Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable Thematic Session II: Ecosystem Challenges of Desertification Barriers and Constraints Setting of Strategic Alliances for the Implementation of the NAP in Argentina. The Lessons Learned. International Conference on Combating Desertification Beiging, 22-24 January 2008 Argentine Republic: Geographical, Social and Productive Information Dry Lands (arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid areas): 75% of the territory Land degradation to different degrees (light, mild and severe): 30% Surface covered by NAP Projects: 10% of the Affected Lands Percentage of the Country Population in dry and droughty areas: 30% Poverty was concentrated mostly in the Affected Lands Production on Dry Lands: about 50% of the Country Farming Production 1
Main causes of desertification in Argentina Over-pasturing Deforestation Improper Agricultural Practices Improper Irrigation Systems Strategic Alliances and their Role in the Implementation of the NAP NAP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Poverty / livelihood quality Sustainable Production Synergies Indicators Decentralization Institutional Coordination International Cooperation Alliance to combat poverty and enhance the affected people quality of life Alliance for the Sustainable Rural Development on dry lands Alliance for the Synergy of Development Projects under Conventions UNCCC/UNCBD/UNCCD Alliance to develop an unified methodology for assessing the degree of land degradation and monitoring Alliance to decentralize the implementation on behalf of local ones and provinces Alliance for the consensus in the institutional implementation Alliance for the NAP implementation with the assistance of Countries and International Cooperation Agencies Social Productive Environmental Institutional 2
Alliance to combat poverty and enhance the affected people' quality of life Government in agreement with Agencies for Environment, Social Development and Agricultural Technology applied to households. Microcredits in the form of Rotational Funds to support projects addressed to household farming plans on droughty lands ACHIEVEMENTS: An increasing number of farmer organizations experimenting with Rotational Funds from LCD Publications: Some Experiences in the Argentine Republic and Rotational Funds as a tool for households' little Agriculture Impact Monitoring over Investment Increase in the yield of investment PROMOTION OF MICROCREDITS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL ECONOMY (Law 26.117 ) Improvement in the quality of production and commercialization 1 Poverty / livelihood quality Alliance for the Sustainable Rural Development on dry lands Government in agreement with Agencies for Environment, Farming Production, Scientific and Technical Knowledge and with Provincial States Project GEF PATAGONIA: Execution of the Law to Foster the Farming of Ovine Livestock with Sustainable Land Management- SLM 2 RESTORATION OF OVINE LIVESTOCK FARMING Ovine livestock farming must be carried out through practices within sustainable management of natural resources (Law 25.422) Sustainable Production INTENDED RESULTS: 2500 land users apply MST (total amount: 8.000) Ovine livestock production increased in 20% Vegetal cover increased in 20% (MST) 6 Provinces involved Decision Support System Installed Early Warning System (droughts, abundant snow and fires) Natural Resources Monitoring System installed and functioning 36 productive development institutions adopting MST technology 250 technicians trained in MST technology 3
Alliance for the Synergy of Development Projects between Environmental Conventions Intergovernmental arrangement towards the development of a National Strategy for Sustainable Development: UNCCD/UNCCC/UNCBD Forest CDM Project to combat desertification, mitigate the climatic change and protect biodiversity: environmental youth groups Institutions: ONG/RIOD National and INTENDEDED RESULTS: Provincial Government Italian Government 3.000 hectares planted with native species Technological Sector Universities from Argentina and Italy Recovery of degraded soils in abandoned lands (UNCCD) Reduction of atmospheric carbon monoxide (UNCCC) Protection and recovery of biodiversity (UNCBD) Creation of employment opportunities and socio-economic promotion Youth Environmental Awareness 3 Synergies Alliance to develop an unified methodology for assessing the degree of land degradation and monitoring Scientific and Technical Sector Agreement: National and Provincial Government- Universities NGOs International Agencies LADA Project: Assessment of Land Degradation in Arid Zones INTENDED RESULTS: National Organization 2 Universities Research Institute NGO/University Province Government University/ Municipality 7 pilot areas under evaluation Argentine Monitoring System to be globally extrapolated Technology transfer to field Measurement Strategies to be compared Unified Criteria for Indicators Capacity Building Normative Process to create a Monitoring National System for the Desertification in Argentina 4 Indicators 4
Alliance to decentralize the implementation on behalf of local ones and provinces National Government in agreement with Local Governments and Key Actors for the UNCCD Implementation at Local Level La Rioja Province Action Program PAPLaR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETENCES: PAN DECENTRALIZATION PAPLaR Executive Committee Province Table about Desertification Provincial Adoption of UNCCD and Creation of a Provincial Program To combat Desertification (Provincial Law7.985) National Government: UNCCD/PAN Implementation (Art. 41 CN / Law 24.701) Provincial Government: Original Owner of Natural Resources (Art. 124 CN) FEDERAL POLITIC COMPOSITION: 24 Provincial States 16 of them with arid regions 5 Decentralization Alliance for the Consensus in the Institutional Implementation Political and Normative Inter-institutional Agreement for the insertion of an LCD Strategy in the policies and relevant actors. National Consulting Commission of the NAP: NCO (National Coordination Organization) Productive Sector Public Sector National/Provincial CAN Presidency: National Secretariat for the Environment Scientific and Technological Sector Creation: 2002 (Resolution 250/02) Regulation: 2004 (Res. 302/03) NGO ACHIEVEMENTS: A Dialogue Space and Institutional Coordination Documents of Consensus to be Recommended to NAP Focal Point Enhance of the Inter-institutional Communication Intense Access to UNCCD Financing 4 years of working Legal Recognition Self-financing Institutional Participation: 13 Members with legitimate sector representation 6 Institutional Coordination 5
Alliance for the NAP Implementation with the assistance of Countries and International Cooperation Agencies Agreements between Argentina and Countries / Cooperation Agencies for national capacity building to secure the PAN Implementation Key Thematic Topics: Catalytic Funds, Financial Alliances, Technology Transfer, Training Alliances with Countries Germany/GTZ: Project for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Chaco Italy: MDL Forest Project: youth environmental groups Bolivia and Paraguay: PAS Chaco Americano Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Ecuador: PAS PUNA Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela, Chile and Bolivia: LCD MERCOSUR Strategy Africa/Asia LA&C: Cooperation Platform South to South Alliances with Agencies UNEP/GEF, UNDP, MM: GEF Patagonia Project UNEP/GEF, OAS: GEF Project: Gran Chaco Americano MM, UNDP: Project: Financial Strategic Alliances IDB, IICA: Indicators and Reference Points GEF GLOBAL, FAO: LADA Project 7 International Cooperation THE LESSONS LEARNED ESTRATEGIC ALLIANCES. BOTTOM UP OWNERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION. ENHANCED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. 6
Thank you very much for your attention 7