News
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge in the Amazon
Loja and Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador 鈥 As part of the UNESCO Amazon Biosphere Reserves Project, the Water Resilience Challenge brought together 24 young people from various Biosphere Reserves in Ecuador. The initiative aimed to foster innovative solutions to water-related challenges in the Podocarpus鈥揈l C贸ndor Biosphere Reserve, located in the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe.
The challenge is part of a broader project led by UNESCO with the support of LVMH, implemented by The Water Agency (Netherlands), and enriched by contributions from the Paute Water Fund (FONAPA) and academia, including the Technical University of Loja (UTPL) and the University of Azuay, through their UNESCO Chairs.
A Three-Phase Challenge Driving Real Impact
The challenge was structured into three distinct phases:
1. Training and preparation 鈥 Participants received instruction on key topics such as biosphere reserve management, hydrology, climate change, and water governance.
2. Fieldwork 鈥 The participants visited three key areas to understand water-related conflicts first-hand: the city of Loja, the dry valleys of El Tambo (Catamayo), and the Amazonian communities of Zamora.
3. Solution development 鈥 Based on their findings, participants developed innovative proposals to address the identified water issues. The top three proposals will receive seed funding for implementation.
Selected teams will also serve as UNESCO Good Practice Ambassadors at future events and gatherings.
Fieldwork Report (May 16鈥19)
Day 1 鈥 Welcome and Launch
The challenge was inaugurated at the Technical University of Loja (UTPL) with the participation of prominent officials, including Hans Thulstrup, Project Director for the Amazon at UNESCO Paris; Daniel Guerra, National Focal Point for the Man and the Biosphere Programme; Dr. Leonardo Izquierdo, UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development at UTPL; Gregor Van Essen from The Water Agency; Dr. Ver贸nica Minaya, UNESCO Quito Science Officer; and Ing. Arturo Jim茅nez, Director of Fundaci贸n Ecol贸gica Arco铆ris.
Following the opening ceremony, participants began a strategic planning session to define the key issues within the three designated areas. The day concluded with a welcome dinner at the Sonesta Hotel in Loja.
Day 2 鈥 Loja and El Tambo Field Visits
In the morning, participants visited key sites along the Malacatos and Zamora Rivers in the city of Loja to assess recent flood events. In the afternoon, they traveled to El Tambo parish in Catamayo canton, where they met with local leaders and representatives from potable water and irrigation boards. The group visited water intake points and irrigation infrastructure to gain firsthand knowledge of local water management challenges.
Day 3 鈥 Zamora Chinchipe Insights
Participants traveled to Zumbi, a community in Centinela del C贸ndor canton, Zamora Chinchipe province. They visited the ASOPROMAS sustainable cacao enterprise and spoke with local women leaders about the impact of water pollution on their activities. Later, they visited La Casa de la Biosfera in San Francisco to learn about the efforts of park rangers to protect the core zones of the Podocarpus鈥揈l C贸ndor Biosphere Reserve.
Day 4 鈥 Developing Solutions
The final day was dedicated to designing solutions based on the challenges observed. In the morning, participants worked at UTPL alongside mentors to finalize their proposals. In the afternoon, presentations were held at the Sonesta Hotel in Loja before an audience that included representatives from provincial governments, the Municipality of Loja, UNESCO Quito, UTPL, and Fundaci贸n Ecol贸gica Arco铆ris.
This challenge marks a milestone in promoting water resilience in the Ecuadorian Amazon, empowering young leaders with knowledge, field experience, and a platform to generate real impact in their communities鈥攗nder the guidance of UNESCO and its strategic partners.
