PROJECT BRIEF
1. IDENTIFIERS
PROJECT NUMBER:
PROJECT NAME:
Regional - Environmental protection of the Rio de la Plata
and its Maritime Front: Pollution Prevention and Control
and Habitat Restoration
DURATION: 3.5
years
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:
United Nations Development Programme
EXECUTING AGENCY:
Consortium of the Comisión Técnica Mixta del Frente
Marítimo1 (CTMFM) and the Comisión Administradora del
Río de la Plata2 (CARP)
REQUESTING COUNTRIES:
Argentina and Uruguay
ELIGIBILITY:
Both countries are eligible for UNDP technical assistance.
Eligible under para. 9(b) of GEF instrument
GEF FOCAL AREA:
International waters
GEF PROGRAMMING
FRAMEWORK:
OP. 8: Waterbody-based
2. SUMMARY.
The Project will establish a collaborative framework for addressing transboundary degradation in the
Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front, part of the Southeast South American Shelf Large Marine
Ecosystem. Fed by the vast La Plata Basin, the system is also influenced by the Brazil - Malvinas
currents which meet in the Maritime Front. The waterbody contains globally significant biodiversity,
and supports a number of economic activities, including commercial fisheries, tourism, and
transportation. It is increasingly being degraded by point and non-point source pollution, including
from hydro-carbons, heavy metals and other industrial wastes, agro-chemicals, and solid wastes, and
is also being affected by channelisation, sedimentation and habitat degradation. Many of the main
fisheries are subject to an intense exploitation and have reached their maximum sustainable yields.
Argentina and Uruguay, the riparian countries, are taking a number of steps to address these
problems as part of their national sustainable development baselines. However, despite moves to
develop a joint management framework for the waterbody, there is little complementarily between
these respective efforts, which focus on coastal rather than deeper waters. This has a sizeable external
cost, degrading the integrity of the waterbody, undermining economic sectors, affecting human
health, and eroding global conservation benefits.
The Project will contribute to the mitigation of current and emergent transboundary threats to the
waterbody by assisting Argentina and Uruguay to prepare a Strategic Action Programme as a
framework for addressing the most imminent transboundary issues. Activities would defray the
transactions costs of developing a joint management paradigm, by i) raising awareness of priority
transboundary concerns, ii) the catalysing of enabling policy, institutional and financial reforms, iii)
strengthening stakeholder communications, iv) identifying innovative management tools that may
later be applied towards SAP implementation, including economic instruments, v) training resource
managers to prepare and implement the SAP, vi) programming targeted investments and vii)
supporting `deal flows' by matching sources of capital with investment opportunities. Preparation of
the SAP would be preceded by finalisation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), building
on assessments already completed during the Block B stage, by prioritizing issues, filling data gaps,
and performing an in depth systems analysis of cause/effect variables, including socio-economic and
ecological factors.
1 Binational Technical Commission for the Maritime Front
2 Administrative Commission for the Río de la Plata
3. COSTS AND FINANCING (MILLION US$)
GEF:
- Project:
US$ 5.68 million
[of which administrative cost is:
US$ 0.40 million]
- PDF:
US$ 0.33 million
Subtotal GEF:
US$ 6.01 million
Co-financing:
- Governments of Argentina and Uruguay
US$ 0.8 million
through CARP and CTMFM
- IDB, IDRC, ATAS-GTZ, University of
US$ 2.43 million
Hamburg, local sponsors3 and cofinancing
under negotiation
- In kind contributions of local entities
US$ 1.57 million
Subtotal:
US$ 4.80 million
Total project cost:
US$ 10.81 million
Total project cost:
(not including PDF-B and PDF-B co-
US$ 10.44 million
financing)
4. ASSOCIATED FINANCING (MILLION US$)
N/A
5. OPERATIONAL FOCAL POINT ENDORSEMENT:
Name:
Embajador Eduardo Perez Title: Subsecretario de Cooperación Internacional.
Organization:
Ministerio de Relaciones
Date: 1 December 1998.
Exteriores Comercio
Internacional y Culto.
(Argentina)
Name:
Ingeniero Luis Santos
Title: Director Nacional de Medio Ambiente.
Organization:
Ministerio de Vivienda,
Date: 1 December 1998.
Ordenamiento Territorial
y Medio Ambiente.
(Uruguay)
6. GEF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY CONTACT:
Nick Remple, Regional Co-ordinator,
UNDP/RBLAC GEF Unit,
Tel (212) 906 5426; Fax (212) 906 6998
3 Local contribution (e.g., municipalities, NGOs, private sector) for US $ 400.000 will be raised in year one of the
project to sponsor communication and dissemination activities in years 2 to 4.
2
________________________________________________________
Acronyms
ATAS
TRAINMAR Association for South America
CARP
Rio de la Plata Management Commission
CARU
Rio Uruguay Management Commission
CTMFM
Binational Technical Commission for the Maritime Front
DINAMA
National Directorate for the Environment, Uruguay
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
GEF
Global Environment Facility
IDB
Interamerican Development Bank
IDRC
International Development Research Center, Canadá
IFI
International Financial Institution
IMM
Municipality of Montevideo, Uruguay
IMO
International Maritime Organisation
INAPE
National Fisheries Institute, Uruguay
INIDEP
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Argentina
NGO Non-Governmental
Organization
MIS
Management Information System
SAP
Strategic Action Programme
SPABA
Secretary for Environmental Policy of the Province of Buenos Aires
SRNyDS
Secretary for Natural Resources and Sustainable Development,
Argentina
TDA
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
VCI
Virtual Centre of Information
WB World
Bank
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PROJECT CONTEXT AND BASELINE COURSE OF ACTION
Project context
1.
General Context. The Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front (Annex VII-1) receive the
waters of the Rio de la Plata basin, the second largest river basin system in South America. The
basin is formed by three main watercourses: the Parana, with it's primary tributary the Paraguay
River, and the Uruguay River (Annex VII-2). Over 97% of the total Rio de la Plata freshwater
input is supplied by the Parana and Uruguay rivers. The Rio de la Plata is a very dynamic
brackish and freshwater system, with considerable flow, scant depth, and a high load of
sediments and particulate material from its many tributaries. The surface of the Rio de la Plata is
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35.500 km and at its mouth is 230 km wide. Approximately twenty small rivers and a hundred
streams discharge their waters into the river. The river has a mean depth of 10 meters and an
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average discharge of 22.000 m /s into the Atlantic Ocean. The boundaries of the Rio de la Plata
(Annex VII(1)) were established under Article 1 of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front
Treaty (hereafter referred to as The Treaty).
2.
The Rio de la Plata is a tidal environment with six zones distinguished based on
morphological and hydrological characteristics. The upper region, characterised by the inflow of
waters from the Paraná and Uruguay rivers is formed by (1) the Paraná delta zone, (2) the tidal
river zone and (3) the middle Rio de la Plata (located between the limits of saline intrusion and a
gradual river-tide delta; the extension of this zone mainly depends on river flow and wind
variations). The external region is formed by (4) the marine zone, (5) the Bay of Samborombon
and (6) the eastern channel, with their characteristic hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes.
3.
The main geomorphologic features of the river are (i) the banks, channelling the river
flow and trapping and dispersing sediments, (ii) the erosion basins, acting as temporary
receptacles and sources of sediments and (iii) the channels, through which the river flows. Fine
sediments are confined to the upper and middle parts of the Río de la Plata, whereas sands cover
most of the outer Río de la Plata and the adjacent continental shelf.
4.
The term Maritime Front is used to refer to the ocean space extending seawards from the
outer limit of the Rio de la Plata, also known as "Common fishing zone" and delimited in article
73 of the Treaty. Partially overlapping the exclusive economic zones of the Parties, it is subject
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to a special legal regime under the Treaty. It encompasses a surface area of 215,900 km with a
"prohibition zone for polluting activities" (created by article 78 of The Treaty) situated seawards
of the external limit of the Rio de la Plata (Annex VII-1). The depth of waters in the zone varies
considerably, from an average of 10 meters at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, to over three
thousand meters in its deepest part.
5.
The complex oceanographic dynamics of the Maritime Front are determined by (i) the
confluence of the warm Brazil current and the cold Malvinas current (rich in nitrates), (ii) the
considerable inflow from the Rio de la Plata, rich in phosphates and silica and (iii) the coastal
waters of the platform. This is an area of high biological production, and is particularly rich in
fisheries. However, knowledge of the characteristics and dynamics of the zone of confluence is
still limited.
6.
System boundary. The system boundary for the Project covers the Rio de la Plata and its
Maritime Front including the adjacent exclusive jurisdiction areas and Territorial Sea (Annex
VII-1). The system boundary will also encompass the main land-based sources of pollution and
key coastal wetlands (inasmuch as they relate to transboundary issues of pollution or function as
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nursing areas of living resources) identified in the TDA and agreed with the respective countries.
The Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front is particularly sensitive to external
hydrometeorological forces. Due to thermo-saline gradients and to the convergence of waters
from different sources, the area is considered a vast river-marine ecosystem. It is a transitional
environment for which - in contrast to other regions of similar size and importance - there is
scant information available. This is due to the highly dynamic nature and great expanse of the
system, which cause hydrometeorological processes of different scales and magnitudes, making
it technically and financially difficult to resolve the spatio-temporal variability of its processes.
The transboundary nature of these processes precludes unilateral management of the waterbody
by either one of the Parties.
7.
The Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front are part of the Southeast South American
Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME). The discharge of the Río de La Plata and the Brazil
Malvinas confluence (both included in the project area) are relevant factors in this LME. The Río
de la Plata is the main contributor of fresh water to the LME and the mix of waters in the Brazil
Malvinas confluence has physical, meteorological and biological consequences that affect the
entire Southeast South American Shelf LME. Biological productivity in the project area is very
high.
8.
Environmental context. The area is a transition zone where warm, cold and temperate
waters mix. A great superposition of species from warm, temperate and cold waters is found in
the area. From the available literature, the area has a high level of biodiversity and a low degree
of endemic species. Endemic species include the mejillín, (Brachidontes rodriguezzi), clams
(Macoma uruguayensis and Mesodesma mactroides), the navaja (Taggelus gibbus) and the Plata
dolphin, also known as Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei). This dolphin, on the list of the
Convention on Migratory Species, is captured by fishermen of Buenos Aires Province
(Argentina) and Rocha Department (Uruguay) for subsistence consumption. Knowledge of the
biodiversity of the area is limited.
9.
River, coastal and high seas species develop all or part of their life cycle in the project
area. Several of these species are of outstanding global importance, from an ecological,
economic and social standpoint (i.e., tuna and marine mammals). In the upper Rio de la Plata,
populations of migratory fish -- sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus), boga (Leporinus obtusidens), patí
(Luciopimelodus pati) and dorado (Salminus maxillosus) swim up river, along the lower and
middle Parana river at the beginning of autumn and return in the spring. Marking and recapture
studies have shown that the fish use this zone as a single space. It has been suggested that the
delta of the river is a feeding area for the offspring of these species. Several populations of
pinnipeds (Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens) are found in this area. Annex VII-4
lists the marine mammals found in the project area. Several of these are migratory species of
global significance.
10.
Socio-economic context. The main economic activities, both in Argentina and Uruguay,
are located on the coasts of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front. The Rio de la Plata
coastline contains several major urban and industrial centres and most of the port activity of both
countries. The combined population of Montevideo and Buenos Aires is close to 16 million
inhabitants. In the Maritime Front area, tourism and fisheries provide the main source of
livelihood.
11.
On the Argentine coast of the Rio de la Plata, the metropolitan axis extends 180 km from
the localities of Zarate and Campana, on the Paraná de las Palmas river, to the city of La Plata.
This axis concentrates 45% of all the industrial activity (basically chemical and petrochemical)
and 35% of the population of Argentina. The city of Buenos Aires and its suburban hinterland
concentrate 40% of the population of the metropolitan axis, on a coast some 20 km long.
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12.
On the Uruguayan coast, the major concentration of population and industry is found in
the Department of Montevideo and, increasingly along the coast of the Department of Canelones.
Around 50% of the population of the country and most of its economic, industrial and port
activities is concentrated along a coastal strip about 50 km long, between the Santa Lucia and
Pando rivers. During the tourist season, there is also a considerable concentration of population
along the coast of the Department of Maldonado, mainly in Punta del Este.
13.
The project area contains important fishing grounds for river and marine species. In the
upper Rio de la Plata, five species - i.e., sábalo, boga, pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis), patí
and dorado -- are the basis of important commercial and sports fisheries in both countries. These
same species are caught upriver in the Parana and Uruguay rivers, mainly by artisanal fishermen.
In the outer Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front the main species of commercial relevance are
merluza (Merluccius hubbsi), corvina (Micropogonias furnieri), pescadilla (Cynoscion striatus),
squid (Illex argentinus) and anchoíta (Engraulis anchoita). The exploitation of shared fishing
resources is very significant for the economies of both countries. In 1997, catches in the lower
Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front totalled 323 thousand tons with an estimated value of 120
million dollars. A bi-national system has been established for the assessment and management of
shared fishery resources in the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front and is implemented through
CARP and CTMFM.
14.
Institutional context. The Treaty of the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front, signed in
1973 by Argentina and Uruguay, established the legal framework for the bi-national
management of the waterbody. This framework includes two bi-national governmental
Commissions responsible for the preservation, conservation and rational use of living resources
and the prevention and elimination of pollution in these areas. The Bi-national Technical
Commission for the Maritime Front (CTMFM) and the Administrative Commission for the Río
de la Plata (CARP) were established in 1976. The Treaty has assigned both Commissions the
task of adopting and co-ordinating plans and measures aimed at protecting the aquatic
environments under their mandates (Annex VII(1)) and their fauna and the promotion of studies
and research. Other relevant duties of the Commissions are:
· The prevention and elimination of pollution and other harmful effects deriving from the
use, exploration and exploitation of resources. The Treaty established a "prohibition zone
for polluting activities" situated seawards of the external limit of the Rio de la Plata
(Annex VII(1)).
· The assessment, conservation and preservation of living resources and their rational
exploitation.
· Establishment of catch volumes per species and assignment of quotas to each of the
parties.
· Preparation of plans for the preservation, conservation and development of living
resources in the zone of common interest.
· Promotion of studies and production of plans for harmonisation of the legislation of the
parties, concerning matters falling within the responsibilities of the Commissions.
· Finally, the Treaty provides that the Parties may give the Commissions other functions by
means of reversal notes or other forms of agreement.
15.
The Commissions are practical and effective mechanisms for bi-national co-operation,
co-ordination and management, which have operated for more than 20 years. Delegates to the
Commissions have full powers to represent their countries. The Resolutions of the Commissions
are published in the Official Papers of both countries with no further governmental processing
required for them becoming binding. The resolutions are implemented by the competent national
3
authorities and the control of its application is exercised by the Maritime Authorities of both
countries.
16.
Since their installation, the Commissions have actively worked towards the goal of
improving management of resources in the area. As such, the Commissions have established bi-
national working groups, formed by specialists from institutions of both countries, who analyse
and recommend actions to address the issues under their mandates. Particular emphasis has been
given to the management of living resources. For example, CTMFM sets catch quotas, maximum
catch limits, mesh sizes and other regulations for the fisheries in the Maritime Front. The
Commissions have also issued joint resolutions for resources that are distributed in both areas. A
recent example is the "Joint Resolution for the determination of distribution quotas by country of
the Corvina for the period 1997 to 1999", issued on 28 May 1997.
17.
Binational infrastructure works have also been important. CARP manages the dredging of
the Martín García channel in the Río de la Plata and periodically prepare studies of the area's
dynamics. During the last decade both CARP and CTMFM have accorded a growing
importance to environmental issues, particularly pollution, in their agendas. One example is the
"Co-operation agreement for the prevention of pollution incidents in the aquatic environment
produced by oil and other noxious substances". This agreement entered into force in 1993. To
strengthen joint co-ordination and co-operation, the Commissions established, on 19 June 1998,
the CARP - CTMFM Consortium establishing the institutional framework for the execution of
this project.
18.
At the national level both countries have national and local environmental authorities
with powers to legislate and exercise control. Key authorities for this project in Argentina are the
Secretary for Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (SRNyDS, in particular the
Undersecretary for environmental planning), Secretary for Urban Planning and Environment of
the City of Buenos Aires, Secretary for Environmental Policy of the Province of Buenos Aires,
Navy, Coastguard and Ministry of Economy. Key authorities in Uruguay are the Ministry of
Housing, Land Planning and Environment (National Directorate for the Environment,
DINAMA), Municipality of Montevideo, other municipalities on the Río de la Plata and its
Maritime Front, Navy (includes the Coastguard) and the Planning and Budget Office (OPP).
19.
Policy context. At the national level, both countries have developed national policies and
programmes aimed at the protection and management of the natural environment and are in the
process of strengthening the regulatory capacity of their national environmental authorities, with
funding from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). The environmental action plans of
Argentina and Uruguay have set as goals the conservation and rehabilitation of the coastal
ecosystems of the Rio de la Plata and Atlantic Ocean and the strengthening of the management
of common resources and boundary areas by means of the existing bi-national Commissions.
20.
Environmental authorities (municipal, departmental, provincial and national) in both
countries are working on the protection of the aquatic environment. The Port Constructions and
Waterway Directorate and the SRNyDS of Argentina passed legislation requiring environmental
impact assessments (EIA) before the development of coastal infrastructure. In Uruguay the
Municipality of Montevideo introduced regulations on discharges and environmental quality lead
values applicable to the waterbodies within its jurisdiction.
21.
At the regional level, both countries are signatories of the La Plata Basin Treaty and
members of MERCOSUR. At the international level Argentina and Uruguay are parties to a
number of international protocols related to the conservation of international waters, including
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They have also subscribed the Ocean
Charter, the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development and ratified the Convention
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on Biological Diversity. Both countries are Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
Preparation of the project
22.
This project was formulated between October 1997 and June 1998, with the support of
GEF Project Development Facility (PDF), and additional funding from the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC) and counterpart contributions by both Commissions. Key
issues affecting the environmental quality of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front were
identified and prioritised during a bi-national workshop held in Piriapolis (Uruguay) from 24 to
27 November 1997. Fifty-four people participated in the workshop as representatives of
institutions and organizations from both countries.
23.
Following the Piriapolis workshop, four studies were prepared by ad hoc groups of
specialists from both countries: (i) Institutional analysis and proposals for institutional
strengthening, (ii) Review of legislation and proposals for harmonisation, (iii) Environmental
Assessment and (iv) Stakeholder Identification and Analysis. These documents were used to
provide technical background for the follow-on binational workshop in Mar del Plata, from 18 to
20 March 1998. During this workshop, forty-nine people participated in the identification of
objectives, outputs and activities. The results of both workshops were compiled in documents
that were distributed to the participants, key institutions of both countries and GEF Implementing
Agencies.
Baseline situation
24.
Threats and causes. The Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front are threatened by a
multitude of anthropogenic factors within the Plata River Basin, the coastal areas and the waters
of the river and the south-west Atlantic Ocean. A key transboundary issue identified during the
PDF execution was pollution of the water and sediments of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime
Front from land-based and aquatic activities. The following information has been distilled from
the information compiled during PDF implementation and the workshops with representatives
from different institutions and organisations.
25.
The La Plata basin contains important urban centres and agricultural and industrial
activities, and the project area, as such, is a sink for substantial urban, agricultural and industrial
wastes. Pesticides, hydrocarbons and heavy metals have been identified in water, sediments and
organisms in the lower river with pollution distributions reflecting proximity to urban and
industrialized areas. Productivity measurements in the river indicate that the system is of medium
to high productivity, with attendant risk of moving into eutrophic conditions. The area is also
affected by the alteration of hydrological processes caused by construction of numerous dams in
the basin. In the near future, transboundary environmental threats are expected to grow owing to
the integration process resulting from the La Plata Basin Treaty and MERCOSUR a common
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market covering more than 13 million km and serving a population of about 200 million
inhabitants in four countries.
26.
The development and operation of the Parana-Paraguay Hidrovia (Puerto Caceres -
Nueva Palmira) will increase the transport of goods (mostly soybeans, grains, iron and
manganese, oil and other hydrocarbons, and timber) within the region and would have significant
environmental impacts on the basin. A total of 47.2 million tons of cargo was shipped in 1996,
and the area is subject to heavy oil tanker traffic. There are no traffic segregation systems nor
obligatory shipping routes in the outer Rio de la Plata and Maritime Front. In the middle and
5
upper Rio de la Plata, ships use a system of channels passing near or through important habitats
or spawning, feeding and nursery grounds of fisheries resources. In 1997 the oil tanker San Jorge
collided with an un-reported rock, with the resulting oil slick contaminating the coast of Punta
del Este (Uruguay) and affecting an important colony of sea lions. Argentina and Uruguay are in
the process of improving their port operations with funding from the IDB. Demand for port
services is likely to increase substantially over the coming years leading to an expansion of the
use of existing terminals and the development of new facilities.
27.
The coastal areas of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front concentrate the largest
urban, tourist and industrial centres and ports of both countries and face accelerating
development pressures. The coastal urban centres discharge effluents and industrial wastes into
the Rio de la Plata, Maritime Front and small tributaries. Some of these tributaries suffer chronic
pollution, for example, the mouth of the Santa Lucia river, Montevideo Bay and the Pantanoso
and Miguelete streams in Uruguay and the Matanzas - Riachuelo and Reconquista streams in
Argentina. Chronic oil pollution is also a problem in the vicinity of ports and oil terminals. The
use of submarine pipes to discharge urban wastes off the coast is common. Exotic bivalves may
have been introduced through the discharge of ballast waters. These species have colonised
structures in the upper Rio de la Plata and are moving into the Parana River. Toxic red tides are
more and more frequent and longer lasting in the outer Rio de la Plata and Maritime Front.
28.
Both countries are making important investments in the construction of sanitation
systems, restoration of polluted areas, eradication of pollution in territorial waters, development
of coastal management initiatives and establishment of environmental management systems.
However, the regional dimensions of waterbody degradation both causes and effects - have not
been incorporated into local and national planning and management efforts.
29.
The scant depth of the Rio de la Plata makes it necessary to continuously dredge the
access channels to the ports. Some 15 million tons of sediments are removed annually. Major
works are currently being undertaken to enable deep draught ships to navigate the Parana and
Uruguay rivers. Dredging alters river and marine and benthic communities and re-suspend
sediments and pollutants. The impact of continuous dredging on the environment of the area is
unknown.
30.
Freshwater fisheries in the upper Rio de Plata have declined probably due to a
combination of pollution, construction of dams along the Parana and Uruguay rivers and fishing
activities. Despite management interventions by both countries, fisheries yields in the outer Rio
de la Plata and Maritime Front have also declined. The fisheries institutes of both countries
maintain programmes for the study and assessment of fisheries resources, and the bi-national
Commissions, in co-operation with the Prefecturas Navales (Coast Guards) and fisheries
authorities of the Parties, take management measures. Nevertheless the effects of other factors
such as pollution and habitat alteration have not been adequately considered in the management
of the fisheries.
31. The following barriers face joint management of the waterbody:
a) Knowledge of the system and the causes and effects of transboundary degradation is
both limited and fragmented. The Environmental Assessment conducted during PDF
implementation found that information is scattered among several institutions, is
limited in scope (focused mostly on fisheries biology) and has a poor spatial and
temporal coverage. And integrated analysis of the issues affecting the area is also
lacking, including the effects of pollution on ecosystems, and understanding of the
import of pollutants from the La Plata basin and export to international waters is
perfunctory. A further problem is that there is inadequate co-ordination among the
6
institutions that generate and store information about pollution and other imminent
international waters concerns at the national and regional levels.
b) Decision makers, in both the private and public sectors are inadequately informed of
the causal factors responsible for degradation, nor the solutions and technologies
available to mitigate problems. The lack of key data and weak integration of
information into decision making hampers efforts to develop targeted collaborative
management measures. The mechanisms for joint management are weak, despite
existing protocols and institutional arrangements. Current efforts are focused mostly on
the management of fisheries resources. The causes and effects of transboundary
problems are not internalised into national and binational policies and decision-making
processes. The regulatory frameworks of the two countries are weakly integrated and
different waterbody quality standards are used.
c) There is a sizeable baseline of environmental management initiatives and sanitation and
environment restoration projects that have a bearing on the waterbodies. However,
planning and implementation is weakly integrated. The lack of joint bi-national
programming leaves critical environmental management gaps, particularly related to
transboundary issues.
d) There is a lack of bi-national management tools and strategies for transboundary
resources other than fisheries. Despite the existing bi-national framework, common
tools and strategies for transboundary pollution control and mitigation or biodiversity
protection and management have not been developed.
e) There are different institutional frameworks for environmental management in the two
countries. Argentina has a complex framework with overlapping and sometimes
conflicting jurisdictions between national, provincial and municipal levels. Uruguay has
a single national environmental authority and municipalities have only recently become
more involved and active in the management arena. Institutional capacities to address
the root causes of transboundary degradation are weak.
f) Awareness of the transboundary environmental problems afflicting the area is
inadequate. Studies during the PDF found that while organised social actors in both
countries have some knowledge of priority environmental issues and civil society at
large perceives there is a pollution problem in the river and coastal waters (interviewees
made no mention of pollution in offshore waters), there is little understanding of its
genesis. This in turn serves to handicap grassroots actions to address imminent
concerns. Several institutions and projects carry out communication and dissemination
activities, though these tend to be diffuse, thereby reducing their efficacy. There are no
co-ordinated national or bi-national activities for awareness on transboundary river and
marine pollution .
THE ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION
32.
The sustainable management of the La Plata Basin and South West Atlantic LME
requires a significant measure of international assistance. GEF is currently collaborating with a
number of initiatives in these areas:
i) The UNDP/GEF project Consolidation of the Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve
(PROBIDES);
ii) The UNDP/GEF Project Consolidation and Implementation of the Patagonia Coastal
Zone Management Programme for Biodiversity Conservation;
iii) The World Bank/GEF project for Coastal Contamination Prevention and Sustainable
Fisheries Management in Patagonia;
iv) The UNEP/GEF Project integrated watershed management project for the Pantanal and
Upper Paraguay River Basin;
v) The UNEP/GEF Project Strategic Action Program for the bi-national basin of the
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Bermejo River; and
vi) The International Waters Distance Learning and Training Project, which includes a
component executed by TRAIN-SEA-COAST that will establish a regional training centre
in Uruguay and develop a course for the management of special marine and coastal zones.
33.
The present project will be an important element of this international effort by covering
the terminal end of the La Plata basin and the rich oceanic area of the Malvinas - Brazil
confluence. A three-step strategy is proposed to achieve the long-term objective of mitigating
transboundary threats to the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front.
Step 1. Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis: Complete identification and analysis of the
sources, impacts and root causes of the priority transboundary environmental problems with
special reference to river and marine pollution, as well as the identification of barriers to
effective waterbody management including economic factors.
Step 2. Development of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) of policy, legal, and institutional
reforms and priority investments to prevent and mitigate the priority transboundary
environmental concerns identified in step 1. Develop jurisdictional, national and bi-national
mechanisms and financial commitments for implementation of expected baseline and
additional SAP actions. Strengthen the capacity of CARP, CTMFM and key national and
local authorities of both countries to prepare and operationalise joint management
endeavours and action plans for transboundary pollution reduction and control. Raise public
recognition of key local and transboundary causes of pollution in the Rio de la Plata and
Maritime Front.
Step 3. Development of regional co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms to deal with
complex transboundary problems, e.g. pollution loads from sources internal and external to
the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front.
34. Project preparation activities contributed to the first step of this long-term strategy with (i)
the identification of information availability, sources and gaps, (ii) the compilation and analysis
of environmental, legal, institutional and stakeholder information and (iii) bolstering of the
commitment of municipal, departmental, provincial and national institutions of both countries to
cooperate in the resolution of the priority transboundary environmental problems affecting the
waterbodies, thereby preparing the ground for SAP preparation and ultimate implementation.
35.
The Project is consistent with the GEF Waterbody-based operational program (OP8), as it
is focussed on the identification and resolution of transboundary environmental problems
affecting an area of regional and global significance. The project will provide the groundwork
required to enable both countries to engage in initiatives aimed at reaching agreements to
mitigate priority transboundary degradation issues. The preparation of a Strategic Action
Programme will make it possible to (i) internalise the external costs of transboundary pollution
into domestic and binational policy, (ii) facilitate regional co-operation, (iii) direct national
efforts towards filling the gaps that may exist, (iv) promote harmonisation of the respective
national legislation and (v) promote necessary investments. The project will benefit from the
existence of a bi-national Argentine-Uruguayan legal framework, established under the Treaty of
the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front.
PROJECT COMPONENTS, OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS
36.
The four main project outputs and a brief summary of activities are presented below:
Output 1: Complete Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
8
37.
Information sources, needs, gaps and barriers were identified during the PDF phase.
Further effort is required to obtain priority information needed to understand the functioning of
the system, the key causes and effects of transboundary degradation (particularly pollution) as
well as to integrate it into preparation of the SAP. Most of the information available on the area
(i) is scattered, (ii) is limited to a few topics, especially fisheries biology and (iii) has a limited
spatial and temporal coverage. There are practically no interdisciplinary studies. A robust TDA
is necessary in order to define the baseline resource condition and trends, prioritise
transboundary problems, and specify jurisdictional and national interventions to address them
under the SAP. Co-financing for TDA preparation has been leveraged from the Commissions,
the IDB and the University of Hamburg. Some of these moneys will be used to obtain
oceanographic and meteorological information to understand the circulation of currents within
the system.
38.
The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis will be finalised in three stages:
1) In Stage 1, the mechanisms for coordination and cooperation among participating entities will
be agreed upon, additional sources of information will be identified and the methodology to
be followed for TDA finalization will be agreed upon among the participating entities. An
agreement will be signed between the cooperating entities and the project to define the
obligations and contributions of each party and the constitution of the Working Groups that
will develop and finalize the components of the TDA. Since activities both upstream and
downstream of the Plata/MF project system boundary may impact or be impacted by activities
in the Plata/MF, arrangements will be made for the coordination of the TDA with similar
analyses underway in other projects in the region with transboundary relevance to this project;
in particular with the WB/GEF and UNDP/GEF projects in Patagonia, the UNEP/GEF
projects in the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay River Basin and Bermejo River, the UNDP/GEF
project in the Bañados del Este biospere reserve (PROBIDES) and the BIOPLATA and
ECOPLATA projects.
2) In Stage 2, assessments will be made simultaneously, covering transboundary elements of the
following subjects: (a) circulation in the Rio de la Plata and Maritime Front, (b) water
pollution, (c) sediment pollution, (d) pollution by hazardous residues, (e) biodiversity, (f)
fisheries resources, (g) introduction of exotic species, (h) red tides and (i) accumulation of
pollutants in the trophic chain. Each of these diagnostics will be developed by a Working
Group formed by specialists from both countries including law, economics and the social
sciences in order to identify legal, economic and social root causes. The assessments will be
effected for the most part through compilation, systematisation and analysis of existing
information. In selected areas, specific studies needed to fill priority information gaps -- will
be executed as part of the assessments of water and sediment pollution, pollution effects on
biodiversity, biology of key species and accumulation of pollutants in the trophic chain. Also
an in depth institutional assessment will be prepared.
The TDA will include a pollution source analysis, including estimated pollutant loadings
related to eutrophication, oxygen depletion and toxics in sediments, plus the amount of
treatment currently occuring for each identified transboundary pollutant.
The survey of river and marine biodiversity is of particular relevance to perceive the effects of
environmental changes and transboundary pollution on the biological diversity of the area. It
will make it possible to (i) integrate existing information, (ii) identify areas requiring special
attention, (iii) identify key species and indicators and (iv) define priority research and
monitoring activities in the project area. Short, specific studies will be carried out, where
necessary, to fill knowledge gaps. Activities would be co-ordinated with on-going initiatives
in both countries, including formulation of national biodiversity strategies, the UNDP/GEF
project for the consolidation of the Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve (PROBIDES), the
BIOPLATA and ECOPLATA projects.
9
The population biology assessment of fisheries resources is also of particular importance
since it will enable the integration and systematisation of existing information aimed at
identifying the location of important feeding, breeding and nursery grounds and perceive the
effects of exploitation, habitat modification and transboundary pollution on living marine
resources in the Plata/Maritime Front. Specific targeted studies will be carried out, as
necessary, to define such areas. This diagnostic assessment would be implemented by the
fisheries institutes of both countries (INAPE and INIDEP), with support from the
Universities. Activities will be fully co-ordinated with the ECOPLATA project.
The institutional assessment will be used to identify needed institutional reform and
strengthening activities under the SAP and to prepare the mechanisms and agreements for
joint management and control of transboundary threats, including pollution, in the project
area.
3) Finally, in Stage 3, the results of the previous stages will be consolidated, analysed and
presented to independent specialists for evaluation. Specialists from the other upstream and
adjacent GEF projects in the region will participate in this analysis to ensure the integration of
information and a holistic analysis of the priority transboundary problems in a basin-wide
context so that SAP actions proposed under each project are coordinated and complementary.
The results of the TDA will be presented in a seminar involving both scientists and decision
makers, to be held at the beginning of year 3.
39.
Integrated information system. A set of management tools will be developed to facilitate
the application of the results of the TDA to the preparation and implementation of the SAP.
These will allow the compilation, systematisation and processing of information about the area
and present or display it in accessible formats for the Consortium and key national and local
institutions and stakeholders. These tools will provide an information system and decision-
making tool for the area. Three tools will be developed: (i) geographic information system
(GIS), (ii) management information system (MIS) and (iii) virtual centre of information (VCI).
A GIS will be developed, on a pilot scale, and made compatible with other GIS in the area, to
integrate available knowledge (TDA results and other sources) and facilitate the identification of
zones that require special management (e.g., feeding or spawning grounds affected by
transboundary pollutants) and to help prioritize and plan SAP interventions.
A MIS will be developed and implemented to produce processed information on an appropriate
spatial and temporal scale for use in decision making. This management tool will facilitate
effective formulation of the SAP and joint plans for transboundary pollution reduction and their
subsequent implementation. The system will be designed on the basis of users' needs, capacity of
the Consortium to sustain it over the long term and accessible sources of information.
Finally, the VCI will be developed to compile, integrate, systematise and make accessible
information on the area through the World Wide Web. This will make it possible to integrate, in
a single site, all the information of the area that is presently dispersed. An element of the VCI
will be an electronic forum on pollution in the Plata basin. It will be created and maintained for
the discussion and analysis of information on pollution sources, causes and effects among
specialists and interested individuals of the region and will include input from the GEF and other
projects upstream and downstream of the Plata/Maritime Front with transboundary relevance to
this project.
Output 2:
Strategic Action Program (SAP)
40. A Strategic Action Program of policy, legal and institutional reforms and priority
investments for the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front will be prepared and adopted. As a
result of the PDF phase it is foreseen that the SAP will concentrate on the priority transboundary
issues of (i) reduction and control of pollution from land-based sources and aquatic activities and
(ii) protection and conservation of biodiversity and key areas in the lifecycle of important living
resources. Other elements would be incorporated during project execution as a result of
10
finalization of the TDA and other project activities. The SAP will contain (i) a binational strategy
for pollution reduction, control and monitoring for the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front; (ii)
pollution reduction action plans for each of the principal jurisdictions and key pollution sources
through which the overall pollution reduction strategy will be implemented; iii) regional,
national and local plans for biodiversity conservation; (iv) a budget and priority investment plan,
involving IFI's such as IDB and/or the World Bank, to guide future investments (public or
private; national, regional or international) in the area; and (v) an institutional structure for
coordination, monitoring and follow up of SAP implementation.
41. The Commissions are fully empowered to address any issue relating to the joint
management of the binational water bodies. The Commissions are not fully empowered to
address land-based sources of pollution beyond the areas under their jurisdiction (Annex VII(1)),
since this would imply an extension of bi-national authority to sovereign territory. However, as
bodies under the respective countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the two Commissions have
government representation at the highest level. In order to overcome the possibility of
insufficient attention being paid to land-based sources of pollution affecting the Plata/MF
system, the project is structured such that the principal jurisdictions containing significant
pollution sources are represented by the appropriate pollution control bodies of those
jurisdictions. These institutions are represented on the Project Coordination Committee,
Intersectoral Working Groups and Technical Working Groups (see "Implementation
Arrangements", para. 57-59) and their commitment to SAP implementation is to be expressly
obtained as part of the project.
42.
Based on the initial analyses conducted in the PDF-B, the SAP and its associated
jurisdictional annexes is anticipated to include five or more key elements related to prevention
and mitigation of transboundary problems in the Plata/Maritime Front:
1) Targets for Plata/MF water and sediments quality and pollution reduction. As part of the
SAP, water and sediments quality and pollution reduction targets for high priority pollutants
will be developed based on the results of the TDA and through participatory consensus-
building processes involving key authorities charged with emissions reductions and
stakeholders from both countries. In the process of defining the targets, the following issues
will be considered: (i) the regulations in force in both countries, (ii) the capacity of key
national and local authorities and stakeholders to achieve the targets, (iii) the economic and
social options and implications of the activities for target achievement and (iv) the bio-
physical characteristics of the environments of the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front. A
set of economic and financial instruments will be prepared to promote and facilitate actions
for pollution reduction.
2) National and Jurisdictional Pollution Control Programs: A strategy will be prepared to
facilitate co-ordination and co-operation between both countries for pollution control in the
project area in support of achieving the pollution reduction targets. The strategy will be
prepared through a process of analysis and consensus-building involving key local, provincial
and national authorities charged with emissions reductions and stakeholders from both
countries. Economic and financial instruments will be developed to support pollution control
in the long term.
3) Bi-national Environmental impact assessment protocols. Another element of the SAP will
be the development and agreement of bi-national protocols for the environmental impact
assessment (EIA) of projects developed in the common use area of the Rio de la Plata and its
Maritime Front. So far, there is no agreed procedure for environmental impact assessment of
projects developed for the area. The adoption of this bi-national instrument will make it
possible to arrive at uniform assessments, will facilitate the establishment of common
standards and guarantee a holistic vision of the impacts in the area and mitigation measures
required. A system will be designed for the training and certification of specialists carrying
out EIA in the area. GEF financing is requested to cover the cost of the diagnostics. This
11
involves: (i) assessing EIA protocols and regulations in force in both countries, (ii) assessing
protocols and regulations that might be relevant for the common use area and (iii) preparing a
concept paper on the most appropriate EIA protocols for the area and actions proposed for
incorporation into the SAP. Formulation, consensus-building and design of a training system
will be covered with non-GEF funds.
4) Bi-national strategy for the protection and conservation of coastal and aquatic biodiversity.
Based on the results of the TDA and the National Biodiversity Strategies, a bi-national
strategy will be prepared for the co-ordination of and co-operation in regard to protection of
biodiversity from pollution and its conservation in the area. The strategy will be prepared with
the collaboration of relevant national and local authorities (e.g., DINAMA, SRNyDS), key
related projects (e.g., BIOPLATA, PROBIDES) and organisations that are linked to the
subject (e.g., Uruguayan Network of Environmental NGOs, Vida Silvestre, IUCN). A public
consultation on the draft strategy has been included as a prior step to its incorporation in the
SAP.
5) Investments: The SAP will contain a set of activities aimed at solving the priority
transboundary environmental problems of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front. It will
include an implementation plan and a budget to guide future investments (public or private;
national, regional or international) in the area. The priority investment planning will be
coordinated by a Working Group formed by the Consortium, key national and local
authorities (responsible for the implementation of action plans), the finance or planning
authorities of both countries, the IDB, the World Bank and the UNDP. This will secure the
insertion of SAP implementation activities into budgetary decisions and investment portfolios
of national and local governments of Argentina and Uruguay. The investment plan would try,
as much as possible, to offer opportunities for private investment, both local and international.
A draft of the priority investment plan would be circulated among other international
development agencies to identify parties interested in funding priority components of the SAP
and jurisdictional action plans. International Financial Institutions (IFI's) such as IDB and/or
the World Bank will be invited to participate in the preparation and financing of investments
addressing the priority transboundary issues identified in the TDA/SAP process; these
arrangements will be finalized prior to Project Document signature.
43.
During the execution of the Project, a design of the institutional framework for full SAP
implementation will be prepared. The proposed implementation structure will be included as an
element for execution under the full SAP.
44.
The draft of the SAP will be put forward to the Project Coordination Committee for
analysis and consensus building. The SAP will be adopted by the Consortium on behalf of
Argentina and Uruguay and endorsed by the members of the Coordination Committee. In
addition each Authority will also endorse the corresponding action plan for its jurisdiction. The
SAP and action plans will be made public and widely disseminated.
Output 3:
Strengthening and Sustaining the SAP Implementation Framework
45.
As noted in para. 31, a number of barriers exist which prevent the successful joint
management of this international waterbody. These include incomplete knowledge of the
Plata/MF system, poorly informed decision-makiers, weakly integrated binational planning,
various institutional weaknesses, limited tools for transboundary resource management, and
general lack of public awareness of the project area's situation. Output 3 is designed to
overcome many of these barriers through a suite of capacity building and institutional
strengthening activities which will in turn enhance and sustain the SAP implementation process.
46.
Actions will be taken to i) strengthen the bi-national Commissions and key national and
local institutions in both countries in order to prepare and implement the Strategic Action
12
Program of priority interventions; and ii) increase the level of understanding and participation of
key stakeholders in the process of solving priority transboundary environmental problems in the
project area.
47.
Institutional Strengthening. A Working Group made up of the Consortium and key
national and local authorities, with assistance from specialists on institutional arrangements for
cooperation and environmental management, will develop mechanisms and agreements for the
implementation of the SAP at national and jurisdictional levels based on the institutional analysis
prepared as part of the TDA.
48.
The analytical capacities of the two bi-national Commissions and key national and local
entities will be strengthened to enable them to formulate the SAP and associated jurisdictional
action plans. Emphasis will be placed on the exchange of knowledge and experience between
related initiatives. Capacity building activities may include: (i) visits to areas where related
transboundary environmental and pollution management programmes have been executed; and
(ii) specific training in transboundary environmental and pollution management to sensitise
managers to new management approaches, methods and techniques.
49.
Communication and dissemination. Relevant stakeholders will be systematically
informed regarding priority transboundary environmental issues and challenges for pollution
reduction in the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front. In particular, communication and
dissemination activities will aim at promoting recognition of upriver and downstream linkages of
pollution and other transboundary problems in the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front. All
communication and dissemination activities will be co-ordinated with other projects in the area
to ensure programmatic congruity.
50.
During the first year, awareness activities will aim at making the environmental situation
priority transboundary issues of the area better known. Messages will be transmitted through low
cost mass media (e.g., advertisements on the radio, press releases and interviews) and through
community events, which will be organised in collaboration with local organisations. From the
second year onwards, a communication strategy for the project will be implemented, with a wide
scope and degree of penetration, based on the voluntary participation of municipalities and other
entities (including NGOs) in both countries. It is anticipated that the project will develop
messages and other material, and that the municipalities and entities in the countries will cover
the costs of transmission. In this way, the entire project area will receive coherent messages.
Exchange seminars between scientists and decision-makers will take place in years 2, 3 and 4. At
these events, the results of the different elements of the project will be presented and the floor
opened for analysis and discussion. Practitioners and the family of GEF and other projects
working on transboundary problems and solutions in other areas of the Plata basin and Southeast
South American Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem will be encouraged to present their results in
these seminars to facilitate the initiation of basin-wide understanding, cooperation and
coordination. These seminars will complement the electronic forum on transboundary issues in
the Plata basin (see paragraph 39) to form a basin-wide information sharing and exchange
mechanism.
Four high level events will be organised, with the objective of focussing attention on priority
transboundary issues identified during the TDA phase. These events will assemble relevant
decision-makers and resource managers to present and analyse issues relevant for the preparation
of the SAP and associated jurisdictional action plans.
13
Output 4:
International Waters Indicators
51.
Working in concert with appropriate scientific and technical institutions and government
agencies in the region, in line with emerging GEF policies the project will develop a set of
'indicators' to track the short and long-term impacts of this and other related projects in
Plata/Maritime Front. Key indicators will include process (e.g. policy, legal, institutional, etc.
reforms), stress reduction (e.g. reduced pollutant loads, fishing pressure, etc.), and environmental
status (e.g. cleaner waters/sediments, restored habitats, sustainably managed fisheries, etc.).
RISKS AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY
52.
Risks. FODA analysis was used to identify the project's strengths, opportunities,
weaknesses and threats. The proposal incorporates activities to overcome the greatest extent
possible, the weakness and threats identified. The project will face the following risks:
1. The Commissions have limited experience in addressing transboundary environmental
management issues, particularly pollution. As mentioned above, the Commissions' work has
concentrated on the management of fisheries resources and infrastructure works. The
Commissions recognise the need to direct joint efforts towards integrated environmental
management of the area. To lessen this risk, close cooperation with national and local
authorities and institutional strengthening activities have been incorporated into the project,
and will enhance capacity to prepare and implement the SAP.
2. The Commissions have different management responsibilities. The responsibilities of CARP
concerning pollution and formulation of management plans are not as broad as those of
CTMFM. This subject was analysed by both Commissions during the PDF. The Treaty
foresees that other functions may be entrusted to the Commissions. For this reason, it would
be feasible to bring into line the functions of both Commissions. This subject is on the
agenda of CARP.
3. The authorities of the countries may delay implementation of SAP actions. The
Commissions' areas of responsibility do not encompass some of the sources of pollution that
are affecting the area. In such cases, the adoption of measures will require the collaboration
of local, provincial, departmental, or national authorities. There are a great number of
authorities involved, each with their own agenda and implementation priorities. The risk is
that authorities may delay interventions aimed at addressing the recommendations generated
by the project. In order to minimise it, the following actions have been incorporated:
(i)
The Consortium has established a Project Coordination Committee (see implementation
arrangements) for the coordination of activities among bi-national, national and local
authorities in preparation of the TDA and the formulation, adoption and implementation
of the SAP.
(ii)
The Consortium has also established a Technical Advisory Group in order to optimise the
coordination at the implementation level with scientific and technical organisations, the
private sector and the NGOs.
(iii)
The SAP will be endorsed by the agencies represented in the Coordination Committee,
which includes the Finance and Planning authorities of the Parties. Each authority will
also endorse the action plan for its jurisdiction.
(iv)
The preparation and analysis of all project products will be made by means of open and
participatory mechanisms. Intersectoral Working Groups will be established to guide the
processes and analyse the results.
(v)
The direct participation of local governments and entities in the two countries will be
actively promoted. This will contribute to the dissemination of information to a wider
14
constituency, and placement of transboundary environmental issues on the agenda of the
entities with responsibilities in the area.
4. Information of relevance for the Project is dispersed. In the workshop in Mar del Plata,
several Working Groups mentioned the difficulty of accessing information as a management
constraint. To reduce this risk, activities to foster linkages between users of information and
agencies responsible for data gathering and storage have been incorporated into the design of
the project.
53. Sustainability. Institutional sustainability is ensured through the operational mechanisms
of the two Commissions. For the execution of the Project, the Commissions have established an
agreement formalising the joint operation. Also a Project Coordination Committee has been
created. During the execution of the Project, a decision will be made on whether this will be
sufficient for the implementation phase or if a different structure is needed. However, the
development and implementation of the SAP would be a joint undertaking by multiple executors,
considering the levels and responsibilities of the authorities and organisations involved (i.e.,
local, national, regional and international). Financial sustainability will be ensured through
several mechanisms. The Commissions foresee increasing their budget to cover the costs
associated with the new activities they will be taking on (e.g., maintaining and updating the
management information system). It is foreseen that the operation, maintenance and updating of
the GIS and virtual centre of information will, in the long-term, be financially self-supporting.
Training activities for operators and user groups will be supported, in the mid-term, by cost
recovery.
54.
Finally, as part of the preparation of the SAP: (i) cost estimates for baseline and
additional SAP interventions will be prepared, (ii) SAP implementation mechanisms determined,
and (iii) political and financial commitments will be leveraged. SAP implementation activities
would be inserted into budgetary decision and investment portfolios of national and local
government. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that SAP funding mechanisms proposed and
selected are feasible and equitable.
55.
The execution of this project will involve the participation of donors. It has been
proposed that the fourth public awareness event be entitled: "The economics of environmental
management in the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front" and that it focus on the economic
implications of transboundary environmental management of the area, including pollution
reduction and management, and the instruments required to sustain efficient environmental
management of this transboundary resource. Finally, a donor meeting will be arranged in year
four. This will the broader donor community to gain interest in financing the implementation of
the SAP.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
Stakeholder commitment and participation
56.
The stakeholders linked to the key environmental management issues of the area were
identified in the PDF by means of (i) the Working Groups in the Piriapolis workshop and (ii) the
study on "Stakeholders Identification and Analysis". Environmental issues, and particularly
pollution, are a high priority for the institutions and societies of both countries. National,
Provincial, Departmental and Municipal governments are investing resources in the
understanding and regeneration of the river, marine and coastal areas. A high level of
participation and commitment was obtained during the PDF phase.
57.
The formulation of the SAP involves wide participation of stakeholders at all stages. The
main mechanisms to be used are as follows:
15
(i) Participation of stakeholders in the Technical Advisory Group of the project.
(ii) Intersectoral and binational Working Groups, including all organizations on the Project
Coordination Committee, that will guide the processes and analyse the results of nearly all
the outputs;
(iii) Analysis and harmonisation events -- e.g., (a) bi-national fora for revising and refining the
SAP draft, (b) events to analyse strategies to control transboundary pollution and protect
biodiversity and (c) awareness raising events. Additionally, several mechanisms have been
incorporated into project design to involve the stakeholders of the area, namely (a) the
virtual information centre, (b) dissemination events, (c) community events, (d) mass
dissemination of messages.
Implementation Arrangements
58.
The project will be implemented taking advantage of the existing bi-national structure
and mechanisms for co-ordination, co-operation and management provided by the TREATY OF
THE RÍO DE LA PLATA AND ITS MARITIME FRONT and the two bi-national Commissions.
59.
As mentioned before (see paragraph 14) CARP and CTMFM are international
governmental organisations with the legal standing required for the implementation and
fulfilment of their objectives. The Commissions established the Consortium CARP-CTMFM on
19 June 1998 by means of a Joint Resolution. The Resolution established the co-operation, co-
ordination and institutional framework for the preparation and implementation of the SAP. The
Consortium will serve as the Project´s Executing Agency.
60.
The institutional structure for project implementation comprises five elements:
1. Consortium Executive Board. Its members are the Chairmen of the four Delegations to
CARP and CTMFM4. The functions of the Consortium Executive Board include:
(i) General supervision of the project.
(ii) Approve progress and financial reports.
(iii) Select and contract the International Coordinator of the Project according to standard
UNDP procedures.
(iv) Ensure the participation of relevant authorities and stakeholders of the two countries
in the process of drafting the TDA and SAP and its later implementation.
(v) Adopt the SAP on behalf of Argentina and Uruguay.
2. Project Coordination Committee. It will be chaired by the Executive Board of the CARP-
CTMFM Consortium and include (i) representatives of the agencies of Argentina and
Uruguay, responsible for establishing environmental protection regulations, either in the
Project Area or in adjacent areas linked to same, and whose participation is necessary to
accomplish the Project objectives, (ii) representatives of the planing offices of the Parties,
(iii) representatives of the GEF implementing agencies and (iv) representative of the
Inter-American Development Bank. The Coordination Committee will have the following
members:
The CARP-CTMFM Consortium (project executing agency), which will chair the
Committee and call the meetings.
The following national and local authorities:
Argentina Uruguay
1. Secretary for Natural Resources and 1. Ministry of Housing, Land Planning
Sustainable Development
and Environment (National
(Undersecretary for environmental
Directorate for the Environment,
planning)
DINAMA)
2. Secretary for Urban Planning and
2. Municipality of Montevideo
4 Each national delegation to CARP and CTMFM has a President.
16
Environment of the City of Buenos
Aires
3. Secretary for Environmental Policy 3. A representative designated by the
of the Province of Buenos Aires
other municipalities on the Rio de la
Plata and its Maritime Front.
4. Navy and Coastguard
4. Navy (Coastguard)
5. Ministry of Economy
5. Planning and Budget Office
The three GEF implementing agencies (UNDP, WB and UNEP).
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The international coordinator of the project will be the Secretary of the Coordination
Committee with the support of the Project Implementation Unit.
The Coordination Committee will:
(i)
Provide policy advice for the implementation of the project.
(ii)
Coordinate project activities among bi-national, national and local levels for the
formulation, adoption and later implementation of the SAP.
(iii)
Agree with the respective Authorities of the Parties the adoption of the SAP and
action plans, within the geographical context corresponding to each one of them
and according to their respective responsibilities.
(iv)
Ensure that commitments to implement the SAP, the national and jurisdictional
action plans and management instruments generated by the project are made by
the Authorities involved at each level within their geographical scope and their
responsibilities.
3. Technical Advisory Group shall be established to provide advice and promote broader
involvement of civil society in the drafting of the TDA and SAP process. The members will
include, among others, representatives of the following entities:
(i)
Scientific and technical organisations which will participate in the activities of the
project, including the Naval Hydrographic Service (SHN, Argentina), the
Oceanographic, Hydrographic and Meteorological Service of the Navy (SOHMA,
Uruguay), the coastal pollution control units of the cities of Buenos Aires and
Montevideo, the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP,
Argentina), the National Fisheries Institute (INAPE, Uruguay), the University of
Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the University of the Republic (Uruguay).
(ii)
Associations and chambers of private sector representatives directly linked to
activities in the project area.
(iii)
The most relevant non-governmental environmental organisations of Argentina and
Uruguay and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
4. Project Implementation Unit. This will consist of an International Co-ordinator, a team of
sectoral experts and intersectoral Working Groups. This team will be in charge of executing
project activities.
5. Intersectoral Working Groups. Entities including national and local authorities, private sector
and NGOs, will participate in Working Groups to analyse and develop specific elements of
the TDA and SAP.
61.
The Consortium Executive Board is integrated by national delegates to the Commissions.
Therefore the Consortium will cover their participation. The GEF will cover personnel costs of
the Project Implementation Unit.
62.
It has been agreed that the Project Implementation Unit will be based in the city of
Montevideo, and staffed by nationals of both countries. Meetings and events shall take place in
both countries. The Consortium will provide office facilities for the operation of the Project
Implementation Unit.
17
63.
During the first year of implementation, an agreement will be signed between
participating institutions and the project. Agreements are foreseen with the following
international organisations:
1) ATAS - GTZ, for co-financing of the development of training activities.
2) IDB, for co-financing of specific activities to be determined which would include, among
other activities, the integration of economic factors in the development of pollution
control strategies.
3) IDRC, for co-financing of TDA preparation and the development of the integrated
information system.
4) IMO, for technical assistance regarding the protection of the marine environment.
5) TRAIN - SEA - COAST, for short - term training in environmental management.
6) UNESCO, for co-operation with the BIOPLATA project and access to regional
oceanographic information as elements of the TDA and integrated information system.
7) University of Hamburg (Centre for Marine and Climate Research) for the preparation of
the TDA and integrated information system.
8) IUCN for collaboration in the preparation of the biodiversity element of the TDA and the
bi-national strategy for the protection and conservation of coastal and aquatic
biodiversity.
64.
The UNDP Office in Montevideo will provide administrative support and will be
responsible for general oversight, follow up, and monitoring of the project and will organise
evaluation activities.
65.
The selection of staff, supplies and hiring will be done according to UNDP procedures
and regulations.
INCREMENTAL COSTS AND PROJECT FINANCING
64.
The cost of the project is US $ 10.8 million, including the cost of PDF activities. The
GEF will contribute US $ 5.7 million in incremental cost financing. Project co-financing will
amount to US $ 4.8 million. Of this amount, the requesting countries, through the Commissions,
will contribute US $ 0.8 million in cash, national entities will contribute US $ 1.6 million in kind
and the remainder will be covered by other agencies.
18
Component financing in US Dollars (sub-totals in bold)
PROJECT OUTPUTS
GEF
COFINAN TOTAL
5
Output 1. Complete Transboundary Diagnostic
2,462,224 3,001,044 5,463,268
Analysis
1.1. Preparatory stage
191,265 70,354 261,618
1.2. Diagnostic stage
1,868,769 2140,284 4,009,053
Circulation in the Rio de la Plata and Maritime
0,000 1,458,023 1,458,023
Front
Water pollution assessment
372,700 41,837 414,537
Sediments pollution assessment
232,562 85,879 318,441
Assessment of pollution by hazardous residues
69,854 25,678 95,532
Biodiversity
307,373 112,989 420,363
Fisheries resources
315,616 116,020 431,636
Introduction of exotic species
41,912 15,407 57,319
Red tides
41,912 15,407 57,319
Accumulation of pollutants in the trophic chain
104,782 38,516 143,298
Zoning
161,606 61,457 223,063
Ecological charts
74,241 27,291 101,532
Social, economic and legal assessments
35,524 45,620 81,144
Institutional assessment
0,000 55,472 55,472
Personnel and follow up
110,686 40,688 151,374
1.3. Integration of assessments
118,890
43,705
162,595
1.4. Integrated information system
283,301 746,702 1030,003
a. Geographic information system
251,290
331,398
582,688
b. Management information system
0,000 290,112 290,112
c. Virtual Centre of Information
32,011 125,192 157,203
Output 2. Strategic Action Program
1,585,801
746,227 2,332,028
2.1 Targets for water and sediments quality and
369,297 173,894 543,190
pollution reduction
2.2. National and jurisdictional pollution control
202,947 50,272 253,219
programs
2.3. Binational EIA protocols
194,475
143,569
338,044
2.4 Binational strategy for protection and
114,998 28,487 143,485
conservation of biodiversity
2.5 Investments portfolio
441,934
286,754
728,688
2.6 Other SAP elements
113,840
26,512
140,352
2.7 SAP analysis and adoption
148,311
36,738
185,050
Output 3. Strengthening and sustaining the SAP
1,609,265 987,475
2,596,739
5 Includes US $ 1,568,000 of contributions in kind
* includes project support costs @7.5%
19
implementation framework
3.1. Institutional strengthening
836,735 270,737 1107,471
3.2. Communication and dissemination
772,530
716,738 1489,268
Output 4. International Waters Indicators
25,000 25,000 50,000
TOTAL *5,682,290
4,759,746
10,442,036
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
65.
The UNDP Office in Montevideo will be responsible for the follow up and monitoring of
the project, and will organise evaluation activities. The Project Implementation Unit will prepare
half-yearly reports. At the end of each year, a progress report and financial audit will be
prepared, and submitted to all members of the Project Coordination Committee for review.
Meetings will take place at least once a year to review the status of implementation.
66.
At the end of year 2, a mid-term independent assessment will be made, carried out by
specialists selected by UNDP-GEF. This will include: an assessment of (a) the outputs generated,
(b) the processes used to generate them and (c) project impacts using indicators included in the
logical framework matrix (Annex II). The review would provide recommendations to optimise
project delivery. In the last year, a final independent assessment will be made, and its report will
be part of the final project report.
67.
Working in concert with appropriate scientific and technical institutions and government
agencies in the region and in line with emerging GEF policies, the project will develop a set of
'indicators' to track the short and long-term impacts of this and other related projects in the
Plata/Maritime Front. Key indicators will include process (e.g. policy, legal, institutional, etc.
reforms), stress reduction (e.g. reduced pollutant loads, fishing pressure, etc.), and environmental
status (e.g. cleaner waters/sediments, restored habitats, sustainably managed fisheries, etc.).
20
ANNEXES
REQUIRED:
I.
Incremental cost analysis
II.
Project planning matrix
III.
STAP Roster Technical Review
OPTIONAL:
IV.
GEF Focal Point Endorsement Letters
Copies of the official endorsement letters from GEF Operational Focal Points in Uruguay
and Argentina
V.
Root cause analysis
Analysis of priority environmental issues and root causes for Rio de la Plata and
Maritime Front
VI.
Groups of actors
A summary of direct and indirect actors/stakeholders identified during the project
preparatory phase.
VII. Additional
information
1. Project Area
Map showing jurisdictional boundaries of the Rio de la Plata and Maritime Front
2. La Plata basin
Map showing drainage basin of the River Plate system
21
ANNEX 1
INCREMENTAL COST ANALYSIS
1.
Broad Development Goals
1.
Both Argentina and Uruguay--the riparian countries-- are committed to protecting the
integrity of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front, and have developed a raft of national
policies, strategies, and programmes aimed at improving management of the waterbodies. The
National Environmental Action Plans of both countries place a top priority on conserving and
rehabilitating the waterbodies. The countries are parties to a number of international protocols
pertaining to international waters, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, and the Ocean Charter, have subscribed to the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, and ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity. Critically, the two countries
have recognized the necessity of coordinating interventions in order to address the transboundary
externalities of development-- impacts that are not currently being addressed by national
environmental management programmes. A framework for bilateral co-operation has existed
since 1973 when the Río de la Plata and Maritime Front Treaty was signed. The Treaty led to the
establishment in 1976 of the Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CTMFM) and the
Administrative Commission for the Río de la Plata (CARP), responsible for the conservation and
rational use of living aquatic and marine resources and the prevention and remediation of
pollution in the waterbodies.
2.
Global Environmental Objectives
2.
The target waterbodies are threatened by a multitude of factors stemming from
anthropogenic activities within the La Plata River Basin, coastal areas, and the Southwest
Atlantic. Degradation is being caused by discharges of sewage and solid wastes, agricultural and
industrial waste, including bio-accumulative toxins, the spillage of hydrocarbons (a threat
exacerbated by the possibility of shipping accidents), sedimentation, depletion of fisheries, and
loss of critical wildlife habitats. But the ability of Argentina and Uruguay to address these
threats is constrained by a number of barriers, which may be summarised as follows: [1]
knowledge of the functioning of the waterbodies and understanding of how cross- sectoral
activities impact the aquatic and marine environments remains deficient; [2] this in turn
handicaps efforts to develop targeted interventions; [3] key decision makers and agents of civil
society are not adequately informed of root cause issues, nor are they sensitised to innovative and
cost-effective solutions; [4] the national sustainable development baselines of the two countries,
although sizeable, are poorly integrated, leaving critical programmatic gaps; [5] environmental
management standards and norms differ in the countries and binational management instruments
for pollution prevention and control are lacking; [6] institutional capacities to address threats on
a holistic basis are weak; and [7] communications infrastructure is inadequate. Thus, despite the
laudable goals articulated in the various bilateral agreements, imminent international waters
concerns have yet to be holistically addressed. In the meantime, the waterbodies face
accelerating pressures--undermining their productivity.
3.
This project would contribute to a long-term process aimed at addressing the
transboundary externalities imposed by sectoral activities. The determinants of degradation are
complex, foreclosing a "quick fix" approach to management. The first step, supported by this
22
project, would strengthen collaborative efforts through improving understanding of the
biophysical functioning of the waterbodies, identifying and prioritising cost-effective solutions,
harmonising institutional arrangements for river and coastal zone management, raising
stakeholder awareness of underlying problems, leveraging financial resources, and integrating
transboundary considerations into domestic environmental impact abatement programmes. The
second step, succeeding implementation of this project, would involve investing in pollution
control and holistic measures to effect the conservation and sustainable use of living resources.
This process will accord sizeable regional benefits by safeguarding human health and
productivity, widening the menu of potential livelihood options, and sustaining recreational
opportunities and amenity values. Global benefits would be generated through the conservation
of biological diversity, reduction in pollution export to international waters, and protection of
commercially important straddling fish stocks.
3. Baseline
4.
Argentina and Uruguay have instituted a number of baseline programmes to address
national environmental concerns particularly in the coastal areas of the Rio de la Plata and the
Maritime Front. Most of these are independent national-level activities occurring within
territorial waters that, while significant, are deficient in addressing transboundary concerns. The
narrative below describes the activities that would occur in a business as usual scenario as they
relate to each of the project outputs and activities.
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
5.
In the absence of the GEF intervention, the effect of cross-sectoral activities in upstream
and adjacent coastal areas on the system will remain imperfectly understood and, as a result, an
integrated analysis of pollution problems and impact on the waterbodies will not be effected. The
data set is (i) scattered amongst different national institutions, (ii) limited to a few topics, and
(iii) in general has limited spatial and temporal coverage. Little investment is planned to support
binational information collection and assessment. Baseline efforts with regard to information on
and monitoring of water quality and pollutant levels are restricted to specific coastal sectors and
include the following:
Argentina
(i) Regular monitoring of water quality on the Argentinian shore of the Rio de la Plata
(between San Isidro and Magdalena) is carried out by Aguas Argentinas S.A. in
collaboration with SHN and OSN;
(ii) Assessment of pollution levels in the Matanzas-Riachuelo watershed in Argentina, steps
to rehabilitate the area and control/manage industrial pollution and solid waste disposal,
being funded by the IDB.
(iii) A pollution management project, focusing on pollution control in two Buenos Aires
municipalities, being funded by the World Bank (SRNyDS-BM).
Uruguay
(iv) Monitoring water quality along the coastline of the Department of Montevideo,
rehabilitation of urban streams, and information dissemination by IMM with support
from the IDB;
23
(v) Study of red tides in the municipality of Colonia undertaken by the Municipality and the
Universidad de la Republica de Uruguay (IMC-UR);
(vi) Efforts to monitor environmental quality indicators (including pollution) in Uruguay's
coastal zone and studies of the saline front (ECOPLATA project).
6.
The above monitoring and management programs focus on coastal waters (limited to a
few hundred meters offshore) rather than binational or international waters. In addition, they are
not monitoring or addressing pollution trapped in sediments, nor the biological uptake of
contaminants. These efforts will need to be scaled up over the longer term to address
transboundary issues.
7.
At a regional level, CARU -- in association with SHN of Argentina and SOHMA and
DINAMA of Uruguay -- monitors water quality and sediments in the Uruguay River.
8.
The Commissions (CARP and CTMFM) will be allocating some resources to specific
studies on fisheries, hydrography, cholera outbreaks, and red tides among other issues (about
70% of this amount is spent on fisheries). However, there will be few interdisciplinary studies.
INIDEP and INAPE will also be monitoring and studying cholera outbreaks.
9.
In terms of biodiversity monitoring, baseline assessments of habitats and species in
waters that lie outside national jurisdictional influences are limited. The existing data set is
fragmented, and there is a paucity of information regarding the effects of pollution on fauna, and
the location of sensitive habitats. Priority has been given to studies of commercially important
species. Biodiversity assessments that will take place in the baseline include the following:
(i) A project sponsored by the Environment Secretary of the Province of Buenos Aires
(SPABA), which will allocate one million dollars over a three-year period to survey
biodiversity and prepare management plans for two coastal protected areas in the
Province.
(ii) Biodiversity research conducted by local universities, (focusing on taxonomy, ecology,
population dynamics etc).
(iii) The BIOPLATA project funded by UNESCO, which will expend moneys on collating
existing information on biodiversity. However, the scale of this exercise is inadequate
and needs to be expanded, to facilitate ground-truthing and fill critical data gaps.
10.
In the baseline the two countries will also be investing in projects for assessment and
management of fishery resources, wherein the focus is clearly on commercially important
species. These projects include the following:
(iv) INAPE in Uruguay--studies of fisheries biology, focusing on selected species (mostly
Hake, Corvina, and Squid);
(v) ECOPLATA, in Uruguay, which is sponsoring a study of Corvina, an important
commercial fishery; and
(vi) INIDEP in Argentina conducts two research cruises annually to collect samples for
biodiversity assessments, focusing on fisheries surveys and organic pollution.
11.
Clearly, there is limited but valuable information on water quality, hydrography, sediment
contamination, handling and pollution by hazardous residues, commercial fisheries, and exotic
species that needs to be analyzed from a regional perspective. Joint oceanographic programs to
study the biophysical dynamics of the area are lacking.
24
Strategic Action Program
12.
Despite the laudable efforts of the binational Commissions there is no strategy for the
environmental management of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front and binational tools for
the management of resources other than fisheries have not been developed. In the baseline the
Commissions have programmed resources for organizing and convening monthly technical and
policy meetings of the different Commission members and organizing working groups around
specific topics. The Commissions' emphasis has largely been on fisheries management in the
regional context over the past five years, and budgetary allocations are inadequate to support
effective binational management of an international waterbody.
Strengthening and sustaining the SAP implementation framework
13.
The two countries are in the process of strengthening the regulatory capacities of their
national environmental authorities, with funding from the IDB. Both have developed legislation
relating to environmental management, with regulations governing water quality and other
standards. Environmental impact assessments (EIA) are mandatory for all industrial and
infrastructure projects. But the regulations and management instruments adopted by the countries
are not compatible, and do not relate to common waters and transboundary impacts. Instruments
for these waters are limited to contingency plans for oil spills. Moreover, despite existing
protocols and binational institutional arrangements, the mechanisms for collaborative
management of pollution and resources other than fisheries are weak. There is limited
coordination of pollution prevention and control programmes between the countries. National
authorities and the binational Commissions lack the financial resources to initiate and sustain a
joint strategic effort for pollution control and management.
14.
The different management institutions operate limited training schemes for personnel as
part of their recurrent work programmes. These include the ECOPLATA project and IDB
investments in national institution building as they relate to the systems boundary (IDB-SRNyDS
and IDB DINAMA). But the binational Commissions do not currently invest in training,
impeding institutional capacity to develop the TDA and SAP and more importantly sustain the
SAP implementation framework as the countries confront binational and regional management
problems. In addition, there is very limited inter-phase with management approaches in other
regions, limiting exposure to innovative management methods.
15.
A number of programmes are imparting general environmental awareness to civil society
in Uruguay and Argentina. These include modest investments by the ECOPLATA project and
PROBIDES. However the coastal population and other important stakeholding groups have
limited awareness of the state of the environment and understanding of the causal factors of
degradation in the Rio de la Plata and the Maritime Front. This in turn handicaps community
action. At present, awareness activities focus on local and national issues and do not highlight
the transboundary causes and effects of pollution problems. Although the binational
Commissions do disseminate some scientific and technical information by hosting technical
symposiums, there is no co-ordination of awareness raising activities between the two countries.
4. GEF
Alternative
16.
Without GEF investment, the ability of the countries to jointly manage the Río de la Plata
and its Maritime Front would be limited, and problems of transboundary waterbody degradation
25
would accelerate. The project will create a framework to enable the two countries to address
issues that presently lie beyond the mandate and scope of activity of national management
bodies. Moneys would be appropriated for the purposes of overcoming barriers to regional
action, by diagnosing the root causes of degradation, and identifying appropriate management
interventions, strengthening the capacity of key decision makers to programme targeted
investments to address international waters concerns, raising awareness of transboundary
pollution issues, identifying and monitoring international waters indicators, and catalysing multi-
stakeholder support for collaborative management, effecting joint programming of interventions,
including measures to harmonise institutional arrangements and policies, and leveraging
financing to implement new measures. These activities, will, collectively, provide a springboard
for a follow on investment phase, which will be financed through a variety of vehicles.
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
17.
The GEF Alternative will complement the national focus of baseline programs by
addressing transboundary issues through joint binational programming. Current activities do not
target the causes of transboundary pollution because understanding of the functioning of the
system and the transboundary determinants of the problem is inadequate. Whilst information has
been collected and assessed as part of Block B activities, further work is required in order to
finalise the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. This will require that data be collated, critical
data gaps filled, and information assessed. The project would provide technical assistance to
undertake these tasks, and generate a quality product that would underpin preparation of the SAP
and its later operationalization. The GEF would contribute approximately US$2.4 million for
TDA work. Cofinancing for this component, amounting to US$3 million, has been secured from
the governments, IDB, IDRC, and the University of Hamburg, Germany.
Strategic Action Program
18.
While the Commissions are well placed to undertake binational management given their
mandates, they lack the resources to effectively carry out this task. Modest baseline resources to
convene periodic meetings and working groups need to be complemented for preparation of the
SAP. GEF resources will support the preparation of the SAP for the area and catalyse political
and financial support for implementation. The GEF would finance further technical work to
identify barriers to harmonising environmental quality standards and EIA protocols, institutional
arrangements, and policies between the two countries. This would then form the basis of efforts
to leverage policy, institutional, financial and regulatory reforms at the binational and national
levels. A major focus of activities would be on developing an investment portfolio that could be
used to leverage finances from capital markets. The GEF would make a contribution of US$1.5
million, and co-financing amounting to US$746,227 has been secured.
Strengthening and sustaining the SAP implementation framework
19. In order to secure effective implementation of the SAP framework training and
communications strategies that target specific stakeholding groups need to be developed.
Baseline programs on general environmental training and communications, while important, are
unlikely to build institutional capacities or public action to address the transboundary threats to
the Rio de la Plata and the Maritime Front. The GEF alternative will, therefore, assist in the
development of information tools to integrate information and elucidate transboundary
externalities. This, in turn, will allow the incorporation of transboundary concerns into decision
26
making. More specifically, GEF funds would be used to (i) identify policy and institutional
barriers and develop mechanisms that engender collaborative efforts to control and manage
pollution and other causes of degradation, (ii) provide specific training to enhance local capacity
to prepare and implement the SAP, (iii) mobilise national and international support for joint
management, (iv) inform stakeholders about issues and solutions, and (v) extensively
disseminate technical and scientific information. The GEF contribution to the component is
US$1.6 million, and cofinancing from the two governments, GTZ, IDB and IDRC amount to
US$ 987,474.
International Waters Indicators
20.
In addition, under the alternative, indicators to monitor the health of the Rio de la Plata
and Maritime Front will be identified and monitored, in consultation with appropriate scientific
and technical bodies and drawing from emerging GEF policy on international waters indicators
(GEF: 25,000 and cofinancing: 25,000).
5. Systems
Boundary
21.
The project area comprises the Río de la Plata (total surface ca., 35 thousand km2) and its
Maritime Front (ca., 215.900 km2), as demarcated in the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front
Treaty, and the adjacent coastal areas, particularly as activities within them pertain to
transboundary pollution and habitat degradation. The scope of analysis includes activities that
would be carried out during the lifetime of the proposed project; activities implemented prior to
1998 are treated as sunk costs and are not included in the assessment. The design of the proposed
project has taken full consideration of its complementarity with other projects in the region
(outside of the systems boundary) including other GEF initiatives (but the incremental cost
assessment does not take these activities into account).
6.
Summary of Incremental Costs
22.
The baseline has been estimated at US $139,209,000. The alternative has been costed at
US$149,651,036, giving an increment of US $10,442,036 (not including the US $ 327,000
allocated in PDF B funds). The GEF would contribute with US $5,682,290, amounting to 3.8 %
of the total cost of implementing the Alternative. Project co-financing amounts to US
$4,759,746. Of this amount the Commissions will contribute US$ 800,000 and the remainder
will be covered by government and private entities, the IDB, IDRC, ATAS-GTZ and University
of Hamburg.
23.
SAP preparation will yield mainly intangible domestic benefits -- enhanced scientific
knowledge, awareness of systems dynamics, management capacity, and joint programming. Co-
financing (over and above the baseline) has been leveraged in light of these benefits. Because the
benefits are intangible, proposed interventions are unlikely to occur but for the participation of
GEF. Over the longer term, succeeding preparation of the SAP, the removal of barriers to joint
waterbody management will provide tangible national benefit. For this reason, SAP
implementation would for the most part be effected by drawing on non-GEF resources. Sizeable
regional and global benefits will accrue as a result of the SAP process, and are briefly described
in the accompanying incremental cost matrix.
27
Annex I. Incremental Cost Matrix
Costs/Benefits
Baseline
Alternative
Increment
Understanding of the effects of pollution on the Existing information will be compiled and
The key causes of pollution will be
ecosystems of the Río de la Plata and its
consolidated with the objective of (i)
understood. Management tools will have
Maritime Front is limited.
identifying the causes and effects of
been identified. There will be mechanisms
pollution (ii) developing joint management to disseminate updated information
tools and (iii) making information
regarding the causal factors that underpin
accessible to all major stakeholders.
degradation.
Despite existing protocols and institutional
Develop a SAP for the environmental
mechanisms for collaborative waterbody
protection of the Río de la Plata and its
Co-operative framework provides a basis
management, policy and programmatic
Maritime Front and strengthen the capacity for addressing priority international waters
development is poorly co-ordinated at an inter
of CARP, CTMFM, and national authorities dilemmas, so protecting economic values
country level. National efforts, by themselves,
of both countries to operationalize and
captured by the riparian countries from the
are insufficient to prevent and abate
sustain joint waterbody management.
delivery of basic ecological goods and
environmental degradation of the waterbodies
services.
Domestic Benefits
because of the existence of externalities.
Inadequate financial mechanisms and resources Development of financial mechanisms for
Fiscal benefits, through accessing new
for the protection of the Río de la Plata and its
the reduction of pollution and the
investment opportunities, and internalising
Maritime Front.
sustainable use of resources.
the cost burden imposed by waterbody
management into economic activities
The degradation of the area, caused by
Collate existing information on biodiversity Strengthened co-operation between
pollution, sedimentation, channelisation and
and identify areas requiring special
Argentina and Uruguay in the
other factors imperils habitats and species of
attention. Formulate a strategy for
conservation arena in order to protect
global importance. There is limited and
biodiversity protection and conservation as species of global importance.
scattered information about the determinants of an element of the SAP.
loss to biodiversity and the location of sensitive
habitats.
Insufficient understanding of the underlying
Finalisation of a Trans Boundary
Identification of priority and cost-effective
transboundary causes of pollution in the
Diagnostic Analysis and preparation of a
actions to address the root causes of
waterbodies and processes and impacts of
Strategic Action Programme to improve
transboundary environmental degradation
contaminant exports to the Atlantic Ocean.
understanding of the determinants of
in the waterbodies.
waterbody degradation and its wider
impacts on international waters, and
catalyse well targeted joint management
actions to holistically address root cause
Global Benefits
issues.
Biological uptake of pollutants by fish,
Identification of joint management
Protection of important fish stocks (so
threatens important distant water fisheries
measures to improve status of the fishery.
reducing incentives for operators to
operations
switch effort to other stocks, thus
potentially contributing to over-
exploitation of other stocks).
Suboptimal level of national investment to
Leveraging of policy & financial
Better targeting of pollution control and
address transboundary pollution concerns
commitments to effect priority mgmt.
mitigation interventions with efficiencies
measures identified in the SAP.
in programmatic delivery.
1
Costs/Activities
Baseline (US $)
Alternative (US $)
Increment (US $)
Transboundary Diagnostic
US$ 134,040,000
US$139,503,268
Increment: US$ 5,463,268
Analysis
Monitoring of water quality and pollutants
Baseline programs plus the following
(US$ 108,560,000)
transboundary assessments:
Of which,
Water quality monitoring on the Argentinian
GEF: 2,462,224
shore of the Rio de la Plata by Aguas
Preparatory stage of TDA (US$ 261,618)
Argentinas S.A.; Assessment of pollution
Diagnostic stage
(US$ 4,009,053)
Cofinancing: 3,001,044
levels in the Matanzas-Riachuelo watershed, Circulation in the Rio de la Plata and
funded by IDB; Pollution management
Maritime Front; Water pollution
project in 2 Buenos Aires municipalities,
assessment; Sediment pollution
funded by WB; Coastal water quality
assessment; Pollution by hazardous
monitoring, Dept. of Montevideo, by IMM
residue; Biodiversity; Fishery resources;
with support from IDB; Study of red tides in
Introduction of exotic species; Red tides;
the Municipality of Colonia; Monitoring of
Accumulation of pollutants in trophic
environmental quality along the Uruguayan
chain; Zoning; Ecological charts; Socio-
coastline by ECOPLATA; Regional
economic and legal assessments;
monitoring of Uruguay river by CARU;
Institutional assessment; Personnel and
Studies on fisheries, hydrography, cholera,
follow-up
red tides by CARP and CTMFM; INIDEP
and INAPE monitoring of red tides.
Integration of assessments (US$ 162,595)
Biodiversity monitoring (US$ 7,200,000)
Integrated information system(US$ 1,030,003)
Biodiversity survey and management plans for 2
coastal protected areas by SPABA; Research Geographic Information System;
by local Universities; Collation of existing
Management information system;
biodiversity information by BIOPLATA.
Virtual information center
Assessment of commercially important fisheries
(US$18,280,000)
INAPE studies of mostly Hake, Corvina, Squid;
ECOPLATA studies of Corvina; INIDEP
studies of commercial fisheries in Argentina.
Strategic Action Program
US$ 800,000
US$
3,132,028
Increment: US$ 2,332,028
Organizing and convening of binational
Baseline resources plus the following:
Of which,
Commissions' (CARP and CTMFM) meetings
Targets for water and sediments quality and GEF: US$ 1,585,801
and working groups
pollution reduction
(US$ 543,190)
Cofinancing: US$746,227
National and jurisdictional pollution control
programs (US$
253,219)
Binational EIA protocol
(US$ 338,044)
2
Binational strategy for protection and
conservation of biodiversity(US$ 143,485)
Investments portfolio
(US$ 728,688)
Other SAP elements
(US$ 140,352)
SAP analysis and adoption (US$ 185,050)
Strengthening and Sustaining
US$
4,369,000
US$
6,965,739
Increment: US$ 2,596,739
SAP implementation
Environmental Institutions building
Baseline programs plus the following:
Of which,
(US$
3,700,000)
GEF: 1,609,265
Institution building support to SRNyDS from IDB; Institutional strengthening for SAP preparation Cofinancing: 987,474
institution building support to DINAMA from
and implementation
(US$ 1,107,471)
IDB
Environmental communications and awareness
Communications and info. dissemination to
strategies
target groups
(US$ 1,489,268)
(US$
669,000)
Programs by ECOPLATA and PROBIDES.
International Waters
--
US$
50,000
Increment: US$ 50,000
Indicators
Of which,
Identification and monitoring of IW indicators GEF: 25,000
Cofinancing: 25,000
Totals Baseline
total:
US$139,209,000 Alternative
total:
US$149,651,036
Increment total:
US$10,442,036
Of which,
GEF: 5,682,2906
Cofinancing: 4,759,7467
6 This includes project support costs at 7.5%, but does not include the PDF amount of US$327,000.
7 This does not include cofinancing leveraged from IDRC for PDF activities to the tune of US$ 43,800.
3
Annex II. Logical framework matrix.
Intervention logic
Indicators of performance
Means of verification
Risk and assumptions
Development objective:
Pollution indicators for the
Midterm and final external
New financial resources are allocated
Mitigate degradation of the transboundary
Rio de la Plata and Maritime
assessments of project execution.
and available for SAP implementation.
environmental resources of Rio de la
Front.
Annual reports of the
Political and social support for joint
Plata and Maritime Front and ensure
Stress reduction indicators
Commissions and environmental
management of a transboundary
sustainable use
· Process indicators
authorities of the countries.
waterbody.
Indicators for biodiversity of
Reports of international NGOs
coastal, river and marine
and multilateral organisations.
areas.
· GEF PIR/IW Indicators section
Project purpose:
Endorsed SAP and associated
Policy statements and legal
Countries and local governments
A Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for
jurisdictional action plans.
reforms of national and key local
charged with policy, legal and
mitigation of transboundary
Degree of participation of
governments.
institutional reforms agree on the
environmental problems in the Rio de la
pertinent authorities, key
SAP
endorsements
SAP.
Plata and Maritime Front built upon:
stakeholders and national and
Minutes of Project Coordination
SAP is included in the investment
(i) Solid
TDA.
international cooperation and
Committee meetings
portfolios of national and key local
(ii)
Participatory process involving
funding entities in activities
Minutes and lists of participants
governments.
key stakeholders and local,
for SAP preparation and
attending preparation and
Donors and financial institutions
national and international
approval.
approval meetings.
support the SAP.
institutions.
Perception of coastal
Opinion surveys in year 3 and 4
Stakeholders, national authorities and
(iii)
Integration of resources and
population and key
of the project.
bi-national Commissions benefit from
programming of the bi-national
stakeholders about the
the SAP.
Commissions and local/national
benefits of the SAP.
institutions.
A. Complete Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis (TDA)
A1. Critical information gaps filled.
DA Working Groups
Agreement
document.
Existing information is accessible.
A1.1. Consolidate TDA working groups,
functioning
Document on TDA methodology
National and regional institutions
set up institutional arrangements and
· TDA methodologies agreed
Reports of the working groups.
agree in providing information and
contributions, agree common
upon
resources for TDA preparation.
methodologies
· Information base assembled
· Institutional players identified in PDF
A1.2. Compile and integrate existing
agree to participate in TDA
information generate priority
preparation.
information.
Information collection has been
limited to priority needs.
4
Intervention logic
Indicators of performance
Means of verification
Risk and assumptions
A2. Solid knowledge base to support the
TDA report is widely used by
Midterm and final external
National and regional institutions
preparation of the SAP and its
local, national and regional
assessments.
participate in TDA preparation.
implementation
institutions for their own
Distribution list of TDA report.
A2.1. Consolidate and analyse
benefit and for SAP
Mention of TDA report or results
information.
preparation.
in government statements and
A2.2. Produce TDA report in format
press.
useful for SAP preparation.
A2.3. Disseminate TDA report.
A.3. Integrated information system (IIS)
Information needs assessed
Midterm and final external
National institutions provide
support decision making regarding
· Functioning GIS, MIS, VCI
assessments.
information.
transboundary waterbody management.
· Decision making is enhanced
Agreement between institutions.
Resources are available for the
A.3.1. Assess key information needs of
by the provision of prompt
Resource allocations for IIS.
operation and maintenance of IIS.
decision makers, availability of required
information.
· GIS, MIS, VCI (web sites, CD-
information and capacity to maintain an
There is an agreement
ROMs, etc.)
IIS.
between national and bi-
A.3.2. Develop Geographic Information
national institutions for the
System, Management Information System
provision of information and
and Virtual Centre of Information.
the maintenance of the
A.3.3. Secure financial and institutional
system.
mechanisms for GIS, MIS and VCI
operation.
5
Intervention logic
Indicators of performance
Means of verification
Risk and assumptions
B. Strategic Action Program (SAP)
B1. Enhanced capabilities for strategic
· Binational WQ and EIA
· Reports/proposals for WQ
· Countries able to agree on binational
planning of transboundary environmental
legislation in process or
standards and EIA protocols
WQ standards and EIA protocols
management through the preparation of
operational
bi-national environmental tools.
B1.1. Development of bi-national WQ
standards and EIA protocols.
B2. Framework for SAP implementation
Degree of participation of
Working documents, minutes and
Institutions and governments agree on
and regional planning and management
key entities and stakeholder
list of participants of drafting and
framework for SAP implementation.
established.
in SAP drafting and analysis.
analysis forum.
B2.1.Draft SAP
SAP formally endorsed by
Institutional agreements signed
B2.2.Analyse SAP draft in bi-national
the countries.
for SAP implementation.
meetings.
B2.3. Consensus on SAP contents and
implementation framework.
B3. Portfolio of projects to operationalize
· Project portfolio and finance
Working documents, minutes and
International investors and donors are
the SAP identified. Governments
plan for SAP implementation
list of participants in meetings to
interested in supporting SAP
negotiating financing with bilateral and
agreed with governments,
define project portfolio and
implementation.
multilateral sources.
donors, and investors.
finance plan.
Governments are willing to finance
B3.1. Identify project portfolio to
Reports from investors and
SAP implementation.
operationalize SAP implementation.
donors.
B3.2. Review projects with Governments
and potential donors.
C. Strengthening and sustaining SAP
implementation framework
C1. Collaborative framework for
Institutional
arrangements
Policy
statements
The initiative is embraced at all levels
cooperation and coordination for the
and agreements for
Reports of national and bi-
in the countries.
control and management of transboundary
collaborative management of
national institutions
problems in the area.
transboundary issues.
6
Intervention logic
Indicators of performance
Means of verification
Risk and assumptions
C1.1. Set up working group.
C1.2. Identify options and develop
institutional arrangements for
collaborative cooperation and
coordination.
C1.3. Adopt collaborative framework.
C2. Enhanced capacity of the
Regional, national and local
Progress reports during SAP
Personnel to be trained are carefully
Commissions and key national and local
capacities in transboundary
preparation.
chosen.
entities for SAP preparation and regional
environmental management
Number and scope of resolutions
Institutions give opportunity to trained
management of priority transboundary
strengthened.
concerning transboundary
personnel to introduce new ideas.
issues.
· Key institutions initiating and
environmental issues by both
· Commissions and key national entities
C2.1. Institutional strengthening.
implementing new programs
Commissions and key national
actively contribute to SAP
targeting priority
and local authorities.
preparation.
transboundary issues.
Trained personnel consider the
knowledge gained to be useful.
New knowledge is applied in decision
making.
C3. Stakeholders duly informed on
Increase of awareness and
Opinion surveys.
The media and means for
priority transboundary environmental
participation of coastal
dissemination are effectively chosen.
issues and challenges for the management
populations.
of the area.
C3.1. General awareness activities (year
1)
C3.2.Specific awareness activities (years
2 to 4) based on local contributions.
C3.3. Opinion forming events.
C3.4. Seminars for exchange between
scientists and decision-makers.
D. International waters indicators
D1. Develop process, stress reduction and
Decision making is enhanced · Indicators are available through
The indicators are effectively chosen
environmental status indicators
by the provision of key
the integrated information system.
and reflect the needs and reality of the
indicators
· Use of indicators by national and
area.
binational organisations.
7
ANNEX III
TECHNICAL REVIEW OF GEF INTERNATIONAL WATERS PROPOSAL RLA/97/G41
Strategic Action Program for the Environmental Protection of the Río De La Plata and its
Maritime Front
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Río de la Plata is an important, international waterway, separating Argentina and Uruguay. It is
located at the seaward South Atlantic terminus of the economically most important river system,
with the second largest drainage basin (3,170,000 km2), in South America. Río de la Plata has an
adjacent population of at least 16 million, including the densely populated Buenos Aires and
Montevideo metropolitan centers with the industrial concentration of each country. Although the
shallow (10-20 m deep) Río de la Plata is one of the largest estuaries in world, measuring 230
km across at the mouth and 320 km along the axis from the mouth to the rapidly prograding Río
Paraná delta, it is also a highly impacted estuarine systems because of land use practices in the
drainage basin; upstream water resource projects; domestic, industrial, and agricultural point and
non-point source sediment and pollution runoff; sediment dredging; and shipping and port
activities. At the same time, the estuary and the maritime frontal system is an immensely
valuable international fisheries resource with an estimated annual harvest of 323,000 tons and a
value of $120M, at times affected by toxic plankton blooms (red tides), and in need of continued
management. Although the estuary is dominated by the high freshwater runoff (23,000 m3 -1)
from the Paraná (including the Paraguay and other tributaries), Uruguay, and many smaller
rivers, the entire system is estuarine in nature. It is characterized by a 0.3-1.0 m semidiurnal tidal
range, a 0-34 fresh to marine salinity gradient, high suspended sediment concentrations
typically from 50-300 mg l-1, a pronounced turbidity maximum zone, reversing tidal currents,
and both a two-layered gravitational circulation and a residual tidal circulation. The maritime
front is a region of high biological productivity on the continental shelf and continental slope
seaward of the Río de la Plata mouth, where the riverine outflow encounters and mixes with the
southward flowing warm Brazil western boundary current and the northward flowing cold-water
Malvinas current.
Río de la Plata is an economically and socially important International Waters system in need of,
and ideally suited for, the implementation of this well-articulated Global Environmental
Facilities project. The RLA/97/G41 International Waters GEF project has succeed to address the
most pressing of the regional needs as related to Río de la Plata and its maritime front. When
completed after four years, this project should have managed to (i) solve or mitigate many
regional problems related to pollution, estuarine water and sediment dynamics, fisheries
management, protection of biodiversity and genetic information, and water resources; (ii)
structure a useful integrated geographical information system (GIS) database and a management
information system; (iii) decide on optimum estuarine management tools; (iv) design a holistic
1
plan for integrated estuarine and environmental management; (v) help develop the international
infrastructure and legal instruments for continued international cooperation and collaboration;
and (vi) establish an enduring mechanism for training of estuarine and environmental managers,
technicians, and scientists with the understanding and ability to care for Río de la Plata during
the next century.
RELEVANCE & PRIORITY
The drainage basin of the Paraná-Paraguay-Uruguay rivers, terminating in Río de la Plata, is
unquestionably the "bread basket" of South America. The Río de la Plata estuarine system and
its maritime front constitute a well-defined, globally important International Waters system,
which cannot adequately be managed by agencies of a single country. As evidenced by
numerous existing international treatises, agreements, action programs, and resolutions, the
management of Río de la Plata constitutes a national priority in both Argentina and Uruguay, at
the same time that land use activities, water resources management, and river pollution loading
in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay impact the estuary. Strategic management of Río de la Plata
system and the coordinated decrease of water and sediment pollution for the next century and
beyond is of the highest international priority, but can realistically only be implemented
successfully by the type of international cooperation expected to result from funding of
RLA/97/G41.
APPROACH
The general approach to the execution of this GEF project appears consistent with the GEF
Water-Based Operational Programme and seems very reasonable, sound, and appropriate.
Although Río de la Plata foremost is a large estuarine system, the word estuary is not mentioned,
and the specific processes and problems typical of estuaries are not so identified. However, it is
clear from the expected project outputs that the processes and variabilities commonly identified
with estuaries are appropriately considered within the strong oceanographic components of the
project. As a whole, the proposed GEF project is well balanced between components that define
natural scientific, social scientific, technological, economic, and legal priorities and needs. The
overall project is well articulated and comprehensive.
OBJECTIVES
The principal objectives of RLA/97/G41 are to prepare a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
and Strategic Action Plan for the environmental protection of the Río de la Plata system. The
specific objectives include addressing of issues dealing with pollution of the water and the sea
floor of Río de la Plata and their impacts on biodiversity, the ecological components of the
system, the riparian population, and local water user groups; to develop mechanisms to aid in
2
decreasing the pollution load of Río de la Plata; to develop and improve local coordination,
cooperation, and environmental management strategies and tools; to develop integrated
geographical and management information systems; and develop better mechanisms for
environmental sustainability and training of environmental managers. These objectives seem to
be valid and are largely likely to be achieved as outlined within the time frame of the project.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The RLA/97/G41 GEF project is clearly written and presents an enormous quantity of relevant
and substantiated background information with appropriate reference sources, cost analysis, and
identification of governmental and non-governmental organizations with stakes in the competent
execution of the project. The project justifications are amble and relevant, and the project, as a
whole, is well justified and of high priority nationally to the countries directly involved, as well
as internationally to the global community.
ACTIVITIES
The project objectives seem well coordinated with the proposed project activities, and the flow
of project activities seems scheduled in a logical sequence to address the problems and objectives
outlined in the proposal. It is very encouraging that the execution of this GEF project will allow
coordination of duplicated and unrelated efforts, e.g. the joining of the existing ECOPLATA,
BIOPLATA, and PROBIDES biodiversity projects, as well as providing links between
watershed management projects in Pantanal and the upper Paraguay river basin, the Hídrovia
project, and the Río de la Plata estuary and maritime front.
PROJECT FUNDING
This four-year (note: final project duration set at 3.5 years) proposed project is an expensive
international undertaking at a total cost of US$ 10.9M, of with GEF has been asked to provide
US$ 7.3M (note: modified since STAP review to $6.0 million). However, in view of the
complexity of the project and the many project activities, the level of funding seems entirely
appropriate.
TIME FRAME
RLA/97/G41 is an ambitious project to implement and carry to fruition in only 48 months.
However, the objectives are well articulated and are likely to be achieved at a reasonable degree
of completion within the proposed time frame. Most important, however, it seems likely that this
GEF project can develop and implement instruments and training to ensure that the project can
3
continue in practice and spirit ad infinitum by the countries involved, subsequent to project
completion and without further GEF funding.
RATIONALE FOR GEF SUPPORT
Few systems in the world suit better the criteria and the geographical setting for an International
Waters project than Río de la Plata. The economic and social importance of Río de la Plata and
the value of holistic international management of the estuary, its maritime front, and the drainage
basin is recognized by all countries involved. However, cultural variances and differing national
priorities in Argentina and Uruguay, and among the additional countries in which the Río de la
Plata drainage also basin is located (Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay), make GEF funding for this
project a compelling priority. The project is likely to result in international management
priorities and strategies, which can be embraced by all countries. The GEF project will, on one
hand, begin the process of estuarine and environmental problem solving and rational,
internationally coordinated environmental management, but will also be able to develop robust
and enduring mechanisms for post-project continuation. This project is ideally suited for GEF
funding.
Niterói, RJ, Brazil, 24 July 1998
Björn Kjerfve
Professor of Marine and Geological Sciences
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA, and
Visiting Professor, Departamento de Geoquímica
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
4