Ana Di Pangracio works for the civil society group Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or FARN which is concerned in tasks to revive degraded land in Argentina.
She spoke to UN Information in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the place she was attending a UN convention (COP16) centered on desertification, drought and land restoration.
UN Information/Daniel Dickinson
Ana Di Pangracio attends the COP16 desertification convention in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“We work within the Matanza Riachuelo basin which is a polluted space on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, which is residence to round 4.5 million individuals, lots of whom live in socio-environmental susceptible conditions or different tough circumstances.
Restoration actions embody planting native flora and eradicating non-native invasive species throughout some 4.5 hectares, in addition to constructing viewpoints and interpretative trails and cleansing up unlawful rubbish disposal.
A part of our work is bringing individuals, particularly younger individuals, to expertise this restored pure wetland.
Many reside shut by in very city, built-up areas and will come from difficult or violent environments however have by no means seen this land or had not even recognized of its existence.
Feelings and tears
Some are moved to tears once they expertise nature for the primary time of their lives.
We consolation them and inform them it’s OK to be emotional; I’m actually happy that they can join with nature on this manner, as I can see that our work is having a huge impact.
Some are moved to tears once they expertise nature for the primary time of their lives.
They inform their buddies and academics concerning the expertise as nicely and so we get extra guests.
There may be an academic factor to our work as we train the youngsters concerning the significance of defending wetlands but in addition the adjoining grasslands and native forest.
I’m a birdwatching lawyer, and though I’m no professional, I get pleasure from displaying our guests my favorite fowl, the carancho, which is a really intelligent and humorous fowl which you’ll be able to see throughout Argentina, together with in city areas. It’s my method to join with nature.
The popularity that the correct to a wholesome surroundings is a human proper underpins all of our work.
There may be a number of land loss in Argentina, together with areas which have turn into degraded by drought. In 2020, we skilled a three-year-long drought, the worst in over 60 years. This had severe social and environmental impacts.
UN desertification convention
It’s essential to return to this convention of the UN Conference on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD) because it offers us the chance to have interaction with civil society constituencies and to think about the interface between nationwide and world coverage on a variety of points together with land restoration and biodiversity.
Should you consider in multilateralism, it is very important be right here and civil society organizations (CSOs) could make a distinction.
It was the strain from CSOs which led to the inclusion of human rights and gender-focused components within the Biodiversity Conference and its lately adopted World Biodiversity Framework.
Within the UNCCD, the problem of land tenure, mirrored in COP selections, was additionally promoted by CSOs.
The UNCCD course of, and this COP16 isn’t any exception, does facilitate inclusivity, as CSOs are capable of entry the plenary conferences and ship statements so we’re being listened to.
We’re aware that CSOs in different worldwide fora just like the UN local weather COPs do not need the identical degree of entry.
We’ve got acquired a grant from the G20 World Land Initiative and are presenting our work on the assembly in Riyadh. This assist will allow us to hold on our work within the Matanza Riachuelo basin.
I’m excited to present extra younger individuals the chance to get pleasure from nature and for them to turn into the brand new guardians of wetlands and take the message again to their friends concerning the significance of preserving ecosystems for future generations.”
