La Plata River Basin

1. La Plata River Basin Raquel Flinker

3. 88% shared water resources 77% hydroelectric power Climate Map (Source: http://splashman.phoenix.wikispaces.net)

4. Amazon Rainforest

5. Brazilian Sertão

6. La Plata Basin (Source: Wikipedia / USGS)

7. La Plata Basin • Area of approximately 3,000,000 Km2 • Fifth largest basin in the world • Second largest basin in South America • Basin is shared by five countries: • Argentina: 29.7%, • Bolivia: 6.6%, • Brazil: 45.7%, • Paraguay: 13.2% • Uruguay: 4.8%

8. La Plata Basin • Important and varied ecosystems: Pantanal (most extensive wetland in the world), Atlantic Forest, Chaco and Savannah Pantanal • Guarani aquifer (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay & Uruguay) • 70% of the combined GDP of the five countries • Agriculture, livestock and fishing are the main economical activities in the region

9. Hydroelectric Potential • Approximately 75 dams in the basin • Three of the main dams are: • Itaipú - largest dam in the world: Paraná river between Brazil and Paraguay • Salto Grande: Uruguay river on border between Argentina and Uruguay • Yacyretá: Paraná river on the border between Argentina and Paraguay • Paraguay: depends almost entirely on hydropower for its electricity • Brazil: 46% of the electricity comes from dams on the Paraná River • The hydroelectric potential in the basin is approximately 100,000 MW of which half is being utilized Itaipú Salto Grande Yacyretá

10. Water Resources Legislation Public ownership of water in all five countries except Uruguay

11. 1969 Treaty • In 1967, the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee (CIC) was established by the five countries as the coordinating mechanism of the Basin • Two years later, in 1969, they signed the la Plata Basin Treaty, the main legal instrument of the Basin • After this treaty, several other treaties were signed by two or three countries -> weaknesses of the 1969 agreement

12. Main International Treaties after the La Plata Basin Treaty 80’s

13. Brazil´s Position Direction of water flow in the Amazon and La Plata Basins

14. Climate Change • Region is affected by El niño and La Niña • Increase in rainfall and river flow in certain regions causing: • Soil erosion • Increase in water levels and flood frequency • Change of river beds and riparian environmental conditions • Increase in hydroelectric production • Change in water quality due to suspension of sediments during floods • Studies indicate that in certain regions of the basin, increases of 16% in annual rainfall result in 35% increase in discharge. The trend is thought to be linked partly to changes in land use, such as deforestation and increased soybean cultivation. • 70% of the precipitation evaporates and only 30% reaches the rivers • Vulnerable region: highly dependent on agriculture, hydroelectric power and navigation.

15. Future The revitalization of CIC, the Marco Project focused on the sustainable development of the natural resources in the La Plata Basin and the environmental protection and sustainable development project of the Guarani Aquifer are demonstrating a tendency in integrated basin management

16. Questions??? • What is your opinion on the different country legislations? • What went wrong with the 1969 treaty? • After many years of bilateral agreements, how can we promote multilateral cooperation? • How should these countries prepare for climate change effects?

17. Hidrovia Paraguai-Paraná • Hidrovia agreement was signed in 1992 • Can lead to erosion, flooding, loss of biodiversity and water contamination