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) targeted 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 dwelling to round 4.5 million individuals, lots of whom reside in socio-environmental susceptible conditions or different tough circumstances.
Restoration actions embrace 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 after 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 method, as I can see that our work is having a big effect.
Some are moved to tears after they expertise nature for the primary time of their lives.
They inform their buddies and academics in regards to the expertise as nicely and so we get extra guests.
There may be an academic component to our work as we educate the kids in regards to the significance of defending wetlands but additionally the adjoining grasslands and native forest.
I’m a birdwatching lawyer, and though I’m no knowledgeable, I get pleasure from displaying our guests my favorite chicken, the carancho, which is a really intelligent and humorous chicken which you’ll see throughout Argentina, together with in city areas. It’s my method to join with nature.
The popularity that the suitable to a wholesome surroundings is a human proper underpins all of our work.
There may be lots of land loss in Argentina, together with areas which have develop 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 international coverage on a variety of points together with land restoration and biodiversity.
If you happen to consider in multilateralism, it is very important be right here and civil society organizations (CSOs) could make a distinction.
It was the stress from CSOs which led to the inclusion of human rights and gender-focused parts within the Biodiversity Conference and its just lately adopted International Biodiversity Framework.
Within the UNCCD, the difficulty of land tenure, mirrored in COP choices, was additionally promoted by CSOs.
The UNCCD course of, and this COP16 is not any exception, does facilitate inclusivity, as CSOs are in a position to 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 shouldn’t have the identical degree of entry.
We’ve got obtained a grant from the G20 International 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 offer extra younger individuals the chance to get pleasure from nature and for them to develop into the brand new guardians of wetlands and take the message again to their friends in regards to the significance of preserving ecosystems for future generations.”
