About
Why a Permanent Forum?
There are over 3,000 kilometers of borderlands between the United States and Mexico. The two countries share natural resources and wildlife habitat, as well as cultural, socio-economic, and historic bonds. The border region is one of the richest economies in the world, however, is one the most threatened regions in terms of water security.
Moreover, water related institutions and governance schemes, both domestic and binational, are being challenged as population growth and climate change are testing our coping capacity. Historically, binational water cooperation efforts tend to be regionalized and sometimes end up isolated, with limited impact on a border-wide scale.
Therefore, we created the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters: a network to integrate collaboration efforts and strengthen their impact across and along the border.
About Us
Who we are
A network of scientists, government officials, non-government organization members, and citizens interested in the sustainability of binational waters, as well as in the resilience of the socioeconomic systems that depend upon them.
We are actively involved in environmental restoration and conservation, interdisciplinary research, institutional engagement, and sustainable use of water resources shared by the United States and Mexico.
Who we aspire to become
A dynamic network of experts that shares a holistic, socialized and science-based understanding of binational waters shared by the United States and Mexico.
What we want to achieve
To disseminate the scientific knowledge about binational waters and to integrate collaboration efforts across and along the border to strengthen their impact.
Our First Message
Decision-makers: We want to share strategic information regarding the sustainability and resilience of binational waters and shared ecosystems. We want to know what your information and research needs are. Let’s collaborate!
Researchers: We want to build a platform to showcase your research and discuss the knowledge gaps we jointly need to address. We want to connect you with the rest of the network and the community. Join us!
Governmental and non-governmental organizations: We want to develop focus groups around key issues; get together, brainstorm and discuss ideas, identify challenges and prioritize solutions, activities and resources. Let’s talk!
Citizens: We want to give you accessible and useful information. We want you to be an active member of our community. We want to know what you are curious about. Reach out!
Our Philosophy
Our Ethics Code
The Ethics Code is a document that reinforces the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters (PFBW) commitment to maintain professional, healthy, peaceful and enriching behavior within its platforms, with the purpose to promote a positive and respectful environment for users and members.
Our Code of Ethics is a normative guide for circumstances that may be considered in conflict with our Values and Philosophy, in which it is necessary to make a discretionary decision.
Our Code is applicable to directors, collaborators, members and participants of the PFBW. It constitutes a reference over which the members and collaborators of the Executive and Advisory Committees can rely for making decisions within the organization.
The complete Ethics Code Protocol can be found .
If you want to report a suspected violation to our values, please use this .
Our Philosophy
- Transboundary cooperation
- Socialization of science
- Holistic approaches
Our Values
- Respect: of opinions, gender, sex, origin, race, culture, religion, philosophy…
- Humility: openness to other ideas and perspectives.
- Diversity: recognition and integration of differences.
- Reliability: accuracy and honesty in the generation and dissemination of information.
- Empowerment: build up and support others by sharing knowledge and information.
- Leadership: foster cooperation, science dissemination and integration of water management approaches.
- Teamwork: gather our unique strengths to advance towards our common goal.