LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
AND THE WETLAND CITY ACCREDITATION
Wetland Cities since 2018
As can be seen on the map, of the 74 Wetland Cities to date, only two represent the Latin American and Caribbean region: Trelew (Argentina) and Valdivia (Chile).
Through this website, we aim to inspire national and local governments in the region to adopt measures for the conservation and wise use of urban wetlands. This is also an invitation to LAC cities to join a global community of good conservation practice—our cities have much to offer!
Reasons for Encouraging the Participation of LAC
Cities in the Convention on Wetlands
Adaptive Water Management in LAC
Approaches including Nature-Based Solutions, such as wetland restoration and water storage and infiltration infrastructure, have proven to be more successful for adaptation and sustainable development in Central and South American cities (IPCC 2022).
In the region, adaptive water management has mainly focused on enhancing the quantity and quality of water supply, including large infrastructure projects, which are often contested and can exacerbate water-related conflicts. Alternatively, inclusive approaches that overcome social inequalities and integrate NbS, while promoting synergies between ecosystem conservation and disaster risk reduction, have proven to be more effective for climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
Source: IPCC. (2022). Sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change .
A Biodiverse Region
Latin America and the Caribbean are home to approximately 60% of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity, as well as a wide variety of marine and freshwater species, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In addition, three of the five countries with the greatest number of birds, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, fish, and plants are located in this region, while the Amazon hosts 10% of the world’s biodiversity. This extraordinary natural wealth must become a catalyst for economic and social opportunities in various sectors, demonstrating that conservation can be integrated into sustainable development strategies.
Hotspot Cities
Urban growth represents a significant threat to biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean. The most visible impact is the loss of natural habitats: of the 423 cities located in biological hotspots worldwide, 383 cities (representing 90%) are expected to grow and expand into tropical rainforest biomes. This phenomenon is concentrated mainly in low- and middle-income countries in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Wetlands as Natural Infrastructure
The impact of cities’ nature-positive actions (through both NbS and land-sparing interventions) varies by sector, region, and level of urbanization. NbS for infrastructure is most effectively applied to water supply, pollution and climate adaptation and mitigation projects, and are most effective for cities in Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America
A Window of Opportunity for Regional Cooperation
Wetland City Accreditation not only fosters collaboration between the national and subnational levels within each country, but also represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation. Latin America and the Caribbean can advance toward the conservation and wise use of urban wetlands through strategic alliances between the Contracting Parties.
The Ramsar Regional Initiatives serve as a key platform for consolidating these alliances. For example, Amazonian countries could support cities in applying for Wetland City Accreditation following the guidelines established by the Regional Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in the Amazon River Basin. This strategy would allow LAC to position itself as a benchmark in the sustainable management of urban wetlands, while fostering collective action in the face of common challenges.
Ramsar Regional Initiatives in LAC
Regional Initiative for River Wetlands of the La Plata Basin
Regional Mangrove and Coral Initiative
Regional Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in the Amazon River Basin
Caribbean Regional Wetlands Initiative
Regional Initiative for the Conservation and Rational Use of High Andean Wetlands (HAW)
Ramsar Regional Centre for Training and Research for the Western Hemisphere (CREHO)
Further Regional Initiatives
Here are two additional initiatives that could potentially facilitate cooperation between cities and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the conservation and management of urban wetlands:
- BiodiverCities Network of Latin America and the Caribbean
- Network of Piangüera Women of the Tropical Eastern Pacific
This network assists subnational governments in LAC in the “identification, structuring and financing of sustainable urban interventions of quality and high impact, in which people and biodiversity are at the core.” Led by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), it has the support of the Humboldt Institute and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Announced by CAF during the COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia (October 2024), this initiative brings together women from Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Piangüa extraction not only enhances the food security of Pacific communities but also supports the conservation of mangrove ecosystems in these countries.
