| UNEP NEWS SEPTEMBER 2007 Workshop: Access to Genetic Resources of the Forum of the Ministers of environment of Latin America and the Caribbean. The UNEP’s Regional Director, Ricardo Sanchez and Legislation Officer, Andrea Brusco attended the meeting.
Preparation for the Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean The Regional Director recently travelled to Santo Domingo to fine tune the details for the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (8-14 November 2007). During this opportunity the main points of venue agreement signed between UNEP/ROLAC and the Secretary of State for the Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic were completed.
Haiti: The Biological Corridor of the Caribbean
The importance of reforestation for this country is among the main points of the agreement, which on the one hand will bring down unemployment by creating jobs and on the other lowering the levels of vulnerability of large sectors of the population.
UNEP’s Regional Director informed the Resident Coordinator that one of the initiatives decided by the Ministers’ signatories of the agreement is to begin a pilot plan for reforestation with pine trees choosing a community in each country to begin this project.
Forum "Development and Sustainable Use of Coastal Marine resources in Panama"
During the Workshop, which was organized by the National Coordination group, the Ecuadoran Foundation towards Alternative Progress (FEPA, in Spanish) and the United Nations Environment Programme, and with the support of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Education, of the Andean country, is specifically relevant since the GEO Youth Ecuador has recently received many awards for their innovation and mobilizing capacity that the initiative has with Ecuadorean youths. Youths coming from all regions of the country – except Galápagos- attended the meeting, representing youth groups and associations involved directly and actively in environmental issues. The workshop outlined Action Plans for each region. Focal Points analyzed goals and targets, stakeholders in their communities, coordination spaces, communications strategies available, the necessary resources, terms, process and results indicators, among others.
The Director of UNEP’s Early Evaluation and Alert Visits Panama
The Latin American and Caribbean Tripartite Forum on Inter-religious Cooperation for Development
The feasibility of continuing the Project was discussed and participants were invited to submit proposals for the eventual continuity of the citizens’ initiative.
XVI International Agro forestry for Eco-Development Course
International Chemicals Management Workshop
Forum on Business Responsibility in Panama
New Agreements for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol During this period, Peru received the first disbursement of $33,000.00, corresponding to the MoU for the Refrigeration Management Plan Implementation. Also, first disbursements for Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for $22,533.00 and $24,000.00 respectively were requested; therefore, Guyana will be starting the Third Phase of its Institutional Strengthening Project and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be starting the Terminal CFCs Phase-out Management Plan. Finally, Honduras’ last disbursement of $1,000.00 was requested, corresponding to the Technical Assistance to Methyl Bromide Phase-out; as so, the last disbursement to Belize for its Terminal CFCs Phase-out Management Plan, in the amount of $3,750.00. MoU approvals were received from DRC to agree with St. Vincent and the Grenadines on its Institutional Strengthening Plan - Phase III, as well as with Dominica, and with Honduras on their Terminal CFCs Phase-out Management Plan preparation.
Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF) Planning Workshop The United Nations Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF) Planning Workshop of Ecuador that was held 13-14 September 2007 in Quito. The objective of the UNDAF Workshop was to kick off the formulation process of Ecuador’s second UNDAF (2008-2013). This will take into account Ecuador’s National Development Plan 2007-2010 and the latest developments of the UN Reform process. UNEP/ROLAC was represented at this workshop which was convened by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ecuador. Over 120 participants attended the workshop. Most of the participants represented UN agencies in Ecuador (ACNUR, WB, FAO, IMF, Habitat, OACDH, IMO, OPS/WHO, PAM, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNCEF, UNIDO and UNICEF). Representatives of the National Planning Ministry (Secretaría Nacional de Planificación y Desarrollo, SENPLADES in Spanish), Center for Social Research for the Millennium (CISMIL) and the Institute for International Cooperation of Ecuador (INECI in Spanish) were also present at the workshop. UNEP/ROLAC contributed mainly to the roundtable dealing with the promotion of a healthy and sustainable environment and ensuring access to water, land and air.
Environment and Climate Change Spanish Fund The preparation of the MDG Spanish Fund/Environment and Climate Change window is being carried out, for Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. The development of a Joint Project Document for Peru started on 24 September, after a delay due to a recent earthquake that demanded the attention of the Country Team temporarily.
Mexico: Global Environmental Citizen Project The Mexican National Board for the GEC Project was visited by the project coordinator and Mr. Robert Erath, a consultant who was recently hired to support the coordination in the analysis of the evolution of the GEC project (September 17th to 21st).
There was a visit to the National Ozone Unit in Paraguay carried out by the Methyl Bromide Officer in order to coordinate and participate in a meeting focused on methyl bromide alternatives, on September 17 to 21 2007. Among the participants the National Quality Service for Sanitary Plants and Seeds was created, with customs officials, golf course technicians, and the Custom Directorate. There was also a meeting with UNDP to implement and promote faster project implementation, as well as, review disbursement procedures for the Institutional Strengthening Project and currently signed MoUs between Paraguay and ROLAC. Additionally, the meeting marked the beginning of the implementation of the methyl bromide phase-out project and the negotiations to establish a new MoU based on the implementation of the phase-out project to eliminate the use and consumption of Methyl Bromide in Paraguay. 50 people attended the meeting and 50% were of female gender.
Green Uses and Initiatives Manual A mission was sent to Montreal, Canada to represent UNEP/ROLAC in the review of e-learning modules on the ODS and Montreal Protocol Training for Enforcement Officers of the member states of NAFTA from September 16 to 19 2007. Policy Enforcement Officer, Artie Dubrie, participated in this review and contributed to the discussion regarding Green Customs Initiative Manual for CAFTA including the Dominican Republic. In addition, this mission also encouraged the further development of the North/North cooperation in the region, as well as, solicited technical support for the elaboration and partnership building of the Customs Enforcement Network in the Latin America Region. There were two meetings held in the Multilateral Fund Secretariat Conference Room from September 22 to 23-2007, the Regional Ozone Network Coordinator took part in these meetings. The objective of the first meeting was to receive advice from the participating experts in their individual capacities on the following two-dimensional challenge that Coronation is facing in delivering the already-approved activities and prioritizing the challenges that CAP should address. RNC meeting purpose was to provide an opportunity for the CAP teams from the regions to exchange ideas with, and receive guidance from the CAP/team based in Paris. The outcome of the meeting was to look for ways for improving the implementation of CAP and ensure that it is fulfilling the role it was designed to perform.
Urban Environment Outlook Report Presentation: GEO Panama City "These studies on the environment in Panama, provide the view a city committed with solving related problems and future outlooks on improving the quality of life of all citizens,", said Juan Carlos Navarro, Major of Panama, during the presentation of the Urban Environment Outlook: GEO Panama City. Navarro stated that this report becomes a working and analysis tool for territorial ordering, for the transparent Management of social-environmental information and to stimulate participate processes in environmental management. Ricardo Sanchez, Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Peter Gilruth, Director of the Early Evaluation and Alert Division, (UNEP) also attended the meeting. Specific points to highlight in the GEO Panama City Report are:
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
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Meeting of the Work Group on Access to Genetic Resources of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean took place on 20 and 21 September 2007 in El Paipa, Colombia. The meeting was organized and financed by UNEP/ROLAC. Present at the meeting were representatives from the governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Grenada, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, a representative of Indigenous Regions, the co-President of the Workgroup of the Open Commission on ABS of the Biological Diversity Convention, and UNEP/ROLAC as Secretariat of the meeting, a total of approximately 27 people. The meeting was focused on the implementation of Decision 8 of the XV Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, discussions and analyses of topics on the agenda of the upcoming negotiations of the international regime on access to genetic resources and distribution of benefits. The Report on the meeting will be issued by UNEP/ROLAC and all countries in the region and the recommendations will be considered at the XVI Forum of Ministers. 
Meetings were held with the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Haiti during the visit of the Regional Director to Haiti and with who the initiative of the Biological Corridor of the Caribbean was socialized, this initiative includes Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic.
The Forum on Development and Sustainable Use of Coastal Marine Resources in Panama organized by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE) with the support of UNEP/ROLAC, took place on Panama City on 26 and 27 September 2007. On 27 September UNEP’s Regional Director participated as keynote speaker on the Topic of Lessons Learned in the Region on Effective Institutionalization: The Challenge for Socio Economic Development and Sustainable Use of Coastal Marine Resources.
The “GEO Youth Ecuador” Training Workshop took place on 7 - 10 September, in Quito, Ecuador. The meeting had the participation of approximately 30 youths of that country in addition to the representative of UNEP’s Regional Office and a representative from GEO Youth Argentina.
Peter Gilruth, UNEP Director of Early Evaluation and Alert visited the Regional Office from 8 - 14 September, and in addition to holding meetings with Regional Director Ricardo Sanchez, he met with DEWA LAC Officers, José Egurhen, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Panama; Rodrigo Tarte, President of the Executive Committee of the City of Knowledge; Gerardo Gomez, Director of OCHA, and Emilio Sempris, Director of CATHALAC.
The Latin American and Caribbean Tripartite Forum on Inter-religious Cooperation for Development, was held in Buenos Aires, from September 5-6, 2007. The GEC Project Coordinator attended this forum to offer a message about the status of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly Goal 7, related to environmental sustainability. The event was attended by representatives and leaders of different religions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and enjoyed the presence of the Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. The occasion served as platform to promote the work of the Latin American Council of Churches in the context of the Global Environmental Citizenship Project. Through his message, the project coordinator encouraged the religious sector to address efforts in the promotion of an environmental-friendly culture. In this regard, several religious organizations showed their interest in the subject, particularly the Latin American Episcopal Council and the Caribbean Conference of Churches. There were approximately 60 participants in this forum.
Representatives of the Latin American Council of Churches gathered in Quito, Ecuador from 13 - 14 September 2007. GEC Project coordinator attended this meeting with the purpose of monitoring the progress attained during 2007 in implementing demonstrative activities under GEC-014 and GEC-015 of the MoU 2006. The meeting also allowed the opportunity to orient the focal points towards the closing of the project, which is expected for March 2008. 
The Inauguration Ceremony of the XVI International Agro forestry for Eco-Development Course was held in Chapingo University in Mexico, on 4 September 2007. The UNEP/Mexico Coordinator participated in this ceremony and received special recognition for his participation in this course over the years. 
A Workshop on Establishment of Priorities of the Integral Programme for the Implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was held on 12 September 2007. The UNEP/Mexico Coordinator gave a presentation in this workshop which was organized by the Secretariat of Natural Resources of Mexico with the support of the Environment Department of the United Kingdom.
The First Forum on Business Responsibility in Panama took place on September 12, 2007. The Regional Network Coordinator of the Ozone-action Programme delivered a presentation at this forum regarding the Montreal Protocol and Ozone Depleting Substances. The achievements of the Montreal Protocol and the role of UNEP were highlighted in this presentation, as well as the importance of establishing a dialogue between the government and the private sector and within the scientific community and political negotiators. Approximately, 50 people from the business sector, the civil society, and the media attended the event.