Biodiversity Conservation in the Binational Mira and Mataje Rivers' Basins: Building Biophysical and Socio-Environmental Bases for Conservation and the Adaptive Management of Ecosystem Services

Purpose

This project aimed to improve the conditions necessary for conserving the ecosystems of the binational Mira and Mataje rivers basins—both part of the Chocó biogeographic region, an area recognized worldwide for its high biodiversity.

To achieve this goal, the project contributed to:

Advancing scientific knowledge about the state of ecosystems within the basins
enhancing understanding of territorial governance and stakeholder dynamics

Goals

Support decision-making processes in binational basins by providing high-quality, timely and easily accessible information.
Promote the maintenance of the ecological integrity of binational basins, through an improvement in the resilience of their ecosystems and a greater understanding and protection of their ecosystem services.
Improve governance and governability conditions in binational basins, generating and / or supporting instances of coordination and collaboration between actors, seeking participatory planning and implementation of management strategies, and promoting a basin vision.

Products

Wiki Mira-Mataje: A "wiki" system that concentrates and summarizes the existing information on the binational basins of the Mira and Mataje rivers, and allows contributions, editions, and information updates by individuals and organizations.
Geodatabase: A geographic information system (GIS) that compiles biophysical and socio-environmental information from the binational basins of the Mira and Mataje rivers.
State of the basins: A publication that describes the status of the binational basins of the Mira and Mataje rivers.
Priority areas for conservation: Maps that describe areas of special importance due to their biodiversity and some of their threats.
Governance analysis: Governance analyses in selected sub-basins.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue spaces: Meetings of multiple stakeholders in Colombia and Ecuador, including binational events.
Conservation strategy: A guide document to improve conservation in the Mira and Mataje binational rivers basins.