Sustainable Development Goals 15, a guide created by Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, seeks to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. To meet this goal and other SDGs, the Andean Network is working to mobilize incentives and align institutions that safeguard natural resources and sustainably manage ecosystem services.

The Mira watershed is part of the Chocó region, a biodiversity “hotspot” and therefore a global conservation priority. The Mira encompasses unique environments sustaining valuable ecosystems services for both, Colombia and Ecuador.

http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/andes1.png

Responding to its mandate to work for the sustainable development of the Andean region and the operationalization of the SDGs, the Andean Network of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) held its first workshop gathering specialists from government research institutes, NGOs, and academics from Colombia and Ecuador, to discuss conservation strategies for the Mira river basin.

This meeting, held at Yachay Tech, is part of a series of workshops seeking to establish a multi-sectoral and binational initiative. This initiative falls within the framework of cooperation acknowledged in the declaration signed by the presidents Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia) and Rafael Correa (Ecuador) at the IV Binational Cabinet, in December 2015.

The efforts mobilized by this group will be led by a coalition of organizations involving academia, public institutes, and NGOs, which working closely with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders in the area, will develop a strategy for the adaptive management of ecosystem services at the Mira watershed, based on solid ecological, socioeconomic and cultural considerations. The next workshop will take place in August 25th in Pasto, Colombia.

List of participants:

• Dra. Olga Lucía Caro, Subdirectora de Proyectos, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Colombia
• Dra. Susan Poats, Presidenta, C.G. Randi Randi, Ecuador
• Dra. Luz Estela Lagos, Directora del Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Nariño, Colombia
• Dra. Aida Baca, Directora del Herbario, Universidad de Nariño, Colombia
• Dr. Germán Narváez, Geógrafo, Universidad de Nariño, Colombia
• Dr. Diego Inclán, Director, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Ecuador
• Dr. Mario Yánez, Director del Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Ecuador
• Dr. Markus Tellkamp, Ornitólogo, Yachay Tech, Ecuador
• Dr. Hugo Romero, especialista en Biología Tropical, Yachay Tech, Ecuador
• Dr. Paul Arellano, especialista en Sensores Remotos, Yachay Tech, Ecuador
• Dr. Jorge Gómez, Director, SDSN-Andes

Special guest:

• Dr. Xavier Zapata, Hidrólogo

—

More information:

Jorge Gomez, Ph.D. , Red Andina de Desarrollo Sostenible

Caridad Bermeo, Dirección de Comunicación