The mayor of Trelew, Gerardo Merino, announced on Monday that the city has been designated as a "Wetland City" following the approval of the Independent Advisory Committee on Wetland City Accreditation during the 64th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. This distinction is granted in recognition of the Trelew lagoon system, which includes the Cacique Chiquichano Natural Reserve and other lagoons east of the city, in the province of Chubut.
Merino highlighted that this achievement has allowed for the acquisition of funds aimed at sanitation and environmental preservation, representing a significant advancement in Trelew's environmental policies. He also emphasized that this designation will strengthen tourism in the city, which is already recognized for its wide diversity of birds, including a significant colony of flamingos.
The initiative to designate cities as "Wetland Cities" is part of the Wetland City Accreditation program, initiated in 2015 with the purpose of encouraging cities to protect and manage their wetlands, whether natural or artificial. The Trelew lagoon system has been nominated as a Ramsar site due to its relevance in biodiversity conservation and its contribution to environmental sustainability.
The nomination process received support from faculty and researchers at the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), as well as from efforts made to the National Environmental Secretariat and the Foreign Ministry. This achievement reaffirms Trelew's commitment to conserving its environment, in line with the intergovernmental treaty adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.