Paraguay

Wetlands-based Sanitary System and Community Stewardship Programme Demonstration Wetlands

Paraguay is a land-locked country located in Central South America, bordering Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. As home to two of the largest rivers in South Americal, the Rio Paraguay and the Rio Parana, Paraguay has an abundance of wetland ecosystems, and is one of the largest exporters of hydroelectric power in South America. Northern Paraguay is characterized by some of the largest natural wetlands in the world, whereas the South-West, where the capital city Asunciòn is located, is home to the bulk of Paraguay's population.

In the populated urban and suburban regions of the South-West Paraguay and Parana river basins, the relationship between humans and wetlands is often precarious as a result of unsustainable population growth. FutureWatch has been working in the Lake Ypacarai region in the Rio Paraguay watershed since 2001 to address the degradation of wetlands. Our programmes also provide assistance to poverty-stricken neighbourhoods in these regions through such programmes as wetlands-based sanitation, community development, and environmental education.

Wetlands-based Sanitary System and Community Stewardship Programme

With funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and in partnership with Centro Asunceño de Desarrollo Sostenible (CADES) and Centro de Estudios y Formación para el Ecodesarrollo (AlterVida) of Paraguay, this project involves the establishment of an action-oriented community-based environmental programme within the Municipality of Aregua. Through this initiative, we have initiated a process of protecting the wetlands located at the south-west part of the Lake Ypacarai as well as increasing environmental awareness through such activities as educational programmes geared towards local schools and a Canada-Paraguay professional exchange. The project provides meaningful capacity-building opportunities to CADES and establishes a multi-stakeholder community environmental planning process. The project also assists in restoring biodiversity to the local natural environment.

Another component of the Community Stewardship Project is the design and construction of a wetlands-based sanitary system to address the need for proper waste management in the Villa Maria Auxiliadora neighbourhood of Aregua. In an effort to promote environmental awareness and community-based development, local stake-holders and community members were involved throughout the design and construction of the sanitation system.

Demonstration Wetlands

In partnership with the Municipality of Areguá and AlterVida, a Demonstrative Ecosystem park was implemented in the Municipal Beach of Areguá, Paraguay. The wetland park increase local appreciation and understanding of the importance of natural wetlands in improving water quality and increase community capacity through local participation in the construction and maintenance of the park. This project involves environmental restoration and a low level of environmental impact.

The purpose of the demonstrative ecosystem in the Municipal Beach of Areguá is to provide educational and initial eco-tourism opportunities regarding the wetlands found in the watershed of the lake. This project also provides an opportunity to rehabilitate a portion of a small but significant stream that flows into Lake Ypacarai and crossing the municipal beach.