To address this challenge, UNESCO, with the support of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Regional Center for Groundwater Management (CeReGAS), leads the Medium-Sized Project (MSP): “Implementation of the Strategic Action Program for the Guarani Aquifer System.” This project promotes cross-border cooperation and marks the milestone of creating an integrated Monitoring Network that allows countries to collect, share, and analyze critical information about the aquifer.

The Importance of a Shared Observatory
Among the key experts of the project is Nora Lucioni, a doctor in Geography and a consultant specializing in geospatial information systems. Lucioni emphasizes that the Monitoring Network addresses an urgent need: “Achieving data integration among the four countries and ensuring interoperability of monitoring systems.”

Until now, each country operated independently, using different methodologies and data formats. This disorder made it difficult to understand the overall state of the aquifer. The project solved this issue by implementing international ISO 19110 (geographic data cataloging) and 19115 (metadata) standards, designing a unified data dictionary, and establishing agreed protocols for data collection and uploading.

“It was both a technical and diplomatic process,” explains Lucioni. “We managed to unify terminology in Spanish and Portuguese, ensuring that each variable is interpreted the same way by all countries.”

How the Monitoring Network Works
The Monitoring Network operates as a centralized system where data from monitoring wells in each country are collected and shared. These data include key information about:

• General Information (geographic location, site altitude, watershed, ownership, resource usage – agricultural, industrial, or domestic, among other variables).

• Hydraulic Data (depth, wellhead height, static and dynamic levels, flow rates, among other variables).

• Real-time Monitoring Parameters (temperature, conductivity, pressure, flow rates).

• Physicochemical Monitoring Parameters.

Each well contains metadata documenting its location, geological characteristics, history, and data management responsibilities. Lucioni clarifies that metadata is crucial for ensuring transparency and traceability: “Metadata is the data of the data. It provides information about the origin and quality of the data, allowing end-users – researchers or policymakers – to use it with confidence.”

The platform includes georeferencing tools that facilitate the geographic visualization of data on interactive maps. For example, individual wells can be consulted, detailed information can be reviewed, and regional patterns can be analyzed using topographic maps and satellite images.

Currently, the Monitoring Network is in a functional prototype phase. This prototype simulates the operation of the final system, allowing countries to conduct tests, correct inconsistencies, and visualize how the data interact. “The prototype was designed to be scalable and flexible, enabling the future incorporation of automated monitoring through telemetry,” adds Lucioni.

The Challenges of the Process
Harmonizing information among countries with different technical systems and organizational cultures was one of the greatest challenges. Lucioni highlights that it was necessary to adapt concepts and promote horizontal learning among technical teams. “We reached agreements among the four countries to define common parameters and build an interoperable system. It was a highly successful exercise in South-South cooperation.”

Another challenge was technological adaptation. Many pre-existing data had to be adjusted to international standards, requiring training and upgrading of the tools used. “Sharing information with other experts and aligning with the ISO 19100 international standards family, which defines rules for geographic information modeling, helped overcome these barriers,” Lucioni notes.

A Positive Impact on Cross-Border Cooperation
The implementation of the Monitoring Network represents a significant step forward for regional cooperation in groundwater management. Ernesto Fernández Polcuch, Director of the UNESCO Montevideo Regional Office, underscores its importance:
“This system promotes evidence-based decisions, strengthening the sustainable management of the aquifer and consolidating regional cooperation among countries.”

Meanwhile, Miguel Doria, UNESCO Regional Hydrologist for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlights:
“The Network not only anticipates issues like overexploitation and contamination but also ensures transparency and public access to critical information, a key aspect of environmental diplomacy.”

A Sustainable and Replicable Future
The future of the Monitoring Network focuses on autonomy and scalability. Countries will have dedicated platforms where they can update and manage data in real time, ensuring its security and accessibility. Additionally, this system can be replicated in other transboundary aquifers, serving as a model for collaborative water management.

As Lucioni concludes: “This process is the foundation for a regional spatial data infrastructure, a joint effort that reflects the countries’ commitment to protecting and managing their water resources sustainably and transparently.”

The SAG Monitoring Network not only contributes to the region's water security but also strengthens regional cooperation, positioning itself as a milestone in global sustainable water management.

About the project

The purpose of this project is to help the countries accelerate the implementation of the regional actions proposed in the Strategic Action Plan. Additionally, to establish the technical coordination frameworks and tools essential for the long-term sustainability of the resource and to comply with the provisions of the Guarani Agreement.

The GEF grant fund was managed through the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), as an Implementing Agency, and it has been agreed that the international Executing Agency will be UNESCO, through its Regional Science Office in Montevideo, which administers the funds and has set up a Project Coordination Unit (PCU), with the technical support of the Regional Center for Groundwater Management (CeReGAS).

For more information on the project, please contact the Project Coordination Unit (ppmguarani@unesco.org) or visit the project page on iwlearn.net

Words and pictures by Matías Ponce