Participants & Projects Involved

• La Plata River Basin project (UNDP-GEF): Andres Carsen, Hugo Eguila

Host Institution

• International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Regional Enivronment Center, IBRD-GEF Hungary Nutrient Reduction Project

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front (RPMF) constitute a transitional water system whose resources are shared between the Argentine Republic and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. At a global level it is a unique system, as one of the leading fluvial and river-marine systems in the world, connecting the Río de la Plata Basin (the second largest basin in South America and fourth largest worldwide) to the Atlantic Ocean. It is an integral part of the Patagonian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) of the south-western continental shelf of South America, and contains globally significant biodiversity. The Río de la Plata is among the richest, most singular and endangered natural areas in the planet.

The FREPLATA  Project is a bi-national initiative that has culminated in the endorsement of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) by a comprehensive range of 37 key stakeholders including 9 ministries, the navy, coast guards, provincial and local authorities, and private sector representatives. This constitutes the broadest SAP endorsement in UNDP’s IW history and is a significant achievement for the GEF IW portfolio. FREPLATA is a pioneering initiative in the region and has generated a huge body of integrated information suitable for an ecosystem approach to sustainable management. It has built capacities across a range of sectors, and enhanced regional cooperation both in public and private spheres to unprecedented levels.  The aim of the project is to contribute to the long term goal of mitigating the degradation of the transboundary environmental resources of the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front and enhancing the sustainable use of these resources by the inhabitants of the region.

The FREPLATA project requests this exchange to learn from the experiences of the Danube  Regional (ICDPR)

Learning Objectives

To enhance the understanding of the SAP implementation process among key agencies of Argentina and Uruguay, and specifically to:

• strategically implement FREPLATA SAP and on the ground actions,
• acknowledge the need and development of a strategy to ensure broad based stakeholder participation during SAP implementation,
• develop a strategy to reinforce high-level government commitments toward SAP implementation,
• develop follow-up projects in SAP implementation.

Outputs/Outcomes

• A program for continued technical cooperation between ICDPR and FREPLATA project including possible technical assistance for the FREPLATA SAP implementation process.
• A program for continued technical cooperation between institutions involved with Danube project and the Administrative Commission of the Río de la Plata (CARP), Bi-national Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CMFM) and national institutions of Argentina and Uruguay.
• A report submitted to the governments, UNDP, other GEF projects of Argentina and Uruguay, and IW-Learn documenting outputs and benefits of the technical cooperation.
• Updates on the website of the FREPLATA Project.
• Initial steps towards the development of a sustainable means of cooperation between FREPLATA and Danube Project aimed at supporting FREPLATA SAP implementation, and ensure stakeholders involvement.

Related content

Strategic Action Programme: FREPLATA

Environmental protection of the Río de la Plata and its maritime front: pollution prevention and control, and habitat restoration (TDA synthesis for policymakers)

Reducing and Preventing Land-Based Pollution in the Rio de la Plata/Maritime Front through Implementation of the FrePlata Strategic Action Programme: Presentation

Presentation "Project Reducing and Preventing Land-Based Pollution in the Rio de la Plata/Maritime Front through Implementation of the FrePlata Strategic Action Programme"

FREPLATA SAP-PIF

 Reducing and Preventing Land-based Pollution in the Rio de la Plata/Maritime Front through Implementation of the FrePlata Strategic Action Programme

Environmental Protection of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front: Pollution Prevention and Control and Habitat Restoration: Project Brief