United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

Fourth Regional Meeting
of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean
on the United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification

St John's, Antigua and Barbuda
29 April to 1 May 1998

FINAL REPORT

Contents

Page

I. Background 4

II. Participation 4

Agenda item 1: Opening of the Meeting 5

Agenda item 2: Organization of work 5

2.1 Election of officers 5

2.2 Adoption of the agenda for the Meeting 5

Agenda item 3: Report of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee

on activities carried out since 1997 5

Agenda item 4: Report of the Convention Secretariat 5

Agenda item 5: Agreements emanating from the First Session of the Conference

of the Parties on science and technology 6

Agenda item 6: Capacity building for the implementation of the Convention

and the training of monitors 7

Agenda item 7: Selection and development of methodologies for the assessment

and monitoring of desertification, promoting the use of

geographical information systems 7

Agenda item 8: Establishment of a regional system for the management of

investments to combat desertification 8

Agenda item 9: Horizontal cooperation 8

Agenda item 10: Public policies 8

Agenda item 11: Gender perspectives 8

Agenda item 12: Other business 8

Agenda item 13: Adoption of the report of the Meeting 9

Agenda item 14: Closure of the Meeting 9

Annex I Decisions 11

Decision 1. Establishment of an information network 13

Decision 2. National, subregional and regional action programmes and technical

focal points 14

Decision 3. Reports of the Regional Executive Committee and the Convention Secretariat 15

Decision 4. Constitution of the Regional Executive Committee 16

Decision 5. Periodicity of regional meetings 16

Decision 6. Regional Coordinating Unit 17

Decision 7. Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention 18

Contents (continued)

Page

Decision 8. Subregional Programme of Action for the Small Island Developing

States of the Caribbean 18

Decision 9. Support for Haiti 19

Decision 10. Indicators and parameters 19

Decision 11. The "El Niño" phenomenon and its relation to land degradation and drought 20

Decision 12. Traditional know-how, knowledge and practices 21

Decision 13. Local, national and regional action for education to combat desertification 21

Decision 14. Project for training activities to combat desertification 22

Decision 15. Establishment of a regional system for investment management 23

Decision 16. Programme for the harmonization of public policies 24

Decision 17. Horizontal cooperation to combat desertification 24

Decision 18. Explicit incorporation of gender perspectives in the implementation

of programmes to combat desertification 25

Decision 19. Implementation of projects in the Regional Annex 26

Decision 20. Appointment of the Managing Director of the Global Mechanism 27

Decision 21. Venue of the Fifth Regional Meeting 28

Decision 22. Expression of thanks to the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda 28

Annex II List of Participants 29

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I. Background

1. The Regional Annex for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification establishes the need to convene regional meetings to strengthen cooperation and interchange between the Parties to the Convention.

2. In this context, the member countries of Latin America have held three regional meetings, in Argentina, Mexico and Havana, with the purpose of identifying priority actions and to establish and develop subregional and regional cooperation through a Regional Action Programme to combat desertification.

3. The Conference of the Parties at its first session in Rome in October 1997 decided in particular to support the Regional Action Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Decision 12/CP.1). The Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the countries participating in the Eleventh Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima, Peru, from 10 to 13 March 1998 decided to support the convening of the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought.

4. This Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was convened by the Secretariat to the Convention in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and organized in two parts: (a) in the first place, a Workshop for Focal Points on the Convention from Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Antigua and Barbuda on 27 and 28 April 1998; and (b) the Fourth Regional Meeting, held in Antigua and Barbuda from 29 April to 1 May 1998.

5. The objectives of the Fourth Regional Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean countries were as follows:


- to interchange experiences in the elaboration and implementation of national action programmes;

- to establish an electronic information network for the implementation of the Convention;

- to hear the progress made with the implementation of the Convention in the Region by the Secretariat;

- to follow up the agreements emanating from the First Conference of the Parties to the Convention relating to science and technology;

- to examine project proposals relating to the Regional Action Programme;

- to strengthen inter-agency cooperation mechanisms.

II. Participation

6. All the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean, regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations, agencies of the United Nations system and nongovernmental organizations were invited. The meeting was attended by 48 governmental representatives of 28 countries in the Region and 35 representatives of 22 international, regional and subregional agencies, nongovernmental organizations and representatives of other sectors. A list of participants is included in Annex II of this document.

Agenda item 1: Opening of the Meeting

7. The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, 29 April 1998 at the Royal Antiguan Hotel, St John's, Antigua. Speeches were made by Mr Hama Arba Diallo, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Ambassador John Ashe, who on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda officially declared open the work of the Fourth Regional Meeting of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Agenda item 2: Organization of work

2.1 Election of officers

8. The Meeting elected the following officers:

Chairman: Ambassador John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda)
Vice-Chairman: Mr Guido Soto (Chile)
Rapporteur: Mr Daniel Tomasini (Argentina)

2.2 Adoption of the agenda for the Meeting

9. The Meeting adopted the provisional agenda without changes.

Agenda item 3: Report of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee on activities carried out since 1997

10. Mr Ricardo Sanchez, Vice Minister for Science, Technology and the Environment of Cuba and Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee reported on the progress made with the implementation of the Convention in the Region. He reported that 25 countries had so far ratified or acceded to the Convention and highlighted the progress achieved at the three previous regional meetings, which included agreement on the definition and implementation of a Regional Action Programme and the establishment of a Regional Coordinating Mechanism or Unit at the headquarters of the Regional Office of UNEP. Mr Sanchez stressed that the Coordinating Mechanism was the best way forward in the coordination of institutional efforts to combat desertification. Finally, he referred to the various activities undertaken in the Region for the implementation of the Convention, including promotion of the elaboration of National Action Plans, and priority projects in the framework of the Regional Action Programme.

Agenda item 4: Report of the Executive Secretariat of the Convention

11. Dr Oscar Oramas, representing the UNCCD Secretariat, reported on the various activities being carried out by the Secretariat in promoting the implementation of the Convention in Latin America and the Caribbean. He made reference to the technical mission to Haiti to assess the environmental effects of land degradation in that country and stressed the need to mobilize international cooperation to help in the formulation and implementation of the National Action Plan. He noted that there was a commitment from UNITAR and the Secretariat to provide technical and financial assistance to strengthen institutional capacity in Haiti to combat desertification. He also referred to the efforts made to establish the Regional Coordinating Unit at the regional headquarters of UNEP, stressing the fact that the Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean had given their full support to its establishment and that other agencies and organizations of the United Nations system had been approached for collaboration with technical and financial resources to fulfill this mandate.

12. Dr Oramas stressed that it was important for all member countries of the UNCCD to participate in the workshop on the El Niño phenomenon and its relation to the degradation of land and drought, scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile, in 1999 and referred to the efforts being made in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in preparation for this important meeting. He also referred to the number of ratifications attained in the Region and pointed out that this was the result of the importance attached by the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean to the implementation of actions to combat desertification and the awareness meetings that had been organized in various countries. Finally, he outlined the most significant activities being carried out by the Secretariat, and the budget for their implementation, in the framework of the implementation of the Convention, and in particular the Regional Action Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean.

13. The participants expressed their appreciation of the action undertaken and successes achieved and expressed the hope that regional efforts would be continued to implement the Convention in Latin America and the Caribbean. They stressed the importance of strengthening the implementation of National Action Plans and carrying out activities to promote awareness of the need to combat desertification, as well as the need to identify counterpart funding to support regional efforts to implement the Convention, so as to be able to continue with activities intended to strengthen interagency cooperation. They also called for the continued holding of annual regional meetings prior to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.

14. The representative of the Government of Mexico and the representative of UNEP confirmed that they would give financial and technical support to the establishment of the Regional Coordinating Unit at the UNEP headquarters in Mexico. The participants expressed the hope that Regional Coordinating Unit would be up and running before the next Conference of the Parties.

15. In the course of these discussions, the participants submitted several draft decisions to the plenary for approval. These decisions are included in Annex I of this report.

Agenda item 5: Agreements emanating from the First Conference of the Parties on science and technology

16. Mr Ahmed Cissoko, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Secretariat, presented a summary of the agreements emanating from the first Conference of the Parties on science and technology, referring in particular to the list of experts submitted to the Parties to the Convention for their consideration. He explained the difficulties experienced by the Secretariat with the reception and composition of these lists of experts and requested countries to approach their governments as necessary to ensure that the lists were submitted through established diplomatic channels by 30 June 1998.

17. In regard to traditional know-how, knowledge and practice, Mr Cissoko reported on the activities that had been carried out by the Secretariat and the results so far achieved in the compilation of information on these questions in the Region, which would be published to facilitate their dissemination and make them more widely known in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this connection, Ms Nery Urquiza and Mr Ulf Ola Karlin, consultants to the Secretariat, reported on the activities carried out in the Region to gather this information and explained its scope in detail, stressing its importance for local communities, also stressing the need to look for mechanisms to facilitate the transfer of appropriate and efficient technologies in line with the needs and conditions of each country and the need to recover traditional knowledge and practice and incorporate it into National Action Plans.

18. The participants expressed their interest in strengthening the work already done on this question so as to submit to the next Conference of the Parties a compilation of existing traditional know-how, knowledge and practice in the Region, taking earlier work into account.

19. With regard to points of reference and indicators, it was stressed that it was necessary to prepare a project proposal to promote the generation of information on the basis of which to assess and monitor the advances of desertification in the Region, identify training needs and strengthen the process of regional planning to combat desertification.

20. Mr Cissoko also reported that the Secretariat had initiated steps to establish a network of institutions under the responsibility of UNEP, explaining that the delay of four months in the conclusion of the survey was due to a lack of funds for its implementation.

Agenda item 6: Capacity building for the implementation of the Convention and the training of monitors

21. Mr Francisco Brzovic, a consultant to the Secretariat, presented a project proposal on capacity building for the implementation of the Convention and the training of monitors, the objective of which was to include desertification in environmental education and technical training. He explained that these initiatives were intended to strengthen the activities carried out in this connection by various international agencies such as UNEP and FAO. Finally, he gave details of the scope of the project, priority activities and the financial resources needed for its implementation.

22. Mr Salvano Briceño, Deputy Executive Secretary, reported on the programme being carried out jointly with UNITAR. The participants in the Meeting requested that these projects should help to strengthen national activities in capacity building and training and that they should also be carried out in the Caribbean sub-region, expanding their scope to include other sectors of the population. The representatives of the international organizations expressed their support for the implementation of these projects in view of their importance for the process of combatting land degradation and drought in the Region.

Agenda item 7: Selection and development of methodologies for the assessment and monitoring of desertification, promoting the use of geographical information systems

23. Under this agenda item, Mr Heitor Matallo, a consultant to the Secretariat, presented a project proposal on the selection and development of methodologies for the assessment and monitoring of desertification and promotion of the use of geographical information systems. Mr Matallo emphasized the scope of the project and described the activities to be undertaken in pursuit of its objectives, indicating that it would be possible to adopt regional methodologies based on existing experience in countries of the Region.

24. The Argentine delegation presented a methodological and operational proposal based on experience with this question in that country. In the course of discussion other contributions were formulated and it was agreed to consolidate them into one single proposal.

Agenda item 8: Establishment of a regional system for the management of investments to combat desertification

25. Mr Francisco Brzovic, consultant to the Secretariat, presented a proposal for the establishment of a regional system of investment management that would enable projects to combat desertification to be implemented, and would be linked with the global financial mechanism. He explained in detail the scope of the proposal and the strategy to be followed for its implementation in different phases of the work.

26. Representatives from international organizations including GEF, FAO, UNDP, UNEP, IFAD, the World Bank and IDB informed the participants in the meeting about the activities being carried out by their organizations to combat desertification in the framework of their respective spheres of competence. They also expressed their willingness to cooperate in the implementation of the Regional Action Programme.

Agenda item 9: Horizontal cooperation

27. Mr Francisco Brzovic, consultant to the Secretariat, presented an initiative for a programme of horizontal cooperation between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean incorporating a facilitating mechanism at the level of the Regional Coordinating Unit and integrating with the regional computer information network. The main objectives of this programme are to promote the exchange of information and experience and strengthen horizontal cooperation between the countries of the Region. The scope of the initiative and the financial resources needed for its implementation were explained in detail.

Agenda item 10: Public policies

28. Mr Gonzalo Chapela, consultant to the Secretariat, presented a project proposal for the incorporation of initiatives to harmonize public policies to combat desertification within the framework of the Regional Plan of Action for Latin America and the Caribbean. He described the methodology, scope and anticipated outcomes of the project, together with the human and financial resources needed for its development and implementation.

Agenda item 11: Gender perspectives

29. Ms Vivianne Castro, the representative of RIOD Chile, expounded the strategies to strengthen the role of women in the implementation of the Convention and described projects and initiatives that were taking place in Chile and Argentina to incorporate this perspective, in conjunction with nongovernmental organizations and UNDP, into the implementation of National Action Programmes. Ms Lene Poulsen, the representative of the UNDP, also presented an initiative to strengthen the role of women and promote equity between the genders in the process of implementing the Convention in the Region. Details were given explaining the scope, proposed activities and strategy to be followed to attain its objectives.

Agenda item 12: Other business

30. The participants in the meeting unanimously accepted the offer of the Government of Peru to host the Fifth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held in 1999.

31. The participants went on to submit a proposal for the new officers of the Regional Executive Committee, which is contained in Annex I of this document.

Agenda item 13: Adoption of the report of the meeting

32. The rapporteur submitted to the plenary a draft of the final report of the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. After the incorporation of the amendments considered pertinent by various delegations, the report was adopted by the meeting, including the decisions, which appear in Annex I of this document.

Agenda item 14: Closure of the meeting

33. The meeting concluded its work at 17h00 on 1 May 1998 with an expression of thanks to the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda by Mr Ricardo Sanchez, Vice Minister for Science, Technology and the Environment of Cuba, on behalf of the participants in the meeting; Mr Guido Soto, national focal point for Chile, spoke in his capacity as Vice Chairman of the meeting and Mr Oscar Oramas on behalf of the Executive Secretariat of the CCD.

____________________
United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification

Fourth Regional Meeting of the countries of
Latin America and the Caribbean on the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
Antigua and Barbuda, 29 April to 1 May 1998

Annex I

Decisions

Annex I

Decisions

The representatives of the governments attending the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification held at St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, from 29 April to 1 May 1998 adopted the following decisions:

Decision 1

Establishment of an information network


Taking into account that during the Third Regional Meeting held at Havana, Cuba, in March 1997, the creation of an electronic information network was approved and its objectives and characteristics defined,

DECIDE

1. To adopt the project submitted by the Secretariat, with the following agreements to clarify and amend the original document.

2. To make available in the short term to the Regional Coordinating Mechanism or Unit, the following services: lists of focal points and the Executive Committee; information systems administrators; open forum; electronic conferencing and electronic bulletins.

3. To adopt the list of concepts included in the components of the network (DESELAC).

4. To initiate a survey of existing networks and the capacities of the countries proposed in the DESELAC project.

5. To go deeper into the study of existing networks, to understand their working and make the necessary arrangements for their interaction with the DESELAC network.

6. To include in the study of the capacities of focal points a systematic statement of requirements for participation in the DESELAC network.

7. To organize a workshop for information systems administrators, to design the data base. This workshop would be attended by technicians familiar with information systems as well as the topics covered by the Convention and they would be expected to take charge of the national development of DESELAC, which would be done once the studies referred to in paragraph 5 have been completed.

8. To recommend to countries in the Region that they make the necessary arrangements to have the required technical resources for connection to DESELAC. The minimum necessary equipment for this comprises a computer, a modem, access to the Internet, and personnel to be responsible for the system.

9. To adjust the budget and the project in line with the order of priorities established in these agreements.

10. To identify countries, with appropriate geographical distribution, in which pilot experiments can be carried out once the work of the workshop referred to in paragraph 7 is completed.

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Decision 2

National, subregional and regional action programmes and technical focal points


Considering the recommendations of the Regional Executive Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought referring to national, subregional and regional action programmes and national focal points,

DECIDE

In relation to national action programmes (NAPs)

1. To remind countries in the Region of the obligation assumed when they ratified the Convention to strive actively to develop, implement and monitor a national action programme.

2. To emphasize the need and expediency of developing participative mechanisms and flexible planning, recognizing the interests of communities in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.

3. To promote the exchange of information between the countries of the Region on the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of national action programmes, through regional and subregional workshops and through networks established for the purpose.

4. To recognize the importance of the gender and youth dimensions in the formulation and execution of national action programmes.

5. To ensure the active and effective participation of nongovernmental and baseline community organizations in the process of elaboration, implementation and monitoring of national action programmes.

6. To establish the necessary inclusion of national action programmes in the policy and programmes of sustainable development of the respective countries of the Region, recognizing the social and economic roots of the problem and taking up the challenge of incorporating the private sector in both the rural and urban areas.

In relation to national focal points:

7. To highlight the need to strengthen the activity of national focal points, as a mechanism of political affirmation in the countries of the Region and for the allocation of resources to combat desertification.

8. To reaffirm the fundamental role of national focal points in the development of national action programmes and the implementation of the Convention in their respective countries, asserting the need for their action without monopolizing activities and applying broad criteria for action to all environmental resources in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.

9. To continue the initiative of workshops for national focal points with the aim of identifying successes and difficulties in the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of national action programmes and defining and promoting joint strategies and action among the Parties.

In relation to regional and subregional programmes of action:

10. To recommend to member countries that they promote regional and subregional action programmes both at the national level and to international organizations and bilateral and multilateral agencies with a view to obtaining the necessary technical and financial support for their implementation.

11. To recommend that the Secretariat should commission a report on the status of desertification, land degradation and the effects of drought in the island ecosystems in the Caribbean subregion.

12. To recommend that the Secretariat should in the near future organize an event to raise awareness of efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in the Caribbean subregion.

13. To request member countries and the Secretariat to use the languages of the Region for the preparation of documents.

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Decision 3

Report of the Regional Executive Committee and the Convention Secretariat


Considering the agreements adopted at the Third Regional Conference in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997 in relation to the constitution of the Regional Executive Committee;

Reaffirming the need to consolidate the work of the Regional Executive Committee in regard to follow-up to the agreements reached at regional meetings;

Bearing in mind the importance of the aspects stressed in the reports presented by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee and the Convention Secretariat, and the need to follow up the proposals contained in them,

DECIDE

1. To approve the report presented by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, with the observations and amendments proposed.

2. To approve the report submitted by the Secretariat of the Convention, with the observations and amendments proposed.

3. To express their thanks to the members of the outgoing Regional Executive Committee, composed of Cuba, Argentina, Honduras, Peru and Antigua and Barbuda, together with the RIOD as a permanent observer, for the work carried out during the intersessional period.

4. To appeal to the newly elected Regional Executive Committee to maintain and consolidate the implementation of the Regional Annex for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Convention, and the regional and subregional action programmes.

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Decision 4

Constitution of the Regional Executive Committee


Considering the agreements adopted at the Third Regional Conference in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997 in relation to the constitution of the Regional Executive Committee;

Considering the need to maintain continuity in the activities of the Committee, with the necessary renewal of its members,

DECIDE

1. To ensure composition of the Regional Executive Committee henceforth as follows: one representative from each subregion, one representative from the host country of the Regional Meeting, who will act as Chairman of the Committee, plus one representative of the country previously chairing the Committee, to act as Vice Chairman. Should the offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman fall to the same subregion, that subregion shall not elect another representative to the Regional Executive Committee. RIOD shall maintain permanent representation on the Committee.

2. To agree on the composition of the next Executive Committee as follows: one representative of Antigua and Barbuda (Chairman), one representative of Cuba (Vice Chairman), one representative of Guatemala, one representative of Ecuador, one representative of Chile and one representative of RIOD.

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Decision 5

Periodicity of regional meetings


Considering the importance of consolidating and following up agreements emanating from regional and subregional meetings;

Taking account of Decision 12/CP.1(b) in which the Parties welcome the adoption of the Regional Action Programme by the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean Region;

Considering the need to continue with this process of implementation of the Regional Action Programme;

DECIDE

1. To continue to convene regional meetings on an annual basis.

2. To adopt the recommendations emanating from the Workshop of National Focal Points with regard to the usefulness of convening these workshops prior to regional meetings.

3. To request the Executive Secretary of the Convention to continue to support the convening of regional meetings.

4. To request the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and bilateral and multilateral agencies to continue to support the convening of regional meetings.

5. To request the countries hosting future regional meetings to make the necessary efforts to absorb part of the costs of convening these meetings.

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Decision 6

Regional Coordinating Unit


Considering Decision No. 7 of the Eleventh Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Lima, Peru, from 10 to 13 March 1998, which requested the Secretariat of the Convention to proceed as soon as possible with the establishment of a Regional Coordinating Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean which will have its headquarters in Mexico, and to request UNEP, UNDP and FAO as well as other United Nations agencies to give it their material support;

Bearing in mind the need to have the Regional Coordinating Unit up and running before the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention;

DECIDE

1. To request the Mexican Government, UNEP through its Regional Office and the Secretariat of the Convention to take appropriate steps to have the Regional Coordinating Unit up and running at least three months before the Second Session of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

2. To request the Secretariat of the Convention to prepare the budget for the functioning of the Regional Coordinating Unit for the biennium 2000-2001.

3. To recommend to the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties the adoption of a resolution to ensure the funding of the Regional Coordinating Unit through trust funds of the Permanent Secretariat.

4. To request the Secretariat of the Convention and the Regional Executive Committee to formulate a proposal for the identification of sources of funding, and in particular to define a scale of contributions for the various countries of the Region, donor countries, multilateral organizations and the Secretariat of the Convention.

5. To recommend to the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties that the post of Regional Technical Secretary of the Regional Coordinating Unit be included in the regular budget of the Permanent Secretariat of the Convention for the biennium 2000-2001.

6. To recommend to the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties, to this end, that it increase the present core budget of the Permanent Secretariat of the Convention, as adopted at the First Session of the Conference of the Parties, to cover the additional costs this will entail for the biennium 2000-2001.

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Decision 7

Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention


Bearing in mind that at the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 30 November to 11 December 1998, it will be necessary to decide on the date and place of the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties;

Considering that the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean has played an outstanding role in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification at the regional and international level;

Recognizing the importance of the processes of desertification and drought in this Region;

Remembering also that this Regional Meeting is being held prior to Second Session of the Conference of the Parties;

DECIDE

1. To express the interest of the countries parties to the Convention in Latin America and the Caribbean in hosting the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties in a country in the Region.

2. To convey the interest so far expressed by the delegations of Brazil, Cuba and El Salvador in hosting the Conference.

3. To arrive at a single proposal for the venue by 10 July 1998, coordinated under the aegis of the Secretariat of the Convention.

4. To communicate this proposal to the other countries of the Region in order to allow for timely and coherent interaction with other regions before and during the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties.

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Decision 8

Subregional Action Programme for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean


Recalling the United Nations Global Conference on the Small Island Developing States held in Barbados in 1994, which highlighted, inter alia, the vulnerability and special needs of the small island developing states;

Recognizing the urgent need to address the multiple problems that result from the effects of drought, land degradation and associated threats to marine and coastal ecosystems faced by the small island developing states;

DECIDE

1. To request the Secretariat of the Convention, in accordance with article 19 of the Convention and with the technical and financial support of the bilateral, multilateral and specialized agencies, to develop a subregional programme of action for the small island developing states to include educational and training modules in the languages of the Region at the level of the instructors, containing measures of support to strengthen capacity-building, training and public awareness.

2. To request the Secretariat of the Convention that the Seventh Regional Training Course on Desertification be held in the Caribbean subregion, with special emphasis on the problems peculiar to the small island developing states, and that additional training courses and public awareness workshops be held periodically in this subregion.

3. To request the Secretariat also to undertake diagnostic studies on the process of land degradation, drought and desertification in the small island developing states. The results of these studies should first be made available to the Parties of the Caribbean subregion prior to their publication and dissemination.

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Decision 9

Support to Haiti


Recalling the decisions adopted during the Third Regional Meeting relating to cooperation with Haiti and the island of Hispaniola in general;

DECIDE

1. To congratulate the Secretariat of the Convention on the actions taken to assist Haiti as a follow-up to the decisions adopted by the countries of the Region and exhort the Secretariat to continue these actions.

2. To request the Secretariat to take action to combat desertification and land degradation in the ecosystem of the island of Hispaniola as a whole.

3. To request multilateral agencies and bilateral organizations to urgently contribute to the programmes for the preservation of soils in Hispaniola, and in Haiti in particular.

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Decision 10

Indicators and parameters


Taking account of the need to recognize efforts made in the Region to develop and evaluate indicators for desertification and drought for a unified methodology;

Considering the valuable contributions submitted by the Secretariat of the Convention and the delegation of Argentina which consolidate the position of the Region and taking into account the contributions made by other delegations;

Bearing in mind the need to pay special attention to the characteristics of the indicators of the small island developing countries;

Recognizing the fact that indicators should encompass all aspects relevant to sustainable development, including urban planning, infrastructure, industry and other aspects;

DECIDE

1. To request the Secretariat of the Convention to elaborate a proposal on integration to be presented at the next meeting of the ad hoc group to be held in Beijing, China, and to express the need to include other indicators as previously mentioned.

2. To organize a special meeting to assess the indicators and characteristics of the small island developing states to be included in the Regional Action Programme.

3. To organize subsequently a working meeting to adopt a Regional Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean with proposals for action and products adapted to the reality of the Region and maintaining the required level of interaction with the work of the ad hoc group on indicators and parameters as approved during the First Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.

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Decision 11

The El Niño phenomenon and its relation to land degradation and drought


Considering the agreements emanating from the Third Regional Meeting held in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997, in regard to the organization of a meeting on the phenomenon of drought and its relation to the process of desertification;

Taking account of the growing intensity with which the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon are being manifested, and in particular their relation to droughts in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas;

Considering that the effects of the El Niño phenomenon go beyond the boundaries of the Region and have consequently acquired a global character;

DECIDE

1. To organize an International Congress on drought and land degradation and their relation to the El Niño phenomenon and to invite all affected countries in the world to participate.

2. To accept the offer of the Government of Chile to host the Congress, which would take place in May 1999.

3. To request the Secretariat of the Convention to establish the necessary contacts with the World Meteorological Organization and other relevant international organizations to secure their commitment to participate in this event.

4. To make the necessary arrangements with the Government of Chile in order to guarantee the success of this event.

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Decision 12

Traditional know-how, knowledge and practices


Considering the decision of the First Session of the Conference of the Parties to encourage Parties to collate the information in their possession on the use of traditional and local know-how, knowledge and practices and to present it to the Secretariat of the Convention;

Taking account of the regional report prepared at the request of the Committee on Science and Technology, which was presented at this Fourth Regional Meeting and which shows the wealth and potential of traditional knowledge and technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean;

Taking note of the allocation of a full additional day to the Committee on Science and Technology at the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to examine contributions from the Parties and observers on a regional basis;

DECIDE

1. To develop a regional project for the recovery and assessment of traditional knowledge and technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2. To accept the proposal of Peru as Regional Coordinator of this project and of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Argentina as subregional coordinators for the design and formulation of this project.

In regard to the preparation of information for the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties:

3. To request the Parties, observer countries and nongovernmental organizations to send additional substantive information, extensive to other disciplines, which would be required to complete the regional report by 30 June 1998, to the Focal Points of Cuba and Argentina (Coordinator).

4. To request Cuba and Argentina to produce a single comprehensive regional report to be presented to the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.

5. To request the Secretariat of the Convention to carry out a study of the traditional practices and technologies existing in the Lesser Antilles.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 13

Local, national and regional action for education to combat desertification


Considering that the Convention, in paragraph 3 of article 19, establishes that the Parties shall cooperate with each other and through competent intergovernmental organizations, as well as with nongovernmental organizations, in undertaking and supporting public awareness and educational programmes in both affected and, where relevant, unaffected country Parties to promote understanding of the causes and effects of desertification and drought and of the importance of meeting the objectives of this Convention;

Taking into account that the Regional Action Programme calls for the development of actions oriented towards formal education and training programmes for producers, community leaders and the technical experts involved;

Considering that the list of priority initiatives of the Regional Action Programme includes the proposal to establish a system of non-formal education in small communities using workshops, information seminars and other extension mechanisms;

Bearing in mind that one of the causes of inadequate results in projects dealing with the management of renewable natural resources is lack of understanding of natural mechanisms and their dynamics, as well as the conceptual basis of the proposed actions, by the actors involved in one way or another in these activities;

Considering that in order to increase the rate of adoption of conservation and sustainable development practices and new technologies, as well as to recover traditional knowledge and techniques, it is necessary to develop actions oriented towards increasing the level of awareness and knowledge of the natural and/or anthropogenic phenomena associated with desertification;

Recalling the decision of the First Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to compile the information in their possession on the use of traditional and local know-how, knowledge, experience and practices and to present it to the Secretariat of the Convention;

DECIDE

1. To accept with satisfaction the initiative of the project on local educational actions to combat desertification submitted during the Fourth Regional Meeting.

2. To request governmental and nongovernmental focal points to examine the draft project proposal document and submit their comments in writing to the Secretariat of the Convention by 30 June 1998.

3. To request the Secretariat to incorporate the observations of the focal points, estimate the associated costs and prepare an updated version of the project proposal.

4. To request also that the Secretariat manage the financing of the project so that it is implemented as from January 1999 at the latest.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 14

Project for training activities to combat desertification


Considering that there is sustained demand for training in the whole spectrum of topics associated with the phenomenon of desertification;

Recognizing that the countries of the Region have decided to encourage activities oriented towards the formal education and training of producers, community leaders, technicians and other actors involved;

Bearing in mind that the representatives of the countries participating in the Third Regional Meeting held in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997, decided to make education, training and public awareness a priority area in the Regional Action Programme adopted at that meeting;

Appreciating that, in the area of technical training, there is an accumulation of interesting experience in the Region as evidenced by courses on topics relating to the development and management of resources in arid and semi-arid areas;

Considering that it is necessary to give continuity to the efforts already made by UNEP and FAO and other organizations in this respect;

DECIDE

1. To adopt the project for training to combat desertification submitted by the Secretariat to the Convention to the Fourth Regional Meeting with the observations made by the delegations of participating countries during the presentation of this project.

2. To accept the request of the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean regarding the need for a cycle of training specially oriented towards the Eastern Caribbean.

3. To request the Executive Secretariat of the Convention to deliver the revised project document to the FAO and UNEP for consideration by those agencies.

4. To request the Executive Secretariat of the Convention to initiate the necessary steps as soon as possible for financing to start up the project.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 15

Establishment of a regional system for investment management


Considering that the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean agreed, at the Third Regional Meeting on the Convention held in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997, to incorporate the issue of funding as one of the six programme areas into which the Regional Action Programme is structured;

Taking into account that the Regional Action Programme intends to identify sources of funding, further develop existing financial mechanisms, and develop initiatives to target financial resources within and outside the global mechanism foreseen by the Convention, including the transfer of technology, with a view to preventing, arresting or reverting processes leading to desertification;

Considering that the Regional Action Programme states that a "project bank" will be created, that will, under the management of the Executive Committee and through the Regional Coordinating Unit, in consultation with national focal points, make it possible to assemble project portfolios with systematized information to examine alternative ways of funding, as well as facilitate the follow-up and evaluation of projects financed or submitted for funding;

Taking into account that the Regional Executive Committee agreed to elaborate a programme proposal to facilitate exchange of national experiences in order to improve national schemes of funding and investment so as to help increase financial flows towards the affected country Parties to support the implementation of the Convention at the national level;

DECIDE

1. To adopt the project proposal on the establishment of a regional system for the management of investment to combat desertification submitted by the Secretariat to the Fourth Regional Meeting, incorporating the amendments proposed by the delegations participating in the meeting.

2. To request the Secretariat to make the necessary adjustments for this project and to obtain the funding required to start it during this year.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 16

Programme for the harmonization of public policies


Considering the need to make the best use possible of available human and material resources to improve the combat against desertification;

Taking into account that countries have discussed in successive meetings the importance of focusing on the causes of desertification as systematized in the Regional Action Programme;

Recognizing the importance of improving or further improving instruments for the direct management of the environment and natural resources, as well as substantive policies that make an impact on desertification;

DECIDE

1. To request the Secretariat to prepare a project proposal for the harmonization of public policies that have effects on desertification and drought in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2. To stipulate that the design of the project ensures the possibility of participation of countries that do not possess electronic means of communication.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 17

Horizontal cooperation to combat desertification


Considering that horizontal cooperation is a form of international cooperation where the transfer of knowledge, experience and technology is realized among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean;

Taking into account that the experience obtained and the significant degree of development, adaptation and adoption of relevant technologies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought attained by some countries in the Region enables them to cooperate with relatively less developed countries;

Bearing in mind that the Regional Action Programme adopted at the Third Regional Meeting held in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997, states that it should be a priority for the Regional Coordinating Unit to define a scheme of horizontal cooperation that would enable possibilities for the transfer of experience and knowledge between the countries of the Region;

Taking into account that the initiative on horizontal cooperation is intimately bound up with the scope of the regional electronic information network;

DECIDE

1. To adopt the proposed programme of permanent horizontal cooperation to combat desertification submitted by the Secretariat during the Fourth Regional Meeting.

2. To request the Secretariat that, where relevant, this proposal should be linked to all effects and purposes with the project for the regional electronic information network.

3. To request the Secretariat that, in making the corresponding adjustments to content and costs, it consider the components of this initiative from the management perspective and make the necessary effort to start up this initiative together with the first phase of the project for the regional electronic information network.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 18

Explicit incorporation of gender perspectives in the implementation of programmes to combat desertification


Considering that women play a key part in the processes that link development with the environment;

Considering further that in a modern focus it is expected that both men and women should be recognized as agents of development and that they should therefore have the same possibilities of access to decision-making, resources and the benefits of development;

Taking into account that when introducing considerations of gender and development of arid regions into policy formulation, planning processes and the implementation of programmes and projects, the challenge is to define strategies for development that recognize explicitly the role of women in social and economic life without ignoring the other concepts that make for sustainable development;

Considering that in recent years there has been growing recognition that the division of labour and responsibilities should be reflected in the definition of policies, planning and management;

Recognizing that the participation of women in the processes of policy planning and decision-making is justified not only from an ethical point of view but also because economic development requires full participation of both sexes;

Considering that the conditions already exist to decisively promote the adoption of a gender perspective both at the level of national strategies and in the field of new and specific initiatives and projects in an advanced stage of formulation and execution;

DECIDE

1. To welcome the initiative of the focal points of Argentina and Chile and the Regional Office of the international nongovernmental organization EarthAction Network to submit to this Fourth Regional Meeting the draft entitled "Explicit incorporation of gender perspectives in the implementation of programmes to combat desertification", particularly its emphasis on subregional and binational projects, as evidenced in the binational project between Argentina and Chile incorporated as an annex to the draft.

2. To request the Secretariat to submit this document to the governmental and nongovernmental focal points of the Region to obtain their observations so as to prepare a final version which can be presented by the Regional Executive Committee to international agencies for possible funding.

3. To take note of the strategy and plan of action submitted by UNSO/UNDP to the Fourth Regional Meeting.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 19

Implementation of projects in the Regional Annex


Recalling that the First Session of the Conference of the Parties held in Rome, Italy, in September 1997, adopted Decision 12/CP.1 in which it welcomed the adoption of the Regional Action Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean;

Taking into account decisions 2, 3, 7 and 8 of the Eleventh Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Lima, Peru, from 10 to 13 March 1998;

Considering the agreements reached at the Third Regional Meeting held in Havana, Cuba, in March 1997;

Considering the importance of the Regional Action Programme, document IIICDR/E/DOC.4, and the prioritized actions for its implementation;

DECIDE

1. To acknowledge the valuable technical and financial contribution of the agencies of the United Nations system and the development banks that operate in the Region in all phases of the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

2. To request the Secretariat to present to international funding agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, inter alia, the regional projects approved hereby, for funding and technical resources to be channelled to them so that implementation can be initiated.

3. To request likewise the International Fund for Agricultural Development, as the host of the Global Financing Mechanism, to take the necessary measures for the inclusion of this project portfolio in the 1999 budget of the Global Mechanism.

4. To request the International Fund for Agricultural Development to formulate a financial plan in support of the Regional Action Programme and National Action Programmes, for discussion and approval at the Second Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, having first submitted it for consideration to the Executive Committee.

5. To request international agencies, donor countries and organizations of the United Nations system to support the financing of the approved projects.

6. To request the Interagency Technical Committee set up at the Eleventh Meeting of Ministers of the Environment held in Lima, Peru, in March 1998, to provide technical and financial support to the Regional Action Programme. In this sense, it is proposed to include this issue as part of the agenda envisaged for the September 1998 meeting convened by the Inter-American Development Bank, which will be attended by the countries members of the Forum of Ministers, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank.

7. To promote the use of the human, technical and institutional resources of Latin America and the Caribbean for the implementation of the Regional Action Plan.

8. To thank the Inter-American Development Bank for its support and participation in the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, acknowledging its continuous technical and financial contribution to the process of the Convention, for the benefit of the countries of the Region. In this context, the IADB is requested to coordinate its activity closely with those of the Global Financial Mechanism of the Convention, jointly with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 20

Appointment of the Managing Director of the Global Financial Mechanism


Bearing in mind that the Director of the Global Financial Mechanism is to be appointed shortly;

Considering the role played by Latin America and the Caribbean in the implementation and fulfilment of the objectives of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought;

DECIDE

To transmit to UNDP and IFAD their interest in nominating and supporting the selection of a candidate from the Region to be the Director of the Global Financial Mechanism.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 21

Venue of the Fifth Regional Meeting


Considering that the First, Second, Third and Fourth Regional Meetings were held in South America (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Mesoamerica (Mexico City, Mexico) and the Caribbean (Havana, Cuba and St John's, Antigua and Barbuda) respectively;

Considering it desirable to alternate between the subregions to host future regional meetings;

DECIDE

1. To welcome the offer made by the Government of Peru to host the Fifth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to be held at least three months before the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in 1999.

2. To request the Secretariat of the Convention to make the necessary contacts with the Government of Peru to determine the date of the meeting and to make the necessary arrangements for it.

‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Decision 22

Expression of thanks to the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda


The representatives of the governments and nongovernmental organizations attending the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in the city of St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, from 29 April to 1 May 1998, taking into account the deliberations of this meeting;

DECIDE

1. To express their deepest gratitude to the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda for the generous hospitality extended during this Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean.

2. To express their thanks to the participants in the Meeting for the efforts made to fulfill the objectives of the Fourth Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean.

-------------
United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification

Fourth Regional Meeting of the countries of
Latin America and the Caribbean on the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
Antigua and Barbuda, 29 April to 1 May 1998

Annex II

List of participants

Annex II

List of Participants

GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Dr. John Ashe

Ambassador

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

610 Fifth Avenue

New York, 10020, USA

Tel: (+212) 541-4112

Fax: (+212) 757-1607

C.E.: atgun@undp.org

Murdoch, Colin

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Queen Elizabeth Highway

St. John's, Antigua

Tel: (+268) 462-1052

Fax: (+268) 462-2482

C.E.: minforeian@candw.ag

Hunte, Conrod

Minister Counsellor

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

610 Fifth Avenue

New York, 10020, USA

Tel: (+212) 541-4112

Fax: (+212) 757-1607

C.E.: chunte@ix.netcom.com (personal), Atgun@undp.org (oficina)

 

Braithwaite, Angella 0

Lands Officer

Lands Division

Ministry of Agriculture

Nevis and Temple Street

St. John's, Antigua

 

Phone: (+268) 462-1213

Fax: (+268) 462-6104

Cooper, Brian Richard

Consultant/Project Manager

Environment Unit

Ministry of Planning and Environment

Queen Elizabeth Highway

St. John's, Antigua

Tel: (+268) 462-4625

Fax: (+268) 462-2863

C.E.: Mintourenv@candw.ag

Elabanjo, Owolabi

Senior Field Officer

Ministry of Agriculture

Nevis and Temple Street

St. John's, Antigua

Tel: (+268) 462-1213

Fax: (+268) 462-6104

C.E.: owolabi@hotmail.com

Fernandez, Jerry

Senior Engineer

Ministry of Agriculture

Nevis and Temple Street

St. John's, Antigua

Phone: (+268) 462-1213

Fax: (+268) 462-6104

 

Francis, Lyndon Eugene S.

Electricity Generation Manager

Antigua Public Utilities Authorities

Cassada Gardens

St. John's, Antigua

Tel: (+268) 480-7460

Fax: (+268) 480-7455

C.E.: fmncisie@candw.ag

 

Lewis, David F A.

Livestock Officer

Ministry of Agriculture

Veterinary and Livestock Division

P.O. Box 1282

St. John's, Antigua

 

 

Tel: (+268) 460-34301 / 3446

Greenaway, Fitzmorgan N

Fanner

Tyrells, Liberta

Antigua, W.I.

  

Henry, Mc Ronnie

Forestry Officer

Ministry of Agriculture

Forestry Division

P.O. Box 1282

St. John's Antigua

 

Tel: (+268) 462-1213

Fax: (+268) 462-6104

Maynard, Jennifer T

Liaison Officer

Ministry of Agriculture

Nevis and Temple Street

St. John's Antigua

Phone: (+268) 462-1213

Fax: (+268) 462-6104

C.E.: maynard4@candw.ag

ARGENTINA

Perez Pardo, Octavio (*)

Director de Conservaciónn del Suelo

Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable

San Martin, Capital

P.O. Box 1004, Argentina

Tel: (+54 1) 348-8567 / 73

Fax: (+54 1) 348-8567

C.E.: Desersuelo@sernah.gov.ar

Abraham, Elena María

Subsecretaria de Medio Ambiente

Coordinadora Cientifica Grupo Argentino de Evaluación

y Monitores de la Desertificación

Gobierno de Mendoza Argentina

Peltier s/n Casa de Gobierno

8 piso, Mendoza (5500), Argentina

 

Tel: (+54 6)149-2867

Fax: (+54 6) 149-2872

C.E.: elena@cpsarg.com

 

Cobello, Hector Julio

Monitoreo y Evaluación de la Desertificación

Direccion de Conservacion del Suelo

Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable

Box 1004

San Martin 459, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Tel: 541-3488568

Fax: 541-3488567

Karlin, Ulf Ola Torkel

c.c. 509

5000 Cordoba, Argentina

Phone: (+54-51) 334-116 / 7

Fax: (+54-51) 334-118

C.E.: mam@agro.uncor.edu

Tomasini, Daniel

Coordinador Técnico

Direccion de Conservacion del Suelo

Secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable

Box 1004

San Martin 459, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Tel: (+54 1) 348-8571 / 4

Fax: (+54 1) 348-8567

C.E.: dtomasin@sernah.gov.ar

BARBADOS

Marshall, Ricardo Delano

Sir Frank Walcott Building

Culloden Road

St. Michael, Barbados

Tel: (+246) 431-7680 / 86

Fax: (+246) 437-8859

C.E.: envdivn@caribsuf.com

BELIZE

Guerra, Carlos

Environmental Technician

Department of Environment

10 / 12 Ambergris Avenue

Belmopan, Belize

Tel: (+501 8) 22-542 / 22-816

Fax: (+501 8) 22-862

C.E.: envirodept@btl.net

Zegada Lizarazu, Walter Esteban

Jefe UNIDAD Conservation Suelos

Ministerio de Desarrollo Sostenible y Planificacion

Batallón Coloradas

EDF el Cóndor

La Paz, Bolivia

BOLIVIA

Tel: (+591 2) 316-526

Fax: (+591 2) 374-746

C.E.: walter@el dardsor.bo

BRAZIL

Borba, Henriqueta

Ministerio da Ciencia e Tecnologia

Esplanada dos Ministerios-Bloco

E-sala 285

Brasil

Tel: (+55 61) 317-7986

Fax: (+55 61) 226-0834

C.E.: borba@mct.gov.br

Nascimento, Nádima de Macedo Paiva

Ministério do Meio Ambiente

Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco B

Sala 607,

Brasilia, D.F., Brasil

Tel: (+55 61) 317-1350

Fax:55-61-322-8215

C.E.: nadima@mma.gov.br

CHILE

Soto-Alvarez, Guido (*)

Coordinador PANC/Chile

Corporación Nacional Forestal

Cordovez 281, La Serena, Chile

Tel: (+56 51) 226-090

Fax: (+56 51) 215-073

C.E.: g.soto@netline.cl

Correa-Cepeda, Hector

Corporación Nacional Forestal

Ministerio de Agricultura

Atacama 898

Copiapo, Chile

Tel: (+56 52) 237-104

Fax: (+56 52) 212-571

C.E.: conaf3@ctcreuna.cl

Videla, Ricardo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Catedral 1158

Santiago, Chile

Tel: (+56 2) 679-4385

Fax: (+56 2) 698-4722

C.E.: dima@minrel.cl

COSTA RICA

Peters, Manfred

Senior Director

Govemment of Costa Rica

Ministry of Environment

P.O. Box 1338-1002

San José, Costa Rica

Phone: (+506) 253-8249

Fax: (+506) 234-0651

CUBA

Sánchez Sosa, Ricardo Arsenio (*)

Vice-Ministro

Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente

Capitolio, Industria y San José

La Habana, Cuba

Tel: (+53 7) 628-751

Fax: (+537) 626-514

C.E.: richard@minist.gov.citma.cu

Urquiza Rodriquez, María Nery

Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (CITMA)

Calle 20 y l8A Playa

Habana, Cuba

Tel: (+537) 227-573

Fax: (+537) 227-030

C.E.: nery@cidea.unepnet.cu

Williams, Eliud, T

Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment

Govemment Headquarters

Kennedy Avenue

Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica

DOMINICA

Tel: (+767) 448-2401

Fax: (+767) 448-7999

C.E.: etwwhitco@cwdom.dm

ECUADOR

Jadán, Segundo

8 Piso Edificio Mag.

Quito, Ecuador

Tel: (+593 2) 541-995

Fax: (+593 2) 564-037

EL SALVADOR

Perdomo Lino, Francisco Antonio

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

Edificio El Salvador (IPSFA) Alameda Roosevelt, San Salvador, El Salvador

Tel: (+503) 260-8900

Fax: (+503) 260-3117

GRENADA

Lendore, June Allison

Foreign Service Offícer

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

C/o Financial Complex

St. George's, Grenada

Tel: (+473) 440-3036

Fax: (+473)-440-4184

C.E.: faffgnd@caribsurf.com

GUATEMALA

Curruchiche, Julio Roberto

Ingeniero Punto Focal Guatemala

Comisión Nacional Medio Ambiente

5 Av. 8-07 Zona 10

Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala

Tel: (+502) 331-2723 / 334-1708

Fax: (+502) 362-6845

GUYANA

Khan, Sheik Mohamed

Hydrometerological Service

Ministry of Agriculture

18 Brickdam, Stabroek

Georgetown, Guyana

Tel: (+592) 254-247

Fax: (+592) 261-460

HAITI

Lafond, Carlo

Director General

Ministry of the Environment

Haut Turgeau, 181

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Tel: (+509) 450-635

Fax: (+509) 457-360

Michel, Roger

Focal Point UNCCD

Ministere Environement

181 Haut Turgeau

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Tel: (+509) 450-635

Fax: (+509) 457-360

JAMAICA

Brown, Philbert

Senior Director

Weather and Emergency Service

Ministry of Water

6 St. Lucia Ave.

Kingston 5, Jamaica

 

 

Tel: (+876) 754-0973 / 4

Fax: (+876) 754-0975

Arredondo Valdés, Dolores Araceli

Dirección de Política y Normatividad

Dirección General de Restauración Conservación de Suelos

Secretaría de Medio Ambiente Recursos Naturales y Pesca

Progreso #5 Col. del Carmen

Delegación Coyoacan

México D.F., México

MEXICO

Tel: (+52 5) 658-48-07 / 658-2317

Fax: (+52 5) 658-6059

C.E.: suelos@buzon.semarnap. gob. mx

NICARAGUA

Rivas, Le Clair Carlos

Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

KM 12 1/2 Crta Norte

Managua, Nicaragua

Tel: (+505) 263-1271 / 2 / 3

Fax: (+505) 263-1274

C.E.: mins-mar@sdnnic.org.ni

PARAGUAY

Barboza, Felipe

Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería

Dirección de Ordenamiento Ambiental

Ciencias Veterinarias 215

San Lorenzo, Paraguay

Tel: (+595 21) 573-060

Fax: (+595 21) 573-060

C.E.: doa@quanta.com.py

PERU

Gómez Romero, Elva

Directora General de Medio Ambiente Rural

Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales

Calle 17 # 355 URB Palomar

San Isidro, Perú

Tel: (+51 1) 224-3298

Fax: (+51 1)2243218

C.E.: dgmar@inrema.org.pe

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Rodríguez Cordero, María Altagracia

Oficina Nacional de Planificación (Onaplan)

Av. México, esq. Dr. Delgado

Edif. Oficinas Gubernamentales

Apt. Postal 20200

República Dominicana

Tel: (+809) 221-5140

Fax: (+809) 221-8627

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

Farrell, Bryan

Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Environment

Basseterre, St. Kitts

Tel: (+869) 465-4040

Fax: (+869) 465-8794

C.E.: skmtcce@caribsurf.com

SAINT LUCIA

James, Brian

Department of Forestry

Ministry of Agriculture

Castries, St. Lucia

Tel: (+758) 450-2078

Fax: (+758) 450-2287

C.E.: moaffl@candw.lc

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Murray, Reynold

Ministry of Health and Environment

Kingstown, St. Vincent

 

 

Tel: (+809) 456-1111 (Ext. 466)

Fax: (+809) 457-2684

C.E.: svgeme@caribsurf.com

SURINAME

Mynals, Chas Nelson

Jurist Dr.

Advisor to the President

Vigilantia Str. 24

Box 18

Paramaribo, Suriname

Tel: (+597) 474-294 / 492-833

Fax: (+597) 475-266

URUGUAY

Dalgalarrondo, Elisa

Ministerio de Vivienda OrdenamientoTerritorial y Medio Ambiente

Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente

Rincon 422 4 Piso Montevideo

Montevideo, Uruguay

Tel: (+598 2) 916-9128

Fax: (+598 2) 916-1898

VENEZUELA

De Briceño, Haydée H.

Directora

Oficina Cuencas Hidrográficas Internacionales - SACSCH

Ministerio del Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Renovables

Av. Este 6-CSB, Esq. Camejo

Edif. Camejo, Piso 1 Ofic. 186

P.O. Box 1010

Caracas, Venezuela

Tel: (+02) 408-1225 / (+01) 494-6967

Fax: (+02) 483-062 / (+02) 408-1687

C.E.: hbriceño@mamrgov.ve

OBSERVERS

A. GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS

GERMANY

Eger, Helmut

Senior Planning Officer GTZ

P.O. Box 5180

Eschborn, D 65726

Germany

Tel: (+49 61) 967- 91346

Fax: (+49 61) 967-97153

Moosbrugger, Werner

Advisor, INTA/GTZ

Box 277

Bariloche, Argentina

Tel: (+54-94) 428-141

Fax: (+54 94) 428-141

C.E.: gtzbari@inta.gov.ar

wmoosbrugger@inta.gov.ar

NETHERLANDS

Van Tol, Isabelle Anne, Veronique

2nd Secretary at Royal Netherlands Embassy

53 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston, Jamaica

Tel: (+876) 926-1247

Fax: (+876) 926-1248

C.E.: itol@infochan.com

B. UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZACION

1. Agencies

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Prieto-Celi, Matías

Av. Dag. Hammarkjold 3241

Vitacura, P.O. Box 10095

Santiago, Chile

Tel: (+562) 337-2228

Fax: (+562) 337-2102

C.E.: matias.prietoceli@fao.org

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Gariglio, Jean Jacques

Project Controller

Intemational Fund for Agricultural Development

Via del Serafico 107

Rome - 00142, Italy

Tel: (00 39 6) 54 59-2343

C.E.: j.gariglio@ifad.org

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Winter-Brathwaite, R. Colleen

UNESCO Representative to Barbados and the

Eastem Caribbean and Coordinator, CARNED

Box 423

Bridgetown, Barbados

Tel: (+246) 427-4771

Fax: (+246) 436-0094

C.E.: uhbri@unesco.org

World Bank

Riethmacher, Guenter

World Bank, ENV / Dryland Program

1818 H Street

Washington DC 20433, USA

Tel: (+202) 458-8451

Fax: (+202) 477-0568

C.E.: griethmacher@worldbank.org

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Lusigi, Walter

Senior Technical Advisor

Global Environment Facility

1818 H St. N.W.

Washington, D.C., USA

Tel: (+202) 473-4798

Fax: (+202) 522-3240

C.E.: wlsigi@worldbank.org

2. PROGRAMMES

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Poulsen, Lene

Technical Advisor

One UN Plaza

New York 10017, NY, USA

Tel: (+212) 906-5815

Fax: (+212) 906-6345

C.E.: lene.poulsen@undp.org

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Rodríguez, Rafael

Programme Officer

UNEP Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean Region

Blvd. de los Virreyes 155

Col. Lomas Virreyes 11000

Mexico City, Mexico

Tel: (+52 5) 202-4841

Fax: (+52 5) 202-0950

C.E.: capetillo@latino.rolac.unep.mx

C. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

López Ocaña, Carlos Enrique

Senior Ecologist

Inter-American Development Bank

1300 New York Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20577, USA

Tel: (+202) 623-1847

Fax: (+202) 623-1786

C.E.: carlosl@iadb.org

D. NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Caribbean Conservation Association

Aristide, Rodrigue

URAPEG

B.P. 273

97157 Pointe-a-Pitre Cedex

Tel: (+590) 25-5927

Fax: (+590) 25-5983 / 94-3180

C.E.: aristide@antilles.inra.fr

Personal Address:

Aristide, Rodrigue, INRA

Centre Antilles-Guyane

B. P. 515

97165 Pointe a Pitre Cedex

Guadeloupe

Tel: (+590) 95-0878

Navarro, Ricardo

CESTA

Apdo 3065

San Salvador,

El Salvador

CESTA

Tel: (+503) 220-6480 / 220-3306

Fax: (+503) 220-3313

C.E.: cesta@es.com.sv

CODEFF

Torrico, Miguel

RIOD Regional Focal Point

Avd FCO Bilbao 691

Santiago, Chile

Tel: (+56 2) 251-0262

Fax: (+56 2) 251-8433

C.E.: info@codeff.mic.cl

Caribbean Youth Environment Network

Burke, Reginald Inniss

Regional Activities Coordinator

P.O. Box 915

Bridgetown, BarbadosC.E.: cpdc@caribnet.net

Halsworth, Welches

St. Michael, Barbados

Tel: (+246) 437-6055

Fax: (+246) 437-3381

Earthaction Network

Castro Salinas, Viviane F.

Regional Coordinator Latin America and the Caribbean

Antonia Lopez de Bello 024

Santiago, Chile

Tel: (+56 2) 735-7559

Fax: (+56 2) 737-2897

C.E.: earthact@interaccess.cl

Ecociencia

Medina, Galo

Coordinator Desertification

San Cristóbal 1523 e Isla Seymur

Box 17-12-257

Quito, Ecuador

Tel: (+593 2) 451-338

Fax: (+593 2) 451-339

C.E.: ecoman@hoy.net

Fundación del Sur

Mérega, Juan Luis

Cochabamba 449

Buenos Aires,

Argentina

Tel: (+54 1) 361-8549

Fax: (+54 1) 307-0545

C.E.: jlmerega@fsur.cci.org.ar

Panamerican - Panafrican Association

Ceccanti, Brunello

Representative of PA / PA at UN Geneva (Switzerland)

Via Corridoni N 78

Pisa 56125, Italy

Tel: (+39 50) 48-337

Fax: (+39 50) 50-0631

C.E.: ceccanti@ict.picnz.it

Menicocci, Walter

Main Representative of PA / PA at UN, Geneva (Switzerland)

Via G.Prati 35-50047

Prato, Italy

Tel: (+39 57) 460-5959

Fax: (+39 57) 660-5960

PRONATURALEZA

Montero Campello, Mario José

Coordinador Dersertificación

Industria y San Jose

Antiguo Capitolio

Habana, Cuba

Tel: (+53 7) 62-6606

Fax: (+53 7) 33-8054

C.E.: uma@gtmo.inf.cu

CARIBBEAN NETWORK FOR INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT (CNIRD)

Robertson, Nerle Eulia

Director

Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD)

40 Eastern Main Road

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Tel: (+1 868) 662-6473

Fax: (+1 868) 662-2612

C.E.: cnird@carib-link.net

E. SECRETARIAT

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Hama Arba Diallo

Executive Secretary

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva-10

Tel: (+41 22) 917-8404

Fax: (+41 22) 917-8030

Sálvano Briceño

Deputy Executive Secretary

Tel: (+41 22) 917 8466

Fax: (+41 22) 917 8030

 

C.E.: sbriceno@unccd.ch

Ahmed Cissoko

Scientific Principal Adviser

  

acissoko@unccd.ch

Oscar Oramas Oliva

Senior Programme Officer

ooramas@unccd.ch

 

Rajeb Boulharouf

Extemal Relations Officer

  

rboularouf@unccd.ch

Michael Ramos

Coordinator, CCD Information System

mramos@unccd.ch

  

Brzovic Parilo, Francisco

Principe de Gales 5892 DPTO 1784 / 111

Santiago, Chile

CONSULTANTS

Tel: (+56 2) 277-3347

Fax: (+56 2) 277-3347

C.E.: brzovic@rdc.cl

Cox, Richard

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kingstown, St. Vincent

Tel: (+809) 456-2060

Fax: (+809) 456-2610

Chapela y Mendoza, Gonzalo

Advisor / Consulant

Privada de Palma 5

San Andres

Tlalpan

Mexico, D.F. 14400, Mexico

Tel: (+52 5) 849-1306

Fax: (+52 5) 849-1306

C.E.: gchapela@lead.colmex.mx

Matallo Jr., Heitor

Punto Focal

Coordinador del PAN-Brasil

Ministerio del Medio Ambiente

Esplanada dos Ministerios

Bloco B Sala 519

Brasilia, Brasil

Tel: (+55 61) 317-1358

Fax: (+55 61) 323-7934

C.E.: hmatallo@mma.gov.br

Zelaya, Sergio

Advisor / Consultant

Colonia Montereal # 5

Aldea Mateo, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Tel: (+504) 229-1130

Fax: (+504) 221-0674 BOLIVIA

C.E.: szelaya@sdnhon.org.hn

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