National WWF Case Study

Establishing a National System of Water Reserves in Mexico (Sergio Salinas & Eugenio Barrios, WWF Mexico)

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The study identified 189 basins where water reserves could be established and are nominated to be included in the National Water Reserves Program.

WWF–FGRA (Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte I.A.P.) Alliance, in collaboration with the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), conducted a scoping study that identified potential water reserves throughout Mexico to ensure environmental flows as stated under the National Water Law. These water reserves are defined as watersheds with favorable conditions – high biological richness and high conservation values, availability of water, and low pressure for water users. The reserves could be wetlands or river stretches (upper to lower basins) and selected aquifers.

The benefits of water reserves are that they:

Define sustainable limits on water availability, which fosters the principle of saving water and managing the demand placed on this resource, thus reducing risk from water scarcity and conflicts.
Guarantee the connectivity of the entire basin; conserve ecosystems; and maintain environmental services such as storing, conducting, and supplying water, improving water quality, and providing protection from extreme events.
Introduce integrated planning and management of both subterranean and surface water, especially in regions with little surface water.
Preserve or control peak flow release to prevent river channel interruption and riverbed invasion; thereby, diminishing the risk against extreme events.
Reinforce the conservation strategy for the nation’s most important ecosystems and their environmental benefits: 97 Natural Protected Areas, 55 Ramsar sites, and an additional 78,500 km² of river basins.

The joint Alliance / CONAGUA initiative’s goals were to:

Establish a national system of water reserves;
Demonstrate that water reserves ensure a healthy functioning of the water cycle, as well as the environmental services they provide;
Build capacity in the implementation of environmental flows backed by official national guidelines throughout the country.

This new integrated system of water reserves includes representation of all hydrological zones types, terrestrial ecoregions, and freshwater ecosystems in order to guarantee resilience of ecosystems and society, prevent water shortages, and create a dedicated strategy on climate change adaptation. Currently, the Mexican government via CONAGUA, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the WWF-FGRA alliance are working together in implementing the national Water Reserve Program.

Key Conclusion:

Including the maintenance and restoration of environmental flows as a guiding principle in national water laws provides the foundation for new and innovative solutions. By doing so, it catalyzes the prioritization and conservation of critical water resources, thereby securing the steady delivery of ecosystem services which ultimately reduces the risk of conflicts.