Human rights and wetlands, with special reference to the Santa Catalina Nature Reserve of Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin

Abstract

Urban wetlands, such as those found in MatanzaRiachuelo River Basin, are not only important for their ecological value, but also for their cultural, social and economic value, providing us with goods and services that contribute to the fulfilment of the international obligations adopted by States as regards human rights. This is the interdependence between the environment and human rights, which commits legal operators to take into account this transversality and imposes the sanction of appropriate legislation. Therefore, this work will focus on how this integration operates, and then will focus on the current condition of the wetlands of Matanza-Riachuelo Basin, especially the Santa Catalina wetland, the most relevant case law on wetland protection and the urgent legislative reforms that are needed.