The Argentinean Congress created the Ansenuza National Park and National Reserve through the law 27,673 approved last 30th June 2022. While already part of different international regulatory frameworks that protect the environment and biodiversity of the area, this new national normative implies a step forward for environmental protection, political coordination, and regional development. In this article, we discuss main achievements and challenges for the region that foresees with the new National Park and Reserve a window of opportunities for resilience and sustainability.
Source: Parques Nacionales Argentina website
About Ansenuza Sea
The Ansenuza Sea (also known as Mar Chiquita Lake) is located in the northeast of the province of Córdoba – Argentina. It is an endorheic basin made up of a hydrological system fed in the northern part by the Río Dulce, coming from the province of Salta, and in the southern part by the rivers Primero (Suquía) and Segundo (Xanaes), both coming from the mountain region of the province of Córdoba.
The Ansenuza Sea region is quite rich in terms biodiversity, with a varied fauna and plant coverage. Particularly, shorebirds and migratory birds are of high importance for the region: they represent 66% of all migratory species and shorebirds recorded for Argentina and 85% of birds cited for the province of Córdoba. Apart from numerous species, the region is home to three species of flamingos that exist in South America: the southern flamingo, the Andean flamingo or large Parina as well as the small Parina or James's flamingo.
The natural landscape is complemented by a growing human activity, specifically in terms of agriculture and tourism. Miramar de Ansenuza, the only town located on the lakeside is characterized by an important tourist activity, with a boom during the last decades given by tourist promotion policies carried out by the local and provincial governments.
The International Regulatory Framework
The Ansenuza Sea region is protected by several national and international regulatory frameworks that aimed at the protection and conservation of the ecosystem: Provincial Reserve of Multiple Use, RAMSAR Site, Hemispheric Shorebird Network, Red Living Lakes and Bird Life International.
Particularly relevant and complementary to the creation of the National Park, the area is registered as a RAMSAR Site, according to the 1971 convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as habitat for waterfowl. This normative recognises three key aspects: first, the interdependence between man and the environment; second, wetlands are understood as regulators of hydrological systems; and third, it urges the protection of international migratory birds.
According to the project presented in the Chamber of Deputies, the creation of the Ansenuza National Park is part of international regulatory frameworks adopted by Argentina, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (Law 24,375 of 1994), or the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development approved by the United Nations in 2015. Particularly, in SDG 15 "Life of terrestrial ecosystems", countries are specifically instructed to sustainably manage forests, fight against desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt the loss of biodiversity.
These regulations protect the territory of the basin and promote a conservation of the ecosystem, biodiversity and the environment as well as raise awareness on the sustainable use of natural resources. The importance of the protection is based on the recognition of a site that has a strategic plan for the conservation, protection and use of the territory.
Source: Parques Nacionales Argentina website
The future is (now) protected by law: what does it mean?
The Mar Chiquita and the Bañados del Río Dulce wetland faces environmental problems and threats, mainly associated with human activity. The main adverse effects include: alteration of the hydrological regime of the tributaries, diversion of water, contamination, overexploitation and loss of biodiversity.
The protection of the territory given by the creation of the National Park contributes to improving the management mechanisms that allow dealing effectively with these problems in three key areas: a) the management of the territory; b) increased sustainability through the implementation of responsible tourism and conservation of protected areas; and finally, c) an opportunity to become a resilient region.
Territorial management
Argentinean legislation indicates that the administration of water resources is exclusive to the provinces, and if these resources are of an interprovincial nature, cooperation mechanisms must be put in place. The creation of the Ansenuza National Park resolves several difficulties associated with this cooperation mechanism – which in many cases is hampered by political-economic factors – by transferring power to the national sphere.
The law 27,673 declares the transfer of domain and environmental jurisdiction made by the province of Córdoba to the national state of all the land that is within the water mirror of the Mar Chiquita Lake or Ansenuza Sea (185,939ha for the National Park and 475,477ha for the National Reserve)
Increased sustainability
The law preparatory document explains that the region has great potential to become a model nature tourism circuit that promotes local development under a conservation paradigm. This implies providing the maximum conservation standard at the national level and guaranteeing the maintenance of its natural and cultural values in perpetuity. Responsible tourism and respect for the environment are already part of Miramar key tourism actions through different measures promoting sustainability, mainly linked with waste management and respect for biodiversity while on guided tours.
Resilience as opportunity
The region has experienced periods of droughts and floods in Miramar as a result of different factors, particularly the (mis)use of natural resources as well as the lack of prevention in terms of risk management. The creation of the National Park is an opportunity for environmental protection and raising citizen awareness about the potential and limits of the use of the resources of the Ansenuza Sea. It implies an opportunity to enhance social commitment and respect for the environment, understand the history of the territory and to be prepared to overcome any uncertain possible adverse event in the future.
Opmerkingen