STWLB-SOUTH

The Stewardship Leadership Board for South America (STWLB-SOUTH)

1- ABOUT

The Stewardship Leadership Board for South America (STWLB-SOUTH) within the Global Center for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) is charged with aligning GCRI's global initiatives with the unique environmental, social, and economic landscapes of South America. By incorporating the chairs of all Specialized Leadership Boards (SLBs) relevant to the region, along with the regional leadership team including the President, Secretary, and Vice President of STWLB-SOUTH, this board is pivotal in harmonizing diverse GCRI activities into a cohesive regional strategy. STWLB-SOUTH is dedicated to ensuring that local implementations are effectively integrated with international standards, thereby promoting innovation, risk management, and sustainable development across South America.

2- VISION

STWLB-SOUTH envisions South America as a beacon of sustainability and innovation, leading in the integration of national efforts with global sustainability and innovation agendas. It aims for GCRI to drive transformative changes across the continent, establishing best practices in sustainable development, risk management, and technological advancements that contribute to a resilient and thriving South America.

3- MISSION

The mission of STWLB-SOUTH is to ensure strategic alignment and operational effectiveness of GCRI’s initiatives across South America, marrying global standards with national strategies. It commits to elevating South America's role in global governance concerning risk management, security, privacy, and sustainability through innovative and collaborative solutions.

4- COMPOSITION

• Chairs of SLBs: Leaders from the Industry, Academic, Engineering, Strategic, and Legacy Leadership Boards specific to South America, bringing together a wide range of expertise.

• Regional President: The leading figure steering the strategic direction of STWLB-SOUTH and ensuring its coherence with GCRI’s overall goals.

• Secretary: Responsible for the administration, coordination, and documentation of STWLB-SOUTH’s actions and decisions.

• Vice President: Supports in strategic planning and operational execution to amplify GCRI’s impact within South America.

5- FOCUS AREAS

• National Working Groups (NWGs) Formation and Oversight: Creating NWGs to adapt GCRI’s global initiatives into actionable national strategies that resonate with South American countries.

• Management of National Councils: Ensuring these councils align with GCRI's global mission while facilitating their contributions to the global governance framework.

• Direction for National Technical Councils: Supervising these councils to tackle local challenges efficiently and contribute South American insights to the global knowledge pool.

• Strategic Consistency Across Levels: Guaranteeing strategic alignment across all levels of GCRI’s operations within South America, guiding efforts towards unified goals.

6- OPERATIONS

• Strategic Planning Meetings: Conducting regular sessions to discuss strategic alignment, implementation, and review.

• Coordination Mechanisms: Streamlining cooperation between national and global initiatives for efficiency.

• Performance Evaluation: Monitoring the impact and effectiveness of strategies and initiatives throughout South America.

7- RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Planning and Execution: Steering GCRI’s activities in South America to align with both regional requirements and global ambitions.

• Building Collaborative Networks: Initiating partnerships and alliances to extend GCRI’s influence across South America.

• Promoting Innovation and Sustainability: Advocating for the incorporation of innovative and sustainable practices within national strategies across the continent.

• Facilitating Knowledge Exchange: Encouraging the sharing of insights and successful strategies among national working groups and councils.

• Capacity Building: Enhancing the abilities of NWGs, National Councils, and Technical Councils to address local challenges effectively and contribute to global objectives.

8- STEWARDSHIP

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest, spanning across countries like Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and more, represents the largest tropical rainforest in the world, known for its unparalleled biodiversity and complex ecosystems. This region faces threats from deforestation, mining, and climate change, impacting its capacity to function as a significant carbon sink and water cycle regulator. Conservation strategies include protected areas establishment, sustainable land use practices, and international cooperation to reduce deforestation rates and preserve biodiversity.

Andean Mountains

Stretching along the western edge of South America, the Andean Mountains are not only the longest continental mountain range in the world but also one of the most biodiverse. They encompass a wide range of habitats, from tropical Andean forests to high-altitude páramos and glaciers, each with unique flora and fauna. The Andes are crucial for water provision to millions but face challenges from mining, land degradation, and climate change. Efforts to conserve the Andes focus on ecosystem restoration, sustainable development practices, and climate adaptation strategies to protect water resources and endemic species.

Patagonia

Located in the southern parts of Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is known for its starkly beautiful landscapes, including steppe-like plains, glaciers, fjords, and temperate rainforests. This region confronts issues such as overgrazing, deforestation, and the impacts of climate change on its glaciers. Conservation initiatives in Patagonia prioritize habitat protection, sustainable tourism, and efforts to restore and conserve native forests and grasslands.

Gran Chaco

The Gran Chaco, spread across Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil, is the second-largest forested region in South America after the Amazon. Characterized by dry forests, savannas, and wetlands, it supports diverse species but is rapidly being deforested due to agriculture expansion. Conservation strategies involve sustainable land management, the promotion of agroforestry, and the protection of key biodiversity areas.

Cerrado

The Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna biome in Brazil, is renowned for its high species endemism and biodiversity. Threatened by agricultural intensification, particularly soy cultivation and cattle ranching, the Cerrado requires urgent conservation measures such as the expansion of protected areas, sustainable agriculture practices, and restoration of native vegetation to maintain its ecological balance.

Pampas

The Pampas grasslands, located primarily in Argentina and extending into Uruguay and Brazil, are vital for agriculture but face challenges from intensive farming, land-use change, and habitat loss. Efforts to preserve the Pampas focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, conserving natural grasslands, and restoring degraded areas to protect the unique biodiversity and ecosystem services of this region.

Amazon Basin Wetlands

Including the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland area, these wetlands stretch across multiple countries and are critical for biodiversity, carbon storage, and flood mitigation. Threats include hydroelectric development, pollution, and unsustainable land use. Conservation and sustainable management efforts emphasize the importance of wetland preservation, sustainable water management, and the protection of aquatic habitats.

Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest, once covering a vast area along the Atlantic coast of Brazil and extending into Paraguay and Argentina, is now highly fragmented due to urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation. Despite its reduced size, it remains a hotspot for biodiversity. Conservation actions include reforestation, habitat connectivity enhancement, and community-based conservation projects to protect the remaining forest patches and their endemic species.