales to the inland sea of Chiloé and also houses the world's largest sooty shearwater nesting site. It is also a nesting place for the magellanic penguin as well as the most northern population of South American fur seal.The hub of this network is located in the south of Chiloé and has the Gulf of Corcovado as a key point, since it is a zone of high relevance for the blue whale and humpback whale, among other species.

Partnershipto to preserve Llanos de Moxos, the largest wetlands system in the world

As part of WWF UK´s global partnership with AB InBev, a Belgian multinational beer company, WWF-Bolivia has launched a new alliance with the Bolivian National Brewery (CBN) owned by AB InBev. The aim of this initiative is to improve to water management in sub basins of the Mamoré River watersheds and ecosystems, which feed into the largest wetland complex in the world, the Llanos de Moxos Ramsar Site, in the Bolivian Amazon. The first step in this direction will be an assessment of risk and opportunities related to water.

"Yerba Mate”, a project that benefits rural communities in the Atlantic Forest region of Paraguay

Through the support of the German Federal Ministry of International Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and with the accompanying support of WWF-Germany, more than 400 families in three municipalities in the south of the Alto Paraná district will form part of a project that channels resources from the German government to promote food security and sustainable agriculture through the environmentally friendly production of Yerba Mate.

Political Impact: Working to defend the Argentinean Sea

In recent days the new document "National System of Marine Protected Areas" of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development was presented in Argentina. Vida Silvestre was part of the team that developed this document allowing us to place our vision in an official document and making our position part of the official stance of Argentina. This commitment from the National Government will help us to promote the implementation of the proposals for the Argentinean Sea, which today has only 3% of its area under protection.

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First Amazon atlas with climate change focus

How vulnerable is the Amazon to climate change? Why are protected areas the key to meet this global challenge? Where should new areas like these be created? These are just some of the questions answered by the first Amazon Atlas with a climate change approach, which has just been published thanks to the Amazon Vision initiative, with the participation of WWF, FAO, UNEP and IUCN.

Bonn sets foundation for climate action ahead of COP23

Climate negotiators have kept their focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement at the mid-year round of UN climate talks in Bonn ending today, setting the course for a substantive outcome at COP23, which will take place in Bonn between 6 and 17 November 2017 and will be hosted by Fiji. This is the first time an island state has led the negotiations. “The Fijian COP Presidency has made a strong impression and is eager to ensure a successful COP.”

World leaders forge ahead on Paris Agreement despite United States Intent to Withdraw

Six of the world’s largest economies today reaffirmed their support for the Paris Agreement and its continued implementation at a meeting of the G7 in Taormina, Sicily. While the leaders reached consensus on the need to harness economy opportunities and job creation offered by the clean energy transition and to provide support to developing countries, the US deferred announcing its continued endorsement of the Paris climate agreement.