Progress report for
Observatorios Ciudadanos del Agua
Achievement at a glance
The project has been very successful, both quantitatively with the establishment of more than 80 OCAs in just a few years, as well as inclusively since they are present in practically all regions of the country and qualitatively due to the level of commitment achieved and with it, the effort, creativity and teamwork put at the service of the cause of our rivers.El proyecto ha sido muy exitoso, tanto en lo cuantitativo con la instauración de más de 80 OCAs en muy pocos años, como en lo inclusivo pues prácticamente están presentes en todas las regiones del país y en lo cualitativo por el nivel de compromiso logrado y con ello, el esfuerzo, la creatividad y el trabajo en equipo puestos al servicio de la causa de nuestros ríos.
Challenges faced in implementation
Financial / funding: Significant challenges remain for unlocking restoration finance.Financiero / financiación: Quedan desafíos importantes para desbloquear la financiación de la restauración.
Next Steps
Partnerships for sustainable development: stronger partnerships will contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development by mobilizing resources, sharing knowledge and technical resources.Alianzas para el desarrollo sostenible: asociaciones más sólidas contribuirán a la protección del medio ambiente y al desarrollo sostenible mediante la movilización de recursos, el intercambio de conocimientos y recursos técnicos.
Beneficiaries
Asociaciones Administradoras del Sistema de Acueductos Comunales de Costa Rica / Asociaciones de Desarrollo en Costa Rica.
Actions
• Accompany communities in the process of applying for the Blue Flag award in the Micro-watersheds category, in order to promote their responsible participation in the conservation, restoration and protection of these important geographical units.• Apply bioremediation techniques through the use of effective microorganisms to combat contamination problems in water bodies.
• Work with formal education institutions in order to instill in children, and through them families and communities, an interest in the bodies of water close to their homes and schools, so that they develop a sense of of belonging and mutual care with rivers, streams, lakes and lagoons.
• Promote the recovery and conservation of the quality of our bodies of water so that they can maintain the fundamental role they play in the development of the country and in the quality of life of the inhabitants.
• Expansion of the network. Each observatory should try to convince other neighboring communities about the need to establish their own OCA.
• Promote activities that bring communities closer to their rivers, so that there is a happy reunion of the inhabitants with their rivers and that current generations revive the relationship that their ancestors maintained with the different bodies of water.