7° Water Dialogues (#DiálogosDelAgua)
Channel: CAF -banco de desarrollo de Latam y el Caribe-
Date: 06/10/2021

Experts and leaders from the Latin American and Spanish water sectors will meet at this event to discuss the challenges arising with local and transboundary aquifers.

Groundwater contributes more than 40% of the world's irrigated crop production and a third of the water used in industries. It also sustains ecosystems, preserving the base flow of rivers and stabilizes soils. Aquifers also buffer impacts resulting from seasonal variability and climate change and are natural water storage reservoirs.

These values highlight the relevance and high dependence on the resource’s usage and conservation, which is threatened both by excessive use, leading to overexploitation and collateral effects, and by pollution caused by untreated discharges from various origins as well as chemical processes occurring in the geological environment.

During the 7th edition of the Latin America-Spain Water Dialogues, the challenges arising in local and transboundary aquifers will be discussed, in view of their relevance as a priority source of fresh water, promoting their rational use, protection, and if necessary their restoration, as well as the need to encourage (in the case of international aquifers), agreements that allow progress with joint policies and strategies between countries.

The Latin America-Spain Water Dialogues are part of a long-term strategic collaboration platform set up by CAF Development bank of Latin America and the Kingdom of Spain, through the Ministries for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MTERD), Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital (MAETD) y Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación (MAEUEC). It is also supported by Casa de América y de iAgua.