The agreement on the Guarani Aquifer: Cooperation without conflict

Transboundary groundwater governance in the Guarani Aquifer System: reflections from a survey of global and regional experts

“…The agreement is notable because it came about not because of intra-national or international conflict over water contamination or scarcity but out of localized concern over future conflicts among the countries. Villar and Ribeiro (2013) describe the role of scientists as critical in the cooperation process. Researchers in the region, mindful of the aquifer system's extensive nature and of the potential of future conflicts, promoted awareness and organized the first international meetings concerning the SAG's transboundary nature.…”

“…These effective cooperative processes created the momentum needed to sign the agreement (Villar & Ribeiro, 2013;M. Walter, personal communication, 28 August 2014).…”

“…In his view, "A state simply cannot have the exclusive ownership that sovereignty implies in something that is shared with another state" (p. 570). The Guarani Agreement addresses sovereignty directly, as a (purported) safeguard for the aquifer (Villar & Ribeiro, 2013). Sindico (personal communication, 14 August 2014) believes that "protection" of the resource from interests outside the aquifer's physical borders (e.g.…”

“…Finally, while Article 15 of the agreement called for establishment of a multilateral commission, such a commission has yet to be created (Villar & Ribeiro, 2013;Walter, 2013b). Lilian del Castillo Laborde (personal communication, 17 April 2015), professor of law at the University of Buenos Aires, explained that although Argentina and Uruguay both passed statutes approving the agreement in 2012, it is still not in force due to lack of internal approval by Brazil and Paraguay; consequently, the proposed intergovernmental commission has not been established.…”

Development of Physical and Chemical Processes to Increase the Efficiency of Concentration of Vinasse’s Solids

“…This is the major concern arising from the use of vinasse, leaving environmental agencies alert to the way in which it is managed. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Environment [10], the SAG (Guarani Aquifer System) is an underground and transboundary water body covering part of the territories of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has an accumulated volume of 37,000 km 3 and estimated area of 1,087,000 km 2 .…”