Promoting cross-border cooperation for river basin environmental sustainability partnership

Introduction

This initiative was a Triangular Cooperation effort, developed with the support of the ADELANTE Window, aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable use of cross-border ecosystems located in international river basins, with a focus on the Ecuadorian-Peruvian and Costa Rica-Panama basins.

Objectives

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative was able to harness the knowledge of the Provider entities to transfer and adapt their model of cross-border governance of water basins, drawing from the practices and knowledge of Indigenous groups and local communities to promote the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems located in international watersheds.

Partnership and collaboration

The initiative was led by the Beneficiary entities:

• Nature and Culture International Ecuador
• FSC Indigenous Foundation, Panama

With the support of the Provider entities:

• Association of European Border Regions (AEBR, Germany)
• Agencia Andaluza de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spain)
• Administrative Commission of the River Uruguay (CARU, Argentina and Uruguay)

Together, these entities formed a Partnership to address the development challenges faced by Ecuador and Panama in managing their cross-border ecosystems.

Developing a cross-border governance model

To protect the biological corridors of these river basins, the Partnership entities worked to adapt lessons learnedfrom:

• Cross-border governance of the Uruguay River basin.
• European models of cross-border basin governance.

This knowledge was used to develop a governance model with nature-based solutions for ecosystem protection.

Indigenous participation and scalability

The model was designed:

• In alignment with the worldview of Indigenous peoples.
• With the active participation of civil society, local communities, and Indigenous groups.
• To incorporate scalable and replicable tools that could be applied in other cross-border ecosystems.

By fostering collaborative governance and environmental sustainability, this initiative contributes to enhanced conservation efforts and long-term ecological resilience in the region.

Project activities

This initiative was structured around six key activities, designed to jointly explore the environmental, institutional, and social dimensions of the development challenge faced by Partnership member entities and various local actors in Europe and Latin America.

The development of the governance model followed a strategic process that fostered knowledge exchange and collaboration among Partnership entities, with the support of collaborating organisations. 

Key activities included:

• Capacity building: training representatives from Ecuador and Panama in:
  • Ecosystem protection strategies
  • Best practices from the Uruguay River basin, including binational and local cooperation in water basin governance
  • Creating cross-border regional development bodies
• Model implementation: design of binational monitoring systems and cross-border cooperation proposals, incorporating a gender-based approach and built on:
  • Case studies of the Catamayo-Chira (Ecuador-Peru) and Sixaola (Panama-Costa Rica) basins
  • Lessons from the "Strengthening Cross-Border Governance of Water Basins" initiative
• Policy development: fostering coordination among:
  • Public sector stakeholders
  • Civil society organisations
  • Indigenous communities and women leaders
• Community engagement: a course on binational monitoring and management for:
  • Rural environmental stewards
  • Local conservation area managers
  • Community reserve leaders and water council representatives

Cross-cutting themes

Throughout the initiative, a cross-cutting approach was applied, integrating:

• Gender equality
• Environmental sustainability
• Climate change considerations

These themes were highlighted through experience-sharing, embedded in joint work sessions, and incorporated into the final report, ensuring their practical application in cross-border governance models.

By fostering inclusive collaboration, sustainable management, and policy innovation, this initiative contributes to strengthened environmental governance and conservation efforts in international river basins.

Results

Through this Triangular Cooperation Initiative, the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership's member entities and collaborating organisations in cross-border cooperation schemes were leveraged to develop "Cross-Border Governance for the Development and Environmental Sustainability of International Watersheds"(Gobernanza Transfronteriza para el Desarrollo y la Sostenibilidad Ambiental de Cuencas Internacionales), specifically applied to the aforementioned case studies.

The results of this initiative have contributed to and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• Target 15.1: "By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements."
• Target 15.9: "By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts."

By integrating ecosystem-based approaches, fostering international collaboration, and strengthening governance models, this initiative supports long-term environmental sustainability and regional development in cross-border watersheds.

Implementing partner

The Association of European Border Regions - AEBR (Germany)