The research explains how human-induced changes in the Paraná River impact the ecosystem and modify the way of life of its inhabitants.
The work with multimedia format “Paraná Extremo” (www.paranaextremo.ar), which portrays the human impact on the life of the wetlands of the middle delta of the great river, was produced by Radio Universidad journalist Jorgelina Hiba, photojournalist Celina Mutti Lovera and illustrator Saskia van Drunen.
The rapid and aggressive metamorphosis of the Paraná River, a giant river that crosses half of South America, moves 15 thousand cubic meters of water per second and supplies the lives of millions of people along the Plata basin with its ecosystem services. But the ecological crisis threatens the identity of the great South American river.
Paraná Extremo is a research project that seeks to explain how changes induced by humans in this 1,5 million square kilometer ecosystem mosaic that originates in Brazil and flows into the Río de la Plata impact the ecosystem and modify the way of life of those who live there. “The ecological crisis generated by humans - of which global warming is perhaps the most visible face - affects the essence and behavior of the Paraná, filling with uncertainty and variability what until recently was called normality or scientific certainty. A more traveled, more intervened and more polluted river that, under anthropic pressure, stopped being free to become a multi-fragmented course,” says the work.
The article shows the transformation of the last four years in the last stretch of the river, evidenced both by the longest low water level in its history given the context of extreme drought, as well as by intentional fires, construction of dams and embankments and other intensive human uses that threaten its ecological identity.
With images (photos and videos) by photojournalist Celina Mutti Lovera and illustrations specially made to accompany the texts by Dutch historian and illustrator Saskia Van Drunen, the material is hosted on a website programmed and designed by Renzo Costarelli, Nicolás Rojo and Juan March. In addition, the work is endorsed by the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, of the Ministry of Environment of the Province of Santa Fe and the Humedales Foundation. It was also declared of interest by the Provincial Legislature of Santa Fe at the request of Deputy Clara García.
The research aims to give a voice to the inhabitants of the Middle Delta (fishermen, beekeepers, locals, islanders and teachers), as well as to researchers in areas such as biology, agricultural sciences and water sciences.
It will be presented on September 4 at 19 p.m. at the UNR headquarters, Maipú 1065, with the presence of its authors and the general secretary of the University Guillermo Montero, the fisherman Julián Aguilar and the environmentalist of the group “El Paraná No Se Toca” Jorge Bártoli.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal