Tegucigalpa, Honduras - April 15, 2009. The Mexican Commission for Cooperation with Central America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA), the Regional Committee for Water Resources of Central America (CRRH-SICA) the Government of Honduras, represented by the Secretary of Resources Nature and Environment (SERNA) and the Regional Program for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Environmental Degradation, PREVDA, with the support of the European Union, today launched the Forum on Mesoamerican Watershed Management Mexico-Central America.
The inauguration was made by the Natural Resources and Environment´s Minister, SERNA; engineer Tomás Vaquero, the Ambassador of Mexico in Honduras, Mr. Tarcicio Navarrete Montes de Oca and the Executive Secretary of CRRH Mr. Max Campos.
The goal of this meeting is to develop an experiences ´exchange among key actors in Central American countries and the officials institutions of Mexico, linked to the management of watersheds, so they can learn about the instruments available for managing the Basin Councils in Mexico, plans watershed management and success stories in countries of the region as well as a tour of some watersheds in Honduras, which will enrich participants' knowledge and the approach with local authorities and technical experts in watershed management.
It is expected, at the end of the forum to strengthen Central America´s capacity in the integral management of watersheds and institutional coordination with the leadership of CRRH.
CRRH´s main objective is to promote development and conservation of resources drawn from the atmosphere, mainly water and its sustainable use as a means to achieve the comprehensive development of the Central American to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
The CRRH consists of a Governing Board composed of one member representing each of the governments of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. These members are the Presidents of National Committees of Meteorology and Water Management in each country. In this way, the National Committees in each country, the institutions of Meteorology, Hydrology and Water are members of CRRH.
Furthermore in this forum, the Regional Coordinator PREVDA, engineer Estuardo Velasquez, will present the regional approach of the program, the management plans for the Micro watersheds and disaster prevention in the basins of the Central American intervention. The PREVDA, part of the Central American Integration System, SICA; with the support of the European Union, aims to contribute to the consolidation of regional integration, by working with the Coordinating Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America, CEPREDENAC; the Regional Committee for Water Resources, CRRH; and the Central American Commission for Environment and Development, CCAD; to reduce the risks and disasters related to water through environmental management and integrated management of water resources.
The area of intervention is PREVDA locally have been selected for seven watershed projects replicable in Costa Rica: Reventazon-Parismina River, in El Salvador: Lempa River, in Guatemala: Samalá river, in Honduras: Choluteca River, in Nicaragua: Malacatoya River and in Panama: Pacora and Indio rivers. This event is of vital importance for the PREVDA, so the seven assistant basins Program, are actively participating in that forum.
Contact for journalists: Cecilio Martinez, Regional Communicator PREVDA, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
