On April 4, the 6th Annual Forum on Security Challenges in Latin America was held, which specifically addressed issues related to Environmental Protection, such as land use in the Amazon basin and marine conservation.
The event was organized by the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and Wilson Center and was attended by its authorities Dr. Paul J. Angelo-Director of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, James B. Steinberg-Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies, and James B. Steinberg-Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies and Wilson Center.
Steinberg and Dr. Jim Marckwardt, co-chair of the faculty and associate professor at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, delivered opening and closing addresses and made important comments following the panels. Furthermore, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, presented the actions that his country has been developing in terms of environmental conservation and the projection for the coming decades in this area.
The keynote address was given by the former Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, current Executive Director and President of the Global Environment Facility.
The event was divided into three parts:
Panel I: addressed issues related to “Land use and illegal deforestation.”
Panel II: Speakers presented information on “Threats to marine diversity: illegal, unregulated and unrepresented (IUU) fishing”.
Panel III: discussed "The role of the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Forces in environmental protection."
The Inter-American Defense Board, in accordance with the mandates of the Organization of American States, has been developing activities related to the dissemination of lessons learned and good practices of the Armed Forces and Security Forces that are contributing to the protection of the environment and biodiversity conservation; Likewise, it has been promoting the participation of its personnel in local and international events, such as this important annual forum and, on this occasion, it was represented by Colonel Luis Arrascue, Head of the Natural Disasters and Environment Section of the IADB.
