Protecting critical watersheds through scientific evidence, cross-sectoral collaboration and community action

Snapshot Solution
Protecting water sources through public private partnerships
Tony Nello, IUCN

Agua Tica is Costa Rica's first water fund, contributing to the protection of water sources in the Rio Grande and Virilla river basins which supply water to the Greater Metropolitan Area of San Jose. Water sources of the region are under severe pressure due to high population growth, lack of land use planning, and development. The fund identifies conservation needs through scientific methodologists, then creates public-private partnerships to provide technical expertise and funding, and finally invests resources in conservation activities in the upper and middle catchments in order to ensure long term water security in the urban area.

Dernière modification 05 Nov 2020
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Contexte
Challenges addressed
Land and Forest degradation
Conflicting uses / cumulative impacts
Ecosystem loss
Scale of implementation
Local
Subnational
Ecosystems
Agroforestry
Cropland
Orchard
Rangeland / Pasture
Tropical evergreen forest
River, stream
Thème
Adaptation
Ecosystem services
Sustainable financing
Cities and infrastructure
Sustainable livelihoods
Land management
Watershed management
Emplacement
San José, San José, Costa Rica
Central America
Impacts
  • 1.9 million beneficiaries, 164 000 ha under influence of the project, 603 000 m3 water resupplied to nature per year, 607 ha under forest protection and regeneration.
  • Robust monitoring process in field activities like water quality monitoring, isotopes monitoring, soil monitoring and hydroclimatology monitoring programs in alliance with the Stable Isotopes Laboratory.
  • Contributing to the national policy throughout the active participation in the  RIOS Limpios National Strategy developed by the Ministry of Environment.
  • Through the LandScale project, we are reinforcing the Agua Tica's impact monitoring tools to achieve sustainable integrated landscape management in the Agua Tica's area of influence, integrating environmental, social and economic metrics to reach the Agua Tica´s water security goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 – Good health and well-being
SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
SDG 13 – Climate action
SDG 15 – Life on land
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals
Connexion avec les contributeurs
Other contributors