International Research Project funded by the European Community, INCO - DC Programme Nro. ERBIC18CT980262

The Sustainable Management of Wetland Resources in the Mercosur  (1998–2001)

The main objectives of this project are the following:

  To create the tools and methodology for a management of wetland resources that are socially, economically and environmentally acceptable.

  To institute a long term study of the impacts of large scale regional modifications in economic activities, population density, transportation and energy production on wetland resource quality and wetland ecosystem stability in the Mercosur

The key activities and methodologies utilised in this project are the following:

  A resource quality monitoring programme that includes two permanent sites for the collection and transmission of chemical, physical and biological data for long term monitoring of the wetland by regional and local authorities as well as the international scientific community. Temporal and spatial modifications of key wetlands factors will be monitored to determine the impact of anthropic activities as well as the natural variations in the ecosystem stability

  A geographical information system as a basis for the construction of mathematical models that will be used in the study of the sustainable use of the wetland resources. Information on the structural and functional characteristics of the ecosystem will be systematically organised, incorporating data from past studies with new research into biological, chemical, hydrological meteorological and ecological characteristics of the ecosystem;

  Socio-economic, chemical, physical and ecological models to predict the consequences of growth in demand for and pressure on natural resources in the area. A historical study of the natural resource use in the economic activities of communities living near the wetland will be made;

  An analysis of potential resource uses and management scenarios integrating modelling and analysis techniques to examine overall impacts to the resource quality, ecosystem stability and local socio-economic situation;

  A management system package (software and written) for key natural resources (water and identified fauna and flora species) based on selected global and ecological modelling approaches for the sustainable use of natural resources in wetlands;

Research partners and contacts for more information

Enlaces

  Informe final del Proyecto

  Modelling and valuation of Wetlands Functions: Iberá Wetlands Argentina