The Need for a Research Network

The Tropical Water Research Alliance – TWRA (Tropical Water Research Alliance) is a private, non-profit, scientific, educational and cultural entity. It is a multi-institutional social organization that aims to expand international cooperation between Brazil and Australia. We aim to develop, manage, and implement methodologies, build diagnostics, and propose tools and models for the integrated management of aquatic ecosystems involving various social actors (companies, government, and society) problems in tropical watersheds.

Who we are and what we do

TWRA tries to improve the world by promoting an ecosystem that brings together people and institutions from various fields of knowledge interested in solving water issues with the agents who need or want to encourage impact changes that generate value for society.
We seek to build systemic solutions to complex problems related to water resource management in watersheds as an integrating agent between researchers, government, and civil society. We seek the appropriate solutions in the most correct way possible, involving the stakeholders necessary for a dialogue that enables the implementation of sustainable projects aimed at water resource management. We develop, manage, and implement methodologies, build diagnostics, and propose tools and models for integrated management of aquatic ecosystems involving all social actors (companies, government, and society) problems related to the waters of the Tropical Region. We differentiate ourselves by involving many people and institutions, providing a vast network of expertise, able to offer systemic solutions to complex problems in watersheds and marine environments of the Tropical Region for integrated management of aquatic ecosystems.
The Alliance is formed by a network of people active and concerned with human pressures on natural resources with expertise to address problems transdisciplinary and systemic. We know that managing water resources is urgent, necessary, and fundamental for good Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance and for preserving human life. We do what we do because we are more than an organization and are committed to offering a better and more sustainable future for future generations. TWRA comprises those who care about the water issues of the planet and people who want to generate impact with their knowledge and expertise in this matter. We are not an organization of creators but executors of a better and sustainable future for people. We create alternatives that allow good governance of water resources, providing value generation for society as a whole allowing the sustainable use of water resources while promoting environmental preservation and human development. We are an alliance that unites people, the environment, businesses, and government to build a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. We bring together people, institutions, and knowledge to solve fundamental water-related problems for humanity.

Mission

Preserve access to quality water with sustainability and governance in tropical ecosystems.

View

To be the main interlocutor of systemic solutions related to managing and preserving tropical waters in Brazil and Australia.

Values

Balance: Work for the preservation of water for people and nature. This value values the balance between the environment and human beings seeking to manage the needs of use with the conservation of ecosystems.
Reconnection: Reconnect the human being with the spaces of the waters. This value seeks to improve the understanding of the complexity of river basins to work priority processes for the rehabilitation of water spaces.
Sustainability: Integrate land use with the preservation of access to quality water. This value seeks to guide land use to ensure land occupation without compromising ecosystems, quantity, and quality of access to water.
Security: Reduce conflicts for water. This value promotes stability by developing the capacity of a population to ensure sustainable access to adequate amounts of water of acceptable quality for their livelihoods and their socioeconomic development, along with the preservation of ecosystems. 
Planning: Evaluate and act on changes in time to mitigate possible damages. This value aims to provide information that allows the correct decision-making in the management and implementation of measures that guarantee sustainable access to water and the conservation of the quality and biodiversity of its ecosystem.
Empathy: Transform data into information and information into knowledge. This value seeks the diffusion and access of research information in natural and social sciences for practical decision-making and the effective management of socioecological systems, whether by public or private persons or institutions.
Collaboration: Promote dialogue and cooperation. This value seeks the preservation of ecosystems through qualified information that allows a vision of assertive values to identify the cause-and-effect relationships that will enable the conservation of water resources.
Transparency: Promote access to qualified information and actions that generate impact. This value aims to give access to data, projects, and good practices so that they can be used, studied, and improved by any agent who wants to implement changes that positively impact the management of tropical waters. 
Planning: Evaluate and act on changes in time to mitigate possible damages. This value aims to provide information that allows the correct decision-making in the management and implementation of measures that guarantee sustainable access to water and the conservation of the quality and biodiversity of its ecosystem.

Timeline

2013
  • The initial concept of Tropical Alliance is proposed by Austrade and Trade Investment Queensland (TQI) to promote academic and business exchange between Brazil and Australia.
  • The Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University becomes the leader to develop the Tropical Alliance initiative and to identify Water Resource Management as a priority area.
2015
  • Initial discussions regarding aquatic sciences take place at the Congress of the Brazilian Water Resources Association during the Latin American Water Week.
  • Australian scientists visit Brazil in July and meet with research funding and training Agencies at Federal (CNPq, CAPES) and State (FAPESP, FAPEMIG, FAPERJ, FAPEAM, SECTES) levels, Water and Environment Agencies (including  Agência Nacional das Águas and State Agencies in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília), Industry Federations (FIESP, FIEMG) and key research groups with an interest in the management of tropical waters (USP, UFMG, UFRJ, UERJ, UnB , INPA).
  • A Workshop is organized by Austrade with the Secretariat of Environment and Water in São Paulo and Special Session take place at the Conference of the Brazilian Water Resources Association (ABRH) in Brasília. In addition, other discussions were held with researchers from USP, UFRJ and UnB.
  • The proposal to establish an international network is initiated through partnership among the Agência Nacional da Água (ANA), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior (CAPES) – PrInt program (Institutional Internationalization Program), State Research Support Foundations (FAPDF, FAPES, FAPESB, Araucária Foundation/FAPPR), Universities and Research Institutes.
  • Griffith University and the Universidade de Brasilia (UnB) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU – Memorandum of Understanding) to support the initiative to develop a formal proposal of an international network focused on tropical water management issues: Tropical Water Research Alliance (TWRA) between Brazil and Australia.
2017
  • The first Workshop to discuss TWRA issues takes place at the XVI Brazilian Congress of Limnology in the Rio de Janeiro State
2018
  • The World Water Forum provides discussions that strengthen the Alliance’s proposal with the Agência Nacional da Água (ANA) and other national and international agencies.
  • ANA signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Government for cooperation in water management and the Australian Rivers Institute becomes the implementing partner.
  • Professors Stuart Bunn, José Francisco Gonçalves Jr. and Hamish Campbell make technical visits to universities in Brazil (UnB, Brasília) and Australia (Griffith University, Brisbane).
  • A PhD internship from a UnB student at Griffith University is approved through the Capes PrInt Program.
2019
  • Three workshops are held to discuss the implementation of the Tropical Alliance: July 31 promoted by FAPDF in Brasília; 2 – 1 August promoted by SETI-PR in Curitiba; 3 – 5 and 6 of August during the XVII Brazilian Congress of Limnology in Florianópolis.
  • FAPES formalizes the support for theTropical Alliance, making Espírito Santo State the pioneer of the execution and implementation of the Alliance activities.
2020
  • Activities begin for the presentation of the Tropical Alliance in the State of Espírito Santo.
  • They are held to decide the next steps and alternatives to the face-to-face Workshops canceled by the emergence of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
  • The Espírito Santo Regional Committee begins to carry out scientific dissemination through TWRA’s social media, including matters involving the pandemic and the water environment.
  • The I Cycle of TWRA Webinars – Presentation and Implementation of the Tropical Water Research Alliance takes place between July and September.
  • TWRA enters as a partner of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo and they carry out the I IFSP Webinar – Challenges for the Sustainable Management of Hydrographic Basins, between the months of September and December.
  • During the second semester, the creation of TWRA’s Regional Headquarters begins in the states: Bahia, Paraíba, Alagoas, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Federal District, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte.
  • In October, TWRA becomes a non-profit association based in the city of Brasília.
  • In December, a Memorandum of Understanding is signed between CONFAP and TWRA.
2021
  • TWRA has its first project approved at the federal level, through the Águas Brasileiras Program.
  • In the first semester, the Regional Headquarters of the States of Rondônia and Minas Gerais are established.
  • In September, the II Cycle of TWRA Webinars begins.
  • Paraná State Government approves TWRA partner institution project.
  • Launch of the book “Sustainable Management of Hydrographic Basins: Scenarios of Brazil and Australia”.
  • TWRA’s proposal is approved in the first phase in the MCTI Public Notice.
2022
  • In February, the collaborative exchange project between Victoria University (Australia) and TWRA is approved.
  • TWRA has its second project approved at the federal level, through the Águas Brasileiras Program.
  • The Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) makes its financial support to the Tropical Alliance official.
  • TWRA participates in the 9th World Water Forum (Dakar).
  • Participation of TWRA in the annual conference of the Brazilian Association of International Education (FAUBAI).
  • In April, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AGERH and TWRA is signed.
  • In May, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Griffith University and TWRA is signed.
  • I Workshop (online) of the project in partnership with the Australian Rivers Institute (ARI).
  • In September the III International TWRA Webinar Cycle takes place.
  • TWRA’s Executive Board carries out the Mission Australia.
  • TWRA’s Participation in CONSECTI & CONFAP 2022 National Forum.
2023
  • TWRA project, in partnership with Griffith University, is published in the journal.
  • Participation of TWRA in the Society for Freshwater Science (SFC) meeting in Brisbane, Australia.
  • II Workshop “Comprehensive Assessment of Threats and Bioeconomic Solutions in the Western Region of Bahia of the São Francisco River Basin.”
  • TWRA grants the new title of Meritorious Member.
  • TWRA participates in events organized by CONFAP and the Government of Victoria.
  • TWRA participates in the CONSECTI & CONFAP National Forum.
  • Approval of the Araguaia Vivo 2030 project: Program for Conservation and Sustainability.
  • Webinar “Microplastics,” promoted in partnership with RMIT University.
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