Biodiversity Conservation in the Mira-Mataje Binational Watershed: Building Biophysical and Sociocultural Bases for Conservation and the Adaptive Management of Ecosystem Services

This project seeks to enhance enabling conditions for conservation in the Binational Mira-Mataje River Basins (MMRB) through a combination of a) scientific knowledge of ecosystems status and services, and b) territorial governance and multi-stakeholder participation. This initiative is led by Duke university and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Andean Region (SDSN Andes), which is a regional chapter of the global United Nations’ SDSN led by Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and special advisor to the UN Secretary General. SDSN Andes leads a coalition with six partners, including MacArthur grantee Corporación Grupo Randi Randi (CGRR) of Ecuador, Colombia’s University of Nariño (UDENAR), Ecuador’s National Institute of Biodiversity (INABIO), Colombia’s Pacific Environmental Research Institute (IIAP), Ecuador’s Regional Amazon University Ikiam, and the bird conservation organization FELCA of Colombia. The seven organizations, referred as “the coalition”, are carrying out the activities of this project. The coalition coordinates initiatives and collaborates with other MacArthur Foundation grantees working in the MMRB. Namely, in coordination with WWF Colombia, Altropico and Ecolex from Ecuador, the coalition: (1) develops an online “wiki” information platform that provides to the public current scientific and social information, both collected and generated, on the MMRB; (2) establishes shared conservation priorities and agreements for the MMRB; (3) helps establish participatory water-use platforms and other governance systems across the MMRB to improve conservation outcomes; and (4) develops a binational management strategy for the MMRB, including an integrated conservation action plan.

Support decision-making processes in the Mira-Mataje binational basins by providing high quality, timely, and easily accessible information.

Promote the maintenance of the Mira-Mataje basins’ ecological integrity, by working towards
enhancing the resilience of its ecosystems, and the understanding and protection of its ecosystem services.

Enhance the conditions for good governance and governability in the Mira-Mataje basins by
generating and/or supporting instances of coordination and collaboration among communities and stakeholders, aiding participation in the planning and implementation of management strategies, and
promoting a basins vision.

Apoyar los procesos de toma de decisiones en las cuencas binacionales Mira-Mataje mediante el suministro de información de alta calidad, oportuna y de fácil acceso; promover el mantenimiento de la integridad ecológica de las cuencas Mira-Mataje, trabajando para fortalecer la resiliencia de sus ecosistemas y fomentar la comprensión y protección de sus servicios ecosistémicos; y mejorar las condiciones para la buena gobernanza y la gobernabilidad en las cuencas Mira-Mataje generando y/o apoyando espacios de coordinación y colaboración entre comunidades y actores clave, facilitando la participación en la planificación e implementación de estrategias de gestión, y promoviendo una visión integral de las cuencas.

Fundación MacArthur

Network SDSN (USA)
Corporación Grupo Randi CGRR (Ecuador)
Universidad de Nariño (Colombia)
Instituto de Investigaciones del Pacífico IIAP (Colombia)
FELCA (Colombia)
INABIO (Ecuador)