Safeguarding overlooked Ecosystems: Protect, Manage and Restore Grasslands and Savannahs in Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay

State of implementation/results

• The 5 years project on sustainable grasslands and savannahs was officially kicked-off by holding a workshop with all the project partners in Bogotá, Colombia, on 18-22 March 2024.
• Structures and framework conditions were set up in all countries and for all outputs of the project: I) Protect, II) Manage, III) Restore, IV) Policy and Communication, and V) Scientific Evidence and Knowledge through baseline analyses and stakeholder exchanges.
• In all countries, first areas have been identified for supporting the creation and effective management of new and existing protected and conserved areas (PCA) based on a due diligence analysis.
• The current conventional beef production systems were analysed in all countries, and initial workshops were conducted with communities and farmers to define sustainable management models and to update the project methodology of cost-benefit analysis. In this context, consultations with three indigenous communities in the Paraguayan Pantanal were carried out based on the process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Similarly, methodological approaches and experiences on restoration have been assessed and first pilot areas have been selected to carry out restoration activities.
• The Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue Platform launched a new website (wwf.panda.org/…). Regular convenings are held every 4-6 weeks with experts from academia, NGOs, government and international organizations. Also, relevant information and publications linked to the project are disseminated via a new LinkedIn channel (www.linkedin.com/…) officially launched in October 2024, already counting more than 300 followers.
• In order to build alliances with other NGOs, governments and community representatives, one event was held at UNCBD COP16 (www.linkedin.com/…;utm_medium=member_desktop), and six events were held during UNCCD COP16 (e.g. a high-level event on funding grassland conservation (www.linkedin.com/…), and a side event on the impacts of soil degradation on grasslands and savannahs (enb.iisd.org/…). Two policy briefs were presented, calling for integrated action under the Rio Conventions (wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/…) and showing a pathway to achieving Global Biodiversity Targets (iucn.org/…). UNCCD COP16 saw the first ever adoption of a decision on rangelands (www.unccd.int/…) calling for prioritizing policies and investments for the sustainable management of rangelands and to support pastoralists and local communities.
• Two Colombian PhD students and two master students were selected so far for carrying out their research in the context of the project. The research focus areas and potential methods were collaboratively discussed and determined with the project partners and local institutions to ensure that the research will address pertinent local issues and contribute to institutional capacity building and knowledge interchange. The PhD research topics include the spatiotemporal analysis of socio-ecological networks, the relevance of private capital for conservation, and the integration of indigenous and local knowledge in fire management strategies. First field visits were realised in all three project countries to carry out research activities. Initial results were presented at international conferences and several scientific articles are currently under development.

Latest Update:
04/2025

Further links

• Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue Platform