*By Raphaëlle Ortiz, María Augusta Olmedo, Anamaría Núñez, Seminar Session 1: Tools for valuing ecosystems and nature-based solutions The first of three sessions of the seminar of the Focus on the Americas in World Water Week addressed valuing ecosystem services and nature-based solutions (NBS). It introduced NBS and explored several tools that could help governments, … [Read more...] about Nature Based Solutions mitigate the effects of climate change
Water resources
Resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean
Marisa (12 years old) lives in a peri-urban community in the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. In 2021, her water utility, the National Water Commission (NWC), was severely affected by a hurricane and it took over 3 months to resume service. During that time, this 12-year-old had to walk and wait for the water truck every day to get four gallons of water, barely enough for … [Read more...] about Resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean
Investing in our water future to prevent scarcity in the land of plenty
*By Maria Perez Urdiales and Jesse Madden Libra. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the most water-rich region in the world with an astounding 21,672 m3 per capita in renewable freshwater resources. However, over 60% of its population lives in medium-high to extremely high-water risk areas. Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, AQUASTAT data A recent … [Read more...] about Investing in our water future to prevent scarcity in the land of plenty
Groundwaters: the value of the invisible
Groundwater supplies up to 60% of the water in some Latin American and Caribbean countries. They are an invisible resource, but essential for the present and future of the region. By María Augusta Olmedo and Paulina González* When we think of natural water sources, we generally imagine a river, a stream, a lake, flows that we can see with the naked eye. However, … [Read more...] about Groundwaters: the value of the invisible
Resilient and efficient: a new normality for Latin America and the Caribbean
Our region must ensure water for the present and the future with actions to mitigate climate change, a bell that also favors economic and social welfare. This is the theme of the Focus in the Americas sessions during World Water Week. The consequences of climate change are irreversible as a result of decades of human action on the planet. This dire reality, highlighted in … [Read more...] about Resilient and efficient: a new normality for Latin America and the Caribbean