60th Anniversary - 38

K E Y SU C C E S S E S A N D C H A L L E N G E S
MEXICO'S THIRST
FOR CHANGE
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE HELPED SECURE WATER FLOWS IN NEARLY 300 RIVERS ACROSS MEXICO -
SAFEGUARDING WATER SUPPLIES FOR NATURE AND FOR 45 MILLION PEOPLE.
As in many countries, water shortages
are a real threat in Mexico. As human
populations grow and climate change
increases droughts and disrupts rainfall
patterns, water resources are coming under
ever greater stress. So in 2018, with our
support, the country took a revolutionary
step. The president signed a decree creating
" water reserves " in 295 river basins across
the country. That means that an agreed
proportion of the water in these river basins
is set aside for nature as well as to provide
drinking water and the other essential needs
of local people. In total, the reserves cover
55% of Mexico's surface water, and should
guarantee freshwater supplies for 45 million
people for the next half-century. We played
a key role in working out how much water
needs to flow through each one to sustain
nature and meet the needs of local people.
That will allow water to be managed wisely
and fairly, now and in the future.
The reserves will also help to safeguard
Mexico's remaining free-flowing rivers,
like the Usumacinta, the largest and most
biodiverse river in Central America. A water
reserve now protects 93% of the Usumacinta's
water, nourishing communities, forests and
local wildlife like the iconic jaguar.
But rivers are still drained, dammed and diverted
Globally, our rivers are in trouble. So we're
working to improve the way rivers and
other freshwater environments are
managed. We're challenging destructive
developments like poorly sited hydropower
dams, and demonstrating sustainable
alternatives. And we're helping to bring
rivers back to health by removing dams
and other artificial structures, restoring
wetlands and floodplains, and protecting
threatened species like river dolphins
and sturgeon.
60 YEARS OF ACTION FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE
© naturepl.com / Neil Lucas / WWF
http://www.naturepl.com
60th Anniversary

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 60th Anniversary
