Water and peace – the slogan of this March 22, World Water Day – are intimately related. And in southern South America we have an emblematic case of the relationship between water and peace: the sustainable management of the Guarani Aquifer System (SAG), for which Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay have set in motion an exemplary process.
The aquifer, that transboundary underground treasure, the important heart of the region, has proven to be more than a simple water reservoir. It is a bond that transcends political borders and unites nations in the pursuit of a common objective: the preservation of a vital resource, with ecological, social, economic and cultural relevance.
The Guaraní Aquifer System (SAG), one of the largest groundwater reservoirs in the world, spanning approximately one million square kilometers, challenges our understanding of geography and reminds us of the interconnectedness on our planet. However, its greatness also presents crucial challenges: how to manage and use this resource sustainably? How to preserve it for future generations?
In response to these questions, the four countries under which the aquifer is located have entrusted UNESCO, through CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with an ambitious project with support from the GEF/GEF, Fund for the Global Environment: the implementation of the SAG Strategic Action Program. This project, which began in 2022, has marked a milestone in cross-border cooperation by agreeing on joint mechanisms for monitoring and studying the aquifer, and launching a pilot system for monitoring water quality and availability.
One of the keys to this success has been the collaboration between key people from various fields, governments, the scientific community, diplomacy, local actors and international organizations. Through negotiations and agreements, protocols have been agreed upon, specialized committees established, and a pilot monitoring network designed to ensure equitable and sustainable access to groundwater in the four countries involved, for all people. To this end, we have already begun the process to build five new monitoring wells and install new equipment in another thirty existing wells to better understand the reality of the aquifer, and thus allow better management and governance.
However, this journey is not without its complexities. Population growth, climate change, agricultural expansion and industrial activities pose challenges to SAG. That is why the participation of various economic and social actors, including indigenous peoples, as well as groups of users, scientists, local governments, or environmental defenders – and in particular women – is essential to guarantee the integrated and sustainable management of This resource is often hidden but present.
At the heart of this management is intercultural and knowledge dialogue, where ancestral and traditional knowledge interact with scientific knowledge to address the needs of the present and future generations. This dialogue not only reminds us of the importance of respecting land and water, but also shows us the power of collaboration across political borders. To work on the Guaraní Aquifer, it is necessary to value the communities that live off of it and take care of it, and therefore consult them without intermediation.
The future of the Guaraní Aquifer System depends on the ability to continue weaving this network of collaboration and mutual understanding between countries, regions and communities. Several of the actions that are being developed serve as inspiration for other parts of the Planet. For these reasons, the management and governance of the Guaraní Aquifer is one of the case studies that will be presented in the official commemorations of World Water Day 2024. Likewise, it is referred to in the World Report on the Development of Water Resources ( WWDR), published by UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Program (WWAP) for the United Nations system, which this year is dedicated to water as an instrument for peace and prosperity. In an increasingly interconnected world with important challenges, the efforts of the SAG countries remind us that together we can walk towards a sustainable future.
Miguel Doria – UNESCO Regional Hydrologist
Ernesto Fernández Polcuch – Director of the UNESCO Montevideo Regional Office