Uruguay hosts forum with presence of 100 countries
The Tenth Biennial Conference on International Waters of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) began this Monday 23 in Punta del Este, Maldonado. The first meeting of the Guaraní Aquifer Commission was also held during the day. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar Paganini, stated that environmental issues are part of Uruguay’s State policy and valued the importance of the maritime environment.
Also participating in the event were the Undersecretary of the Presidency, Mariana Cabrera; the head of the Ministry of Environment, Robert Bouvier, and the Director of Programming of the GEF, Frederick Boltz, among other national and international authorities.
The event, which will run until Thursday 26, inclusive, is attended by 300 representatives from 100 countries. Various exhibitions, workshops and tours of points of interest are planned, under the slogan “Transformative actions and impacts for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on water and oceans: the GEF-AI response to the global challenge.”
Paganini stressed the importance of water for the life and prosperity of citizens and assured that harmony with the environment is part of Uruguay’s State policies.
Bouvier, for his part, highlighted the incorporation of Lobos Island into the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) and considered it positive that the event was held in our country, as a way of promoting it in the world. He also indicated that the possibility of adding maritime zones to the SNAP is being studied.
Regarding the first meeting of the Guaraní Aquifer Committee, he said that it contributes to including the issue on the agenda and that it is necessary to improve knowledge about the reserve, its current uses and its potential.
