WHO WE ARE

We are 29 organizations from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, France and Peru which are part of the Amazon Waters Alliance. Our objective is to maintain the integrity and connectivity of the aquatic ecosystems of the Amazon Basin and the services they provide to the region and the world.

Conservando la Cuenca Amazónica Aguas Amazonicas

© Michael Dantas / WCS Brasil

Our vision for the Amazon

The Amazon Basin remains intact, dynamic, diverse and interconnected, ecologically, socio-culturally and institutionally, from the Andes to the Amazon plain and the Atlantic Ocean, thanks to a local and global population that values it, cares for it and benefits from its goods and services.

Our vision

We are an alliance whose actions are based on traditional science and citizen science and look forward to strengthening the governance of the Amazon Basin. We enhance the understanding of ecological and social processes, generating accessible, reliable, and timely information. We connect initiatives and actors from civil society and the public sector, generating knowledge, solutions, and actions in favor of the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems in the Basin, and respect for the rights of Amazonian peoples. We create spaces and strategies for dialogue, debate, and agreements for the conservation and management of the Amazon Basin, promoting timely and reliable information to stakeholders, developing strategic advocacy, and assuming agreements and commitments towards the development and sustainability of the Amazon Basin.

 

 

Conservando la Cuenca Amazónica Aguas Amazonicas

© Alianza Aguas Amazónicas

 

Values or guide principles

Diversity of knowledge

We build knowledge on the pillars of citizen science and open science. We   recognize the diversity of knowledge, and the need to discuss and integrate, especially local and   indigenous knowledge and wisdom. We promote interdisciplinarity, interculturality, diversity of visions and   types of knowledge as keys to the development of our objectives.  

Innovation, experimentation and learning

We are a space to innovate and we consider that   learning in itself is already an important achievement that will help us to be more effective in our work. We   are a space for experimentation where we build new things from everyone’s experience. As part of this, we   explore new questions and promote innovation to solve concrete problems. We seek to develop functional   technological solutions according to the context where they are required, promoting that they are low-cost   and have autonomy of use, especially by local communities.  

Collaboration:We facilitate the creation of connections between scientists and civil society, each with   their own objectives, and working together in participatory spaces of collaboration. We believe in building   equitable relationships that benefit both parties in the generation of knowledge. We promote fair   collaboration based on transparency and ethics.  

Situated openness

We promote a culture of openness. We want the Alliance to contribute to society   with open data and information for decision-making. However, we recognize that the generation of   knowledge must respond to its context and be responsible for the potential impacts it may generate. For   this reason, we believe that the Alliance must maintain a conscious reflection on what, when and how the   data and information it generates is shared.  

 

Situated openness

We promote a culture of openness. We want the Alliance to contribute to society   with open data and information for decision-making. However, we recognize that the generation of   knowledge must respond to its context and be responsible for the potential impacts it may generate. For   this reason, we believe that the Alliance must maintain a conscious reflection on what, when and how the   data and information it generates is shared.  

Respect

For human rights and the sovereignty of countries, their territories, knowledge and culture.  

Diversity, equity and inclusion of partner organizations, allies and key actors

We are a   diverse space due to our origins, interests, expectations, cultures, academic backgrounds, roles, gender,   among other aspects. We recognize the value and richness of our differences and diversity to build   innovative solutions from what unites us, rather than from our particularities.   We promote the recognition and full participation of partners, allies, and key actors in decision-making and   governance of the Amazon Basin, generating strategies and actions of inclusion and equity that allow   everyone to express themselves, develop their expectations, and contribute to the conservation and   management of the Amazon Basin.   Differences are respected and considered. Active participation of less represented groups is promoted, and their rights are safeguarded, in contrast to other actors with greater representation and agency.    

Strategy

As this is a regional plan, some strategies operate as an umbrella, indicating the general direction of actions and results to be achieved at more local scales. Our strategies are:

One: Governance for effective advocacy

Strategy two: Integrated management of priority areas

Strategy three: Sectoral and territorial planning (land and water)

Strategy four: Strengthen fisheries governance at multiple scales

 

Governance model

WHAT IS OUR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE?

General Assembly of Alliance members: highest decision-making body.

Managing Board: executive body of the Alliance

Conduct Committee: oversees the principles and values of the Alliance.

Advocacy Committee: proposing instance

Communications Committee

Technical Secretariat: support body of the Managing Board.

Programs: they lead the strategic actions of the alliance and are organized into working groups.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Would you like  to learn more about our activities and events?

Subscribe to our Google Groups, a forum to exchange information about the conservation of Amazonian aquatic ecosystems.

Follow us on social media

Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and YouTube.

 

Would you be interested in supporting our work?

Write to the Technical Secretariat at [email protected].

 

Would you like to become a member?

Only formally established and registered organizations can become members. For more information, please contact: [email protected]

Conservando la Cuenca Amazónica Aguas Amazonicas