FreshWaterWatch
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014
Amazon Riverboat Exploration—2012 FIELD REPORT
LATIN AMERICA
1
LETTER FROM:
PROF. STEVEN LOISELLE
Dear FreshWater Watchers,
I would like to sincerely thank you for your contributions to the FreshWater Watch
research programme. Based on your efforts, the global scientific team is gaining a
new understanding of the impacts of land use and climate variability on aquatic
ecosystems across the world.
Here are just a few of your recent results: In Latin America, FreshWater Watchers
have identified water bodies where high nutrient concentrations have threatened their
possible use as potable water sources. In study cities in Southeast Asia, FreshWater
Watchers have identified catchment activities that have led to the loss in local water
quality, allowing local scientific teams and decision makers to initiate and test
mitigation activities. Meanwhile, FreshWater Watchers in India reported damaging
encroachment activities in important water bodies in the subcontinent and are now
exploring how changes in these ecosystems are influencing biodiversity.
In the coming months, we will begin an analysis of water quality dynamics and
ecosystem conditions over the course of the year. There are some exciting
preliminary results in the second part of this report. I encourage you to also explore
these results and compare your measurements to those from similar water bodies in
other cities. Send us your observations and keep everyone updated about your
activities on the freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org.
Also, look out for the new FreshWater Watch app. This allows you to directly upload
your data from the field to the global database, as well as receive feedback about the
measurements you make.
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
In the meantime, join the conversation with other FreshWater Watchers on our
forums freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org/forum, and remember to follow us at
facebook.com/freshwaterwatch and twitter.com/freshwaterwatch.
2
Your efforts demonstrate that a global community of citizen scientists can make a
critical difference. No other research programme involves such a large number of
people or such a large number of ecosystems. Your contribution has been
fundamental in maintaining a vibrant and expanding research programme.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Prof. Steven Loiselle, University of Sienna
Research Manager,
Global Freshwater Research,
Earthwatch
LETTER FROM:
CHRISLAINE DE SOUZA
Dear FreshWater Watchers,
I would like to sincerely thank you for all the support with our research. In their own
particular way Brazilians, Mexicans and Argentinians are making FreshWater Watch
a remarkable and impactful initiative in Latin America.
The five cities being monitored by FreshWater Watchers in Latin America have
different water related issues but a common urgency to find solutions. Mexico City,
São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are the four biggest cities in Latin
America, by adding Curitiba we have a total of almost 70 million people living on
those cities and surrounding areas. In this scenario of intense urbanization and
growing population, which greatly increases the impact on water resources, becomes
even more important to deeply involve the citizens in the search for solutions.
And I am very glad to say that the Latin American FreshWater Watchers are doing an
outstanding work. The overall engagement on freshwater watch research activities in
the region is above 60%, a very impressive amount for a citizen science experiment.
By being a citizen scientist and helping to collect data for the FreshWater Watch
research, Latin Americans are discovering that science is fun and for everybody and
that they can meaningfully contribute to good quality research. Also, FreshWater
Watchers are seeing themselves as part of the solution by discovering new ways to
make a better community and increase quality of life in their cities.
In the next years FreshWater Watch will produce consistent and valuable research
data for the region and we will be able to support management authorities on the
important decisions related to freshwater. For this to happen, I hope to continue to
have your help and enthusiasm.
I am very proud of all we have accomplished so far and very hopeful for new
breakthroughs yet to come. Thank very much for your support and contribution to
make this initiative a success in Latin America.
Chrislaine M. de Souza
Regional Program Manager – Latin America
Instituto Earthwatch do Brasil
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
Kind regards,
3
ADOPTING RIVERS IN BRAZIL
DR. DAVI CUNHA
UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO
HIGHLIGHTS
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
The most significant highlight in Brazil is that
volunteer participation has exceeded what we
were expecting. More than 120 FreshWater
Watchers are active and 60 sites (rivers/
streams) at São Paulo and Curitiba are being
monitored.
4
This is exciting because there are such a few
experiences in South America reporting such a
massive involvement of citizen scientists in a
research project.
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES
The interaction with local communities and
livelihoods is fundamental for this project. After
FreshWater Watch training days, our citizen
scientists are responsible for different
activities, including spreading information on
water resources to other people (like relatives,
neighbors, friends etc).
We believe we are having a good impact on the
local communities. In Curitiba, for example, a
volunteer who was monitoring a water source
found out that the water had relatively high
nitrate concentrations. This finding was
publicised and we are now aiming for people to
stop drinking that water.
BIODIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES WATERS
PROF. LUCIANA ROCHA
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LUJÁN
HIGHLIGHTS
Gathering data in several sites of Buenos Aires
simply would be possible without the support
of FreshWater Watchers. More than 50 data
collections were carried out in the first year
alone by more than 30 citizen science leaders
and our team.
A total of 25 sites were sampled in the first year
of FreshWater Watch in Buenos Aires. In 32% of
the sampled sites the land use was agriculture
and livestock, 24% was for industrial use, 8%
was grassland/shrub and the remainder was
urban (residential and park). It was recorded
at 47.7% of the sites that the main source
of pollution due to urban/road discharges,
represented mainly by the presence of litter on
the surface of bodies water and on the banks.
We’re planning to present talks about
freshwater in the schools of Navarro (Buenos
Aires) for high school students. This activity will
be carried out once a month in each school.
The information presented in this report
together with the first three month data
logging of this year was used for the exposure
of the work in the “Congreso Argentino de
Limnología” (September 2014). It will be also
used in the release of a work in a book, which
will be published by National University of
Lanús entitled Actualidad y perspectivas en la
gestión sustentable de cuencas hídricas.
In terms of percentage of organic matter in
sediment, the sites which were geographically
closed and with different degrees of
urbanisation, showed the highest values.
DEVELOPING PEOPLE
Of particular significance has been the
development of one student, Lucía (a research
assistant), both academically and in terms of
the leadership and presentation skills.
Another student is being incorporated to the
team for the second year.
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
Records of turbidity showed higher values
at sites from streams with agricultural and
livestock land use around.
4
5
CHINAMPAS AND CANALS OF MEXICO CITY
PROF. ELSA VALIENTE RIVEROS
RESTAURACIÓN ECOLÓGICA Y DESARROLLO A.C.
HIGHLIGHTS
Xochimilco is a wetland with many kinds of
disturbances but still provides important
environmental services, such as food, endemic
and native species, landscape, carbon
retention, water retention and filtration, weather
balance and oxygen input.
With water analysis done by FreshWater
Watchers, we are understanding the dynamics
of the wetland and the influence of land use on
the water quality.
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
6
We are working on the sustainability of friendly
environmental agriculture, by linking local
producers with Mexico City consummers in
order to promote global thinking and local
consumption.
This project also look for the recognition of
Xochimilco as a wetland providing important
environmental services, one being production
of food. Through this project we are working on
mitigation of pollution by enhancing of organic
fertilizers and biological pest control;
and conservation of species by creating refuges
isolated from introduced species;
DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS
We are working with a group of 10 producers
on agroecological techniques, biodiversity
conservation, refuges rehabilitation for native
species, administration topics and greens short
marketing canals.
Also we have a disemination programme about
environmental and local conservation topics for
people from Mexico City once a month. So far
we have received around 40 persons for this
talks.
IMPACTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND
LIVELIHOODS
As part of the agroecological project, we are
working on the building of a producers network
to put together all agroecological products and
selling to direct consumers. 50% of the selling
is returned to producers and 50% is used for
REDES Chinampa crops maintenance and
products distribution.
GLOBAL OUTCOMES:
FRESHWATER WATCH
FreshWaterWatch
A GLOBAL OVERVIEW
In 2013, more than 1700 corporate employees became FreshWater Watchers in 30 cities across the globe. The data, gathered
by trained citizen scientists and uploaded onto the FreshWater Watch online system, are being used by the Global FreshWater
Watch science team to explore temporal and geographical differences in water quality and ecosystem health. Each dataset
is analysed with respect to its local conditions of land use/cover and climate to help us understand the drivers of ecosystem
degradation. Thanks to your efforts, new insights are being made regarding the state of our freshwater ecosystems.
Many more measurements are needed before we can truly make robust conclusions, but so far, FreshWater Watch data taken
across the globe are indicating that smaller water bodies, such as streams and ponds, are significantly less impacted with
respect to larger rivers and lakes. These results, while still preliminary, would indicate that catchment size matters, even in
urban environments.
As FreshWater Watchers continue to take repeat measurements of the same water body, we will be exploring the variability
in the seasonal dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. We are now looking into the relative importance of such things as climate
variability on different types of water bodies. Keep up the great work.
FRESHWATER WATCH IN A YEAR: A SNAPSHOT OF 2013
WE TRAINED 1707 CITIZEN SCIENCE LEADERS IN 2013.
OF THESE, 470 CONTINUED TO COLLECT AND UPLOAD
DATA FOR FRESHWATER WATCH - ABOUT 28 PER CENT.
CITIZEN SCIENCE LEADERS IN 2013 COLLECTED DATA AT
505 DIFFERENT SITES GLOBALLY.
A TOTAL OF 1588 DATASETS WERE UPLOADED TO THE
FRESHWATER WATCH WEBSITE IN 2013.
FIELD REPORT 2012-2014 - Latin America
REPEAT MEASUREMENTS WERE CARRIED OUT AT 266 OF
THESE SITES - ABOUT 53 PER CENT.
7
FreshWaterWatch
Learn More
Find us: thewaterhub.org/freshwaterwatch
Friend us: /freshwaterwatch
Follow us: /freshwaterwatch
How your company could benefit from FreshWater Watch
By working with Earthwatch, you’ll play a role in safeguarding one of our most
precious resources.
Your employees will learn more about sustainable action, help us to understand our
environment, and bring new skills and knowledge back to the workplace, and to their homes.
Contact us at [email protected]
Earthwatch U.S.
114 Western Ave.
Boston, MA 02134
United States
[email protected]
earthwatch.org
Phone: 1-978-461-0081
Toll-Free: 1-800-776-0188
Fax: 1-978-461-2332
Earthwatch Hong Kong
Room 1402, Breakthrough Centre
191 Woosung Street,
Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
[email protected]
earthwatch.org.hk
Phone: + 852-2838-1114
Fax: + 852-2838-1814
Earthwatch Europe
Mayfield House
256 Banbury Rd.
Oxford, OX2 7DE
United Kingdom
Earthwatch Australia
126 Bank St.
South Melbourne,
VIC 3205
Australia
Earthwatch Japan
Food Science Bldg. 4F
The University of Tokyo
1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
[email protected]
earthwatch.org
[email protected]
earthwatch.org
[email protected]
earthwatch.org
Phone: 44-0-1865-318-838
Fax: 44-0-1865-311-383
Phone: 61-0-3-9016-7590
Fax: 61-0-3-9686-3652
Phone: 81-0-3-6686-0300
Fax: 81-0-3-6686-0477
Earthwatch, Brazil
Avenida Sete de Setembro 6665
Curitiba-PR -CEP
80.240-001
Brazil
[email protected]
Phone: + 55-41-3077-0380
Earthwatch, India
Augusta Point (Level 4)
Sector 53,
Golf Course Road
Gurgaon, 122002
India
Email: [email protected]
Phone: + 91-124-4354-248