Manuel Sauri – CEO of Agua Segura
Ecosystems sustain all forms of life on the planet, providing balanced environments where countless species, including our own, coexist harmoniously. The health of these ecosystems directly influences the well-being of the entire Earth and its inhabitants. This is why the water crisis, global warming, massive deforestation, and soil contamination are urgent concerns for those of us who tirelessly advocate for a global transition toward a sustainable way of life in all its forms.
In many countries, practices that degrade the ecosystems we depend on are considered environmental crimes because they threaten the quality of life in that region, with inevitable ripple effects across the globe. The actions we take today will shape the near future for many people who are already grappling with the consequences of this climate crisis. Protecting and restoring the environments we are part of (and even those we aren’t) is essential to ensuring our own quality of life in a healthy world and to preventing the spread of diseases, climate disasters, and growing inequalities due to the lack of access to public goods.
To visualize the impact, according to the FAO, 10 million hectares of forests are deforested every year, an area similar to that of Iceland. In this way, their biodiversity is lost, affecting not only the species that live there, but also local economies that suffer the consequences of soil change, floods, increased temperature, among many other issues. Groundwater absorbs agrochemicals from these lands, which are often used for intensive and irresponsible agricultural production, and in this way, a vital resource for the development of any person and their community is gradually contaminated and extinguished
However, just as we are all affected by the same climate crisis, we are also called upon to implement solutions that enable us to transition to a more sustainable economy in harmony with nature. We are all part of the solution. At Agua Segura, we lead various projects aimed at providing concrete solutions to the water crisis. We understand that this global issue requires multiple local solutions that positively impact ecosystems, creating a virtuous cycle of growth. We see ourselves as part of an entrepreneurial generation, aware of its transformative potential, and we build partnerships that contribute to a sustainable strategy for everyone.
The challenges ahead call on all of us, as a society, to design more and better projects to protect and restore our planet. Collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and civil society is crucial.
This Earth is our home, and as environmental movements often remind us, there is no Planet B. Let’s care for, activate, and restore today the world we dream of living in for the rest of our lives.
Why is restoration essential for water security?
The call to address the water crisis aligns with an urgent global objective: to guarantee water security. Restoring soils, forests, wetlands, and river basins not only improves environmental health but also ensures access to safe and quality water, and helps prevent diseases, floods, and extreme droughts.
When an ecosystem is healthy, the soil retains water, wetlands filter it, and aquifers are naturally recharged. Restoring these natural processes is key to sustainable water management and to addressing the growing scarcity in many regions of the planet.
Local solutions for a global crisis
In the face of the water crisis, solutions must be as diverse as the territories. Agua Segura promotes strategies adapted to local realities:
Restoration of degraded wetlands and riverbanks
Ecosystem-based watershed management
Aquifer recharge through green infrastructure
Water quality improvement through regenerative practices
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) actions in vulnerable communities
Promotion of community water projects with local participation
These actions align with the guidelines of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation proposed by the UN.
Nature-based solutions for water
The nature-based solutions (NbS) approach seeks to leverage natural mechanisms to regulate the water cycle. For example:
-Soil restoration increases infiltration and prevents erosion.
-Wetlands act as sponges, retaining water and capturing pollutants.
-Reforestation helps stabilize the climate, reduce runoff, and promote biodiversity.
Organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognize these solutions as essential for increasing resilience to climate change.
We are all part of the solution
Water is a common good, and its care is a shared responsibility. Corporate water responsibility implies that the private sector adopts measures to minimize its water footprint, while governments and civil society organizations must articulate public policies, investment, and environmental education.
At Agua Segura, we believe in the power of partnerships. Only by working together can we scale solutions that ensure clean water, equitable access, and healthy ecosystems.
Restore today to secure tomorrow
To restore is to look towards the future with responsibility. It is to understand that without water conservation, there is no health, no development, and no social justice. Every action counts: from caring for the soil to protecting a wetland, from reducing consumption to promoting public policy.
Because this Earth is our home. And there is no other.
