Spanish

Dear friends and colleagues,

Last month, the efforts to protect our planet paid off in our region and the world, although there is still a lot to be done. In a key step to save the vaquita, Mexico permanently banned the use of gillnets in its habitat. In Belize, a scorecard was produced to assess the progress in the protection of the reef. In Colombia, a tax on plastic bags came into effect. In Ecuador, more than 300 observations were recorded through the Galapagos’ Guides Monitoring Network, that counts with the technical support of WWF-Ecuador. In Peru, WWF began the first mixed research using camera traps and acoustic recorders in Tahuamanu. WWF-Chile promoted an agreement for sustainable governance of the Valdivia river watershed. In Bolivia, five ranches were certified with Better Practices for Cattle-Ranching. In Brazil, WWF revealed that only 45% of the headwaters region of the Pantanal is preserved. WWF-Paraguay completed the third workshop of the "Paraguayan Youth for Climate Action" project. In Argentina, the latest monitoring results shows that jaguar living in the Atlantic Forest have increased. In Central America, the adoption of Cleaner Production practices and technologies is progressing in prioritized watersheds of the North triangle and Panama. The Amazon Vision initiative launched the first "Amazon encyclopedia" on protected areas and climate change, with the participation of WWF and several partners. US financial leaders said #WeAreStillIn the Paris Climate Agreement. Finally, WWF urged all banks to take action to protect World Heritage sites. Enjoy the reading,

Roberto Troya

Vice President & Regional Director

WWF-LAC

Mexico permanently bans the use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California

In response to the Government of Mexico today permanently banning the use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California, Jorge Rickards, acting CEO of WWF-Mexico, said:

“This is a fantastic and encouraging step forward in the path to saving the vaquita, provided the ban is fully enforced and accompanied by fishing alternatives for local communities."

A scorecard was produced to evaluate the Belize Barrier Reef

WWF, as part of the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, assessed progress on a number of protections identified by UNESCO as essential to the reef´s long-term survival. The Belizean government committed to UNESCO in 2015 to take the necessary measures to ensure that the reef’s protection would be implemented by December 2016. Up to now, the government has failed to implement the promised protections.

Colombia joins plastic bag regulation with an eco-tax

Since April 2016, WWF-Colombia and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development have worked together in a plastic bag awareness campaign entitled "Reembólsale al Planeta". This initiative aims for better environmental practices among Colombian citizens, as well as for a more responsible use of this kind of products. On July 1st, a new tax on plastic bags came into force all over the country. This solidifies the efforts towards a future with a more judicious plastic bag use. The purpose of this new tax is to influence consumer behavior and encourage buyers to use eco-friendly packing alternatives, as well as to reuse.

The guides are the main monitors of the Galapagos’ protected areas

More than 300 observations were recorded during the last four-month period of 2017 through the Galapagos’ Guides Monitoring Network. This platform consolidates and analyzes the reports of more than 700 guides in the 169 visitor sites of the archipelago and brings back results to support decision-making for the archipelago management and conservation. The reports include positive aspects and issues that need improvement regarding the state of conservation of species and ecosystems, the state of tourism management or potential threats to Galapagos’ ecosystems. This monitoring network counts on the technical support of WWF-Ecuador.

WWF-Peru starts a mixed study with trap cameras

WWF-Peru began its first mixed study using camera traps and acoustic recorders in Tahuamanu, located in the Madre de Dios province. Its purpose is to collect scientific information that will contribute to the strengthening of forest management in Peru. In addition, the research will serve to identify the benefits of certified forests and their role in the conservation of wildlife and ecosystem services.

WWF-Chile promotes an agreement for sustainable governance of the Valdivia river watershed

WWF-Chile, Plantae Foundation and the Río Cruces Wetlands Center were able to gather for the first time the key stakeholders linked to the Valdivia river basin in a workshop called Water Dialogue. Representatives of companies, civil society, universities and local and indigenous communities were able to share their concerns regarding the sustainability of the basin. In particular, they agreed to work together to identify the main stakeholders of the landscape and the potential risks. Participants also agreed to continue this dialogue and develop proposals to face these challenges in a collaborative way, establishing a commission that will propose a work plan and continue the process.

Towards Sustainable Cattle-ranching in the Bolivian Pantanal

On July 3rd, in the municipality of San Matías, five livestock farms were certified with Better Practices for Cattle-Ranching. This process was carried out in close coordination with the Secretariat of Productive Development of the Departmental Government of Santa Cruz, the San Matías Municipality, the National Service of Agricultural Health and Food Safety, and WWF-Bolivia. The achieved certification encourages the conversion of traditional livestock production models towards models with less impact on native ecosystems. Given the effect of the livestock sector in the Bolivian Pantanal, this certification is an important step in promoting sustainable development and mitigating the conversion of this unique ecosystem.

The study “Alto Paraguay River Basin"

The study “Alto Paraguay River Basin – land use and occupation” launched by WWF-Brazil has revealed some bad news: just 45% of the headwaters region of the Pantanal is preserved, and its legal reserve has a deficit of approximately 392,000 hectares. The cost to recuperate this environmental liability will be over 1 billion dollars. This is a very bad scenario as it rains very little in the Pantanal, despite this being an area with seasonal flooding. If its springs are not well preserved, there will be very serious consequences in the future. There are currently regions that are permanently flooded due to the degradation of the headwaters region. But there is also some good news relating to the flood plain, the Pantanal that we know from photographs: 82% of this area is preserved. This result indicates that the sustainable farming models that have been implemented and developed in the region have worked, that the population can be fed, and meat markets can be supplied without degrading the environment.

Paraguayan youth for climate action

WWF-Paraguay completed the third workshop of the "Paraguayan Youth for Climate Action" project, which was funded by the Education for Nature Program Russel E. Train (EFN) and brought together volunteers from 6 civil society organizations working in differents areas and seek to achieve "a committed society to sustainable development, aware of climate change."

Rise in jaguar numbers

Latest monitoring results shared by Fundación Vida Silvestre, the associate organization of WWF in Argentina, shows that there is an estimate of between 71 and 107 jaguars living in the Atlantic Forest, including the Iguaçu National Park in Brazil – up from 30 to 54 in 2005. The rise in numbers follows years of dedicated conservation efforts to protect the species and its habitat with support from around the WWF network . The investigation was made by Argentinian scientists from the Instituto de Biología Subtropical (UNaM-CONICET) gathered by the Proyecto Yaguareté (Jaguar Project), as well as the Brazilian team from Proyecto Carnívoros Do Iguaçu. "The raising of jaguar population is undoubtedly the result of hard work, where social organizations and public institutions cooperated exhaustively towards the conservation of the species", said Manuel Jaramillo, General Director for Vida Silvestre.

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Progress in cleaner production practices

The adoption of Cleaner Production (CP) practices and technologies is progressing in prioritized watersheds of the North triangle and Panama through the “Cleaner Production and Private Sector” program. This initiative is being implemented by WWF-Guatemala / Mesoamerica and the National Cleaner Production Centers (NCPCs) in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama.

First "Amazon Encyclopedia" about protected areas and climate change

So much information about protected areas and climate change has never been available. Thanks to the Amazon Vision initiative, now it is accessible

Leaders in U.S. Economy Say “We Are Still In’ on Paris Climate Agreement

A total of 1,219 governors, mayors, investors, higher education institutions across the United States, and companies from the most representative sectors of the US economy came together in favor of climate by declaring their intention to ensure that the United States continues to be a leader in Reduction of carbon emissions.

WWF urges all banks to take measures to protect World Heritage sites

A new WWF report reveals that, despite some good practices, no international bank has policies that are strong enough to safeguard World Heritage sites. A WWF survey of British citizens found that 66% of people expect their bank to not finance any activity that could cause damage to World Heritage sites