Border Cities is a continental programme that seeks to promote the convergence of sectoral public policies in the border area to address regional inequalities, considering the socio-economic and cultural diversity of the region; to stimulate investments in priority arrangements and productive chains for the sustainable development of less dynamic regions, aiming at the social and economic insertion of local populations, local development and the integration of South America; to improve governance and stimulate the participation of civil society, involving the articulation of national and international actors around development projects in the Border.
Chronology of previous editions, all organised by the Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB):
2004: I International Congress on Urbanism in Border Cities - Campo Grande - MS; I International Congress on Urbanism in Border Cities
Border Cities - Campo Grande - MS;
2006: Second Conference of Border Cities - Foz do Iguaçu - PR;
2009: Third International Conference on Urban Development in Border Cities - Foz do Iguaçu - PR.
2019: Fourth Border Regions Development Conference
It is important to note that all previous editions were held in collaboration with the Pan-American Federation of Architects' Associations - FPAA. In this 2023 edition, the collaboration will be extended, through shared organisation and also with the anticipation of simultaneous events in other countries.
Faced with the various phenomena affecting today's cities, architects, urban planners and researchers have extra challenges in urban issues that focus on the problems of border cities. These cities have their own socio-economic dynamics due to their international character, with extensive reflections on their forms of organisation within the territory. Despite being strategic, border regions are generally economically underdeveloped, marked by the difficulty of accessing public goods and services, and historically remain "militarised" by the state.
There are many differences, but also many interactions. It is therefore essential to think about strategies for optimising development policies. This process must be continuous and permanent, and as broad as possible, involving all sectors of society.
One of the case studies we have in Brazil - and of great importance for South America - is the Merco-city of Foz do Iguaçu in Paraná - a modern commercial, tourist and service centre - located in Brazilian territory and an important entry point for foreigners into the country and the neighbouring territories of Paraguay and Argentina. Added to this was the Itaipú hydroelectric power plant, whose construction during the military regime caused the number of inhabitants to practically quadruple in just a decade, from 33,970 in 1970 to 136,320 in 1980. This fact generated serious social problems that are still unresolved. This municipality, for example, in 2009 led the ranking of homicides among adolescents in the country, according to data released by the Brazilian government in partnership with UNICEF. Even in this region, one of the most important ecological reserves of Mercosur remains almost intact, where the Iguazu Falls are located. One of the largest in the world.
Today, Foz do Iguaçu has an estimated population of 267,000 inhabitants. In addition to the floating and tourist population, it provides the daily flow of 30,000 cars through Ponte da Amizade, the main connection between Brazil and Paraguay.
And it was in this scenario that we took the Foz do Iguaçu Charter, at the pre-conference of the Regional Seminar-South Cone, sent to the III International Conference on Urban Development in Border Cities. This document outlines the basic principles that architects and urban planners should take into account when thinking and planning cities and towns with international borders as a single settlement, a continuous territory with multicultural characteristics, considering the limitations of traditional institutional arrangements for the management of urban and regional space. "Economic and social complexities operate as potentialities, determining the dimension of their development".
The Charter highlighted the guiding principles of development: citizenship; representativeness; sustainability; and legitimacy. In addition, it highlights the role of culture as a driving force for the development of effective public policies for border cities: in order to implement the concept of culture in planning, it should preferably start from the rescue of indigenous cultures, their historical matrices and means of expression. "In order to be representative, this rescue should seek to integrate and enhance the existing centres of knowledge in the cross-border region of the triple frontier".
Consequently, the Charter suggests that existing knowledge and joint thinking initiatives in border cities be raised and systematised, especially the proposals of Cultivando Águas Boas (Itaipu); the Itaipu Technological Park (PTI); the University of Latin American Integration (UNILA); the Guaraní Aquifer; the Águas Grandes Project; and the Restoration of Public Spaces in Ciudad del Este. At the same time, the need to inventory the stock of public and private areas with a view to implementing structuring projects in the regional territorial organisation is highlighted.
Following these conclusions, the FPAA and its member entities are seeking to sign terms of cooperation with UNILA. At the same time, they seek to articulate a commitment to integrated planning between the municipalities of the border region's urban agglomerate, public managers and civil society.
It is clear that decisions for border cities, whatever they may be, depend on complex but possible articulations. In the specific case of Foz do Iguaçu, we must encourage the participation of architects and urban planners in social and governmental organisations with cross-border representation, with a view to strengthening a better understanding of the need for integrated regional planning - at the level of the triple border countries - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay.
We believe, therefore, that the initial paradigms and basic principles for the solution of the serious problems of border cities have been presented. It now remains for us, for all interested entities, based on what was defined in the Foz do Iguaçu Charter and for that city, to transform the particular concepts into general concepts, in order to guarantee the integral development of these regions.
International Performance
- Twin Cities Integrated Development;
- Dynamisation of Cross-border Local Productive Arrangements (productive vocations, equivalent geographical, climatic and environmental conditions);
- Institutional Organisation of the Border Strip;
- Strengthening border social capital;
- Contribution to the revision and improvement of the Brazilian and South American legal framework on border issues.
International actions supported or ongoing
- Memorandum of Understanding between MI and DGRegio;
- Pilot Project Brazil - French Guiana - Amazonas Operational Programme 2007-2013 (Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, French Guiana and Suriname);
- Brazil-Peru Binational Working Group on Amazonian Cooperation and Border Development;
- Profrontera (Brazil and Argentina);
- CeSPI/ Open Borders (Brazil and Italy);
- Strengthening of CLM - Comisión Mixta Uruguayo-Brasileña para el Desarrollo de la Cuenca Lagoa Mirim (Uruguayan-Brazilian Joint Commission for the Development of the Lagoa Mirim Basin);
- Technical Cooperation Project between IDB and IF in formatting);
- Bilateral Cooperation Projects (cross-border LPAs).
Strategic Challenges (synthesis)
- Structuring of actions by adopting a new regionalisation in the three Arcs of the Border Strip.
- Stimulating economic activity (local and cross-border LPAs)
- Integral action in social and productive infrastructure
- Promote social organisation, institutional strengthening and citizenship conditions.
- Articulation between the executive and the legislature in regional development strategies
- Contribution to the review of the regulatory framework
- Association of sovereignty with a South American development and integration strategy
Conclusions
The cultural and political diversity of nations and human groups consecrate the congregation in solidarity of architects from all over the world, without distinction of race, religious beliefs and ideologies.
Architecture, the oldest of professions, by organising itself for the construction of inhabited space, has marked its history as a celebration of peace, hope, coexistence, fraternity and the libertarian nature of the human being.
We, participants of the 3rd International Conference on Urban Development in Border Cities, gathered in Foz do Iguaçu, from 2 to 5 August 2009, at the Itaipu Technological Park - PTI, under the theme "Integration and Sustainability", came to the following conclusions and recommendations:
To think and plan cities and towns with international borders as a single settlement, a continuous territory with multicultural characteristics, it is necessary to consider the limitations of traditional institutional arrangements for the management of urban and regional spaces. Economic and social complexities operate as potentialities, determining the dimension of their development;
The understanding that the guiding principles of development and debate must be established are: citizenship; representativeness; sustainability; legitimacy and participation;
It is necessary to reinforce the concept of culture as an input to territorial planning, respecting and realising integration across differences. When this so-called "human planning" is implemented, the resulting development builds identities, citizenship, social inclusion and generates wealth;
To implement the concept of cultural plurality in planning, it is preferable to start from the rescue of indigenous cultures, their historical matrices and means of expression;
To be representative, this rescue should seek the recognition, valorisation and integration of existing knowledge centres in cross-border regions;
The spaces that best represent the different cultures involved should be mapped and recognised;
Recommendations
Collect and systematise existing knowledge and initiatives of joined-up thinking in border cities, preferably those presented at congresses;
Create integrated and articulated information systems, methodologically and temporally, that support regional planning and management processes;
Inventory the stock of public and private areas with a view to implementing structuring projects in the regional territorial organisation;
Re-qualify and integrate strategic economic sectors, anchors of regional development;
Create, as a matter of urgency, integrated mechanisms for the management of cross-border areas, funds, lines of financing and harmonisation of legislation;
That cross-border public works projects be chosen and executed through public tenders;
Support the implementation of the University of Latin American Integration - UNILA, as a privileged place for the dissemination of Latin American cultures;
That the University of Latin American Integration - UNILA offers regular or specialisation courses on the following topics: (i) regional planning in cross-border spaces; (ii) Latin American architecture; and (iii) Latin American historical, artistic and cultural heritage;
Propose to the Pan-American Federation of Architects Associations - FPAA, and its Associated Entities (among them the Institute of Architects of Brazil - IAB) the signing of cooperation agreements with the University of Latin American Integration - UNILA;
Articulate a commitment to joint planning and articulated management, between the municipalities of the cross-border urban agglomerate, public managers and organised society, aiming to insert them into the guidelines of the agreements of the nation-state;
Create an Integration Commission made up of trade unions from Mercosur member countries and recognised as a working group by the foreign ministries of these countries;
To create a Discussion Group, with the aim of carrying out studies and debates; to coordinate meetings and workshops for the constant exchange of ideas and the continuity of the debate.