The workshop "Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples: Perspectives on the Management of the Guaraní Aquifer System," will take place on June 6-7, 2024, at Hotel Julio Cesar in Posadas, Misiones Province, Argentina.

The Guaraní Aquifer System is a vital water resource for millions of people in South America, covering a vast area and providing water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and tourism purposes. Recognizing its importance, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay have joined forces with the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and UNESCO, with financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to implement the Medium-Sized Project (PPM) for the sustainable management of the Guaraní Aquifer. This project aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the aquifer and strengthen technical cooperation among the participating countries. As part of the broader initiative to manage the Guaraní Aquifer System sustainably, a methodological workshop with indigenous representatives from the Guaraní Aquifer communities has been announced.  

The primary objectives of the workshop are to share advancements in the project "Implementation of the Strategic Action Program of the Guaraní Aquifer System: Enabling Regional Actions" with indigenous representatives from the region, promote dialogue on indigenous perspectives and expectations regarding the ecosystem services of the Guaraní Aquifer System (SAG) and groundwater governance, and obtain contributions and recommendations to integrate a multicultural perspective into the updated Strategic Action Plan of the Guaraní Aquifer System Project. Additionally, the workshop will include a field visit to San Ignacio (Misiones Province) to gather insights for the future Pilot Project.

The workshop will begin with an opening session, during which project representatives and indigenous leaders from each participating country will deliver opening remarks. The morning session will include a presentation on the "Implementation of the Strategic Action Program of the Guaraní Aquifer System: Enabling Regional Actions,"followed by a plenary dialogue session. The day will conclude with the presentation of group dialogue results and a discussion of the next steps for the SAG project.

On the second day, participants will embark on a field trip to San Ignacio in Misiones Province. The itinerary includes visits to the Andresito community and the site of the SAG Regional Monitoring Network's future Pilot Project. This field trip, a unique learning opportunity, aims to provide practical insights and gather feedback from the indigenous communities regarding the proposed pilot initiatives, sparking excitement and anticipation among the participants.

The workshop's thematic axes for dialogue include strategies for protecting vulnerable areas of the Guaraní Aquifer, cultural perspectives on water and groundwater, uses of groundwater, current issues related to climate change and ecosystem services, and contributions to participatory governance with an indigenous perspective in the SAG. These themes will guide the discussions and ensure that a broad range of topics relevant to the sustainable management of the aquifer is covered.

Two key dialogue dynamics will structure the workshop. The first, titled "Understanding Indigenous Perspectives on Water and the Guaraní Aquifer," will be a morning session designed to create a dialogue space where participants can share their perspectives, uses, and connections with groundwater and SAG.