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The BEST-P project investigates the relationship between land cover dynamics and ecosystem services in southern South America, specifically focusing on carbon and water regulation. Using remote sensing and field studies, the project has quantified the impacts of deforestation and afforestation in the Chaco region, analyzed the influence of different landholder types on conservation, and developed tools to integrate biophysical and human dimensions into territorial planning. The initiative also provides evidence to support legal actions against illegal deforestation in Argentina by demonstrating cross-province climatic impacts.

The report emphasizes the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal protection. It argues that these 'blue carbon' ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and calls for a comprehensive framework involving scientific diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, and community engagement. The document provides specific policy recommendations across four dimensions: ecology, ecosystem services, spatial governance, and community action, while highlighting the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica as case studies for sustainable management.

This white paper argues for the critical importance of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection. It identifies threats such as climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management. The report emphasizes the role of 'blue carbon' in climate mitigation and advocates for science diplomacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. It provides specific case studies from the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica to illustrate successful management and the need for continued restoration.

Uruguay's Country Programme to the GCF details the nation's commitment to a low-carbon, resilient economy. It identifies key vulnerabilities—particularly in agriculture and coastal zones—and sets mitigation targets for energy and food production. The document establishes the Ministry of Environment as the National Designated Authority and outlines a pipeline of projects focusing on e-mobility, coastal resilience, and REDD+, while pursuing GCF accreditation for the Corporación Nacional para el Desarrollo (CND) and Banco República Oriental del Uruguay (BROU).

The document analyzes the widespread eutrophication of Uruguay's aquatic ecosystems, identifying agricultural intensification as the primary driver of nutrient pollution, particularly phosphorus. It details how climate change exacerbates these symptoms and describes the public health risks posed by toxic cyanobacterial blooms, such as those from the Microcystis aeruginosa complex. The authors argue that current soil conservation practices, like no-till farming, may inadvertently increase soluble phosphorus runoff. They recommend a transition toward neutral or negative phosphorus balances, the use of catch crops, and a shift from a centralized to a decentralized, multi-actor water governance model to effectively mitigate the crisis.

The SACC project investigates the exchange processes between the deep ocean and the continental shelf of eastern South America, specifically testing the hypothesis that the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) is a primary site for shelf water transfer. Initial findings indicate that the Patagonia shelf absorbs approximately 17 Tg C per year and that freshwater inputs from the Rio de la Plata and Patos Lagoon significantly influence ecosystem production in the Southwest Atlantic.

The SACC consortium studies the physical and biogeochemical exchanges between the deep ocean and the Patagonian shelf to improve global carbon models and understand marine biodiversity. Initial results indicate that the Patagonia shelf absorbs approximately 17 Tg C yr-1 and that the shelf break fishery, representing 3% of global production, shows signs of overfishing. The project also emphasizes the role of freshwater input from the Rio de la Plata and Patos Lagoon in the Southwest Atlantic ecosystem and supports the BioMare fishery and oceanographic information system.

This research paper describes the BEST-P initiative, a project supported by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) that examines the relationship between territorial arrangement plans and ecosystem services in three South American ecosystems. The project, involving 23 researchers from nine institutions across five countries, aims to integrate the concept of ecosystem services into land use planning to balance conservation with agricultural productivity.