Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRASILIA455
2005-02-22 15:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

SOUTH AMERICA ESTH NEWS, NUMBER 50

Tags:  SENV EAGR EAID TBIO ECON SOCI XR BR 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 BRASILIA 000455 

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS USAID FOR LAC/RSD, LAC/SAM, G/ENV, PPC/ENV
TREASURY FOR USED IBRD AND IDB AND INTL/MDB
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE: MZWEEDE
INTERIOR FOR DIR INT AFFAIRS: K WASHBURN
INTERIOR FOR FWS: TOM RILEY
INTERIOR PASS USGS FOR INTERNATIONAL: J WEAVER
JUSTICE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES: JWEBB
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL: CAM HILL-MACON
USDA FOR ARS/INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH: G FLANLEY
NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL: HAROLD STOLBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR EAID TBIO ECON SOCI XR BR
SUBJECT: SOUTH AMERICA ESTH NEWS, NUMBER 50

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 BRASILIA 000455

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS USAID FOR LAC/RSD, LAC/SAM, G/ENV, PPC/ENV
TREASURY FOR USED IBRD AND IDB AND INTL/MDB
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE: MZWEEDE
INTERIOR FOR DIR INT AFFAIRS: K WASHBURN
INTERIOR FOR FWS: TOM RILEY
INTERIOR PASS USGS FOR INTERNATIONAL: J WEAVER
JUSTICE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES: JWEBB
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL: CAM HILL-MACON
USDA FOR ARS/INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH: G FLANLEY
NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL: HAROLD STOLBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR EAID TBIO ECON SOCI XR BR
SUBJECT: SOUTH AMERICA ESTH NEWS, NUMBER 50


1. The following is the fiftieth in a series of
newsletters, published by the Brasilia Regional
Environmental Hub, covering environment, science &
technology, and health news in South America. The
information below was gathered from news sources from across
the region, and the views expressed do not necessarily
reflect those of the hub office or our constituent posts.
Addressees who would like to receive a user-friendly email
version of this newsletter should contact Larissa Stoner at
stonerla@state.gov. The e-mail version also contains a
calendar of upcoming ESTH events in the region.


2. Table of Contents

Agriculture
--(3) Paraguay Declared Free of Foot and Mouth Disease

Health
--(4) Increasing Dengue Cases in Brazil-Bolivia Border
--(5) Venezuela, Argentina Sign Bilateral Health Agreement
--(6) Brazil to Build Four Clinical Research Centers

Water Issues
--(7) Paraguay: Unregulated Rice Crop Irrigation Harms
Nature

Forests
--(8) Colombia's Promising Forestry Sector
--(9) Argentina: Government Works to Save Forests
--(10) Uruguay Designs Lab to Monitor Cellulose Plants
--(11) Deforestation Paves Way in Brazil

Wildlife
--(12) Venezuela Studies Threatened Species
--(13) Colombian Organization Launches Catalogue of Andean
Plants
--(14) Colombia: New Lizard Species Identified
--(15) Paraguay Hosts Migratory Bird Event

Fishing & Marine Conservation
--(16) White Spot Syndrome Virus Identified in Southern
Brazil

Protected Areas
--(17) Forest Fire Consumes Uruguayan National Park

Science & Technology
--(18) Brazilian Biotech Center to Receive IMF Funding
--(19) Oil Palm Research Takes off in Colombia

--(20) Ecuador Allocates US$582,000 for Scientific Research

Pollution
--(21) OES-Sponsored Mercury Project in the Media

Energy
--(22) Colombia- Panama Electricity Project Sparks
Environmental Concern
--(23) Argentina: Experimental Hydrogen Production, in
Patagonia
--(24) Brazil to Resume Works in Nuclear Plant
--(25) Colombia, Brazil Study Transborder Hydroelectric
Project
--(26) Brazil: Controversial Hydroelectric Project Follows
Through

General
--(27) OAS and ACTO Sign Cooperation Agreement
--(28) Chile: Mining Project Stirs Environmental Complaints

--------------
Agriculture
--------------


3. Paraguay Declared Free of Foot and Mouth Disease

JAN. 20, 2005 - The World Organization for Animal Health
(OIE) has acknowledged Paraguay as being free of foot and
mouth disease (FAM). Paraguay had suspended export permits
for at least 222 tons of beef since the disease was detected
in Canindeyu in October 2002.

Source - Diario ABC
http://www.abc.com.py/articulos.php?fec=2005- 01-
20&pid=156400&sec=5 and Diario Ultima Hora
http://www.ultimahora.com.py/template.asp?not ic=174581

--------------
Health
--------------


4. Increasing Dengue Cases in Brazil-Bolivia Border

JAN. 22, 2005 - According to the press report, despite
efforts to control the disease, the number of dengue cases
in the Brazilian state of Acre have increased, mostly due to
lack of disease control in their Bolivian neighbor. An
estimated 5,395 new cases of the disease were registered in
the state in 2004, whereas in 2003 there were 1,514 cases -
a 256% increase! The towns of Brasileia and Epitaciolandia
(Brazil) and Cobija (Bolivia) agreed to work together in
combating the spread of the disease in the region.

Source - Ambiente Brasil
http://www.ambientebrasil.com.br/noticias/ind ex.php3?action=
ler&id=17733


5. Venezuela, Argentina Sign Bilateral Health Agreement

JAN. 18, 2005 - The Ministers of Health from both Argentina
and Venezuela signed in Caracas (Venezuela) a bilateral
agreement related to materials, medical technology, and
medicine production. Argentine President Nestor Kirchner
and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ratified the agreement
January 31st.

Source - Argentina Ministry of Health
http://www.msal.gov.ar/htm/site/noticias_plan tilla.asp?Id=48
9


6. Brazil to Build Four Clinical Research Centers

JAN. 13, 2005 - The Brazilian Ministry of Health plans to
allocate RS$8 million (US$3 million) to build four clinical
research centers. By 2007, another 12 centers are planned
in all regions of the country. Each center will be built in
a teaching hospital and will be accredited by the Ministry
of Health and the Ministry of Education. According to the
press report, this groundbreaking initiative is an attempt
to reduce the number of researchers sponsored by private
companies (e.g. pharmaceutical companies).

Source - O Estado de Sao Paulo
http://www.estadao.com.br/ciencia/noticias/20 05/jan/10/182.h
tm

--------------
Water Issues
--------------


7. Paraguay: Unregulated Rice Crop Irrigation Harms Nature

JAN. 24, 2005 - According to the press report, unregulated
irrigation of large rice crops in the region of Caazapa
(province) is slowly drying out the Tebicuary River, the
region's most important natural resource. The report also
points out that the water pumps, which do not have a
protective filter to avoid fish deaths, kill thousands of
fish daily. Locals are concerned with the lack of
intervention by environmental authorities in the matter.

Source - Ultima Hora
http://www.ultimahora.com.py/template.asp?not ic=175097

--------------
Forests
--------------


8. Colombia's Promising Forestry Sector

FEB. 05, 2005 - According to Colombia's Ministry of
Agriculture, increasing the country's forestry activities
from 150,000 planted hectares to 3 million hectares over a
period of 5 years will increase the number of jobs from
(currently) 38,000 to 760,000. According to the press
report, Colombia has 16 million hectares fit for sustainable
forestry activities.

Source - Tierramerica
http://www.tierramerica.net/2005/0205/ecobrev es.shtml


9. Argentina: Government Works to Save Forests

JAN. 24, 2005 - The government of Argentina is working on a
conservation and forest use project in order to reduce
deforestation in the region of Santiago del Estero, which,
during the 20th century, lost nearly 2.5 million hectares of
forests. Following pressure from environmentalists in the
region, the local government halted felling in the region in
mid 2004 for 180 days and began to work on the project,
which will be ready this year. The project has received
criticism from environmentalists who claim it does not
consider critical concepts and measures.

Source - Tierramerica
http://www.tierramerica.net/2005/0122/ecobrev es.shtml

10. Uruguay Designs Lab to Monitor Cellulose Plants
JAN. 24, 2005 - Uruguay plans to install in Fray Bentos a
laboratory that will monitor the activities of all cellulose
plants in the country. The lab will carry out environmental
analysis, monitoring, and provide an on-line system to
communicate problems in each plant. The government also
plans to carry out capacity-building events in order to
train local workers.

Source - El Telegrafo
http://www.eltelegrafo.com/notas/loc_24-1-05. htm#local1


11. Deforestation Paves Way in Brazil

JAN. 08, 2005 - BBC News carries an interesting piece on the
current advance of soybean plantations in the Amazon region
on Brazil: "Soya bean farmers in Brazil are demanding that a
600-mile-long stretch of highway, which runs due north
through the Amazon region, should be paved so it can be used
in all weathers. But environmentalists are alarmed at the
plans to cut through the country's natural assets."

Source - For full article click
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_ou r_own_correspon
dent/4155609.stm

--------------
Wildlife
--------------


12. Venezuela Studies Threatened Species

JAN. 25, 2005 - With the help of NGO Conservation
International and Venezuelan NGO Provita, thirteen
researchers were able to carry out research projects related
to threatened species. The Threatened Species Initiative is
a scholarship fund, which aims to increase research in order
to protect biodiversity in Venezuela. Another 22 projects
may be funded in 2005.

Source - IUCN
http://www.sur.iucn.org/vitrina/noticia.cfm?p asscodnot=940


13. Colombian Organization Launches Catalogue of Andean
Plants

JAN. 24, 2005 - Colombian organization EcoAndina, with
headquarters in Cali (Colombia),has launched a guide of the
most representative plant species in the Colombian Andes
region. The publication, which was funded in part by
Wildlife Conservation Society, contains information on
nearly 220 plants found in the mid Otun River Basin.

Source - Tierramerica
http://www.tierramerica.net/2005/0122/ecobrev es.shtml


14. Colombia: New Lizard Species Identified

JAN. 24, 2005 - Researchers from the University of Santander
and NGO Conservation International have identified a new
species of lizard, Anadia bumanguesa. The species was
located in near Bucaramanga and is usually less than 15cm
long. Scientists warn that the species will be decimated if
deforestation of nearby forests continues at its current
rate.

Source - Vanguardia Liberal
http://www.vanguardia.com/sema/ola0.htm


15. Paraguay Hosts Migratory Bird Event

JAN. 19, 2005 - NGO Guyra Paraguay, Paraguay's Environmental
Secretariat, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

SIPDIS
hosted a meeting on migratory bird species in Paraguay,
January 25-26 in Asuncion. The event aims to compile
information for the publication of a book, which will
include maps of strategic areas, bird inventories, and
conservation recommendations.

Source - IUCN
http://www.sur.iucn.org/vitrina/noticia.cfm?p asscodnot=934

--------------
Fishing & Marine Conservation
--------------


16. White Spot Syndrome Virus Identified in Southern Brazil

JAN. 26, 2005 - The state of Santa Catarina has halted the
export of crustaceans and fish after the white spot syndrome
virus was identified in the Laguna region. Seventeen of the
140 shrimp farms in the region have been quarantined.
According to the press report, the disease is able to
decimate entire shrimp farms in only a few days but is not
harmful to humans.

Source - Ambiente Brasil
http://www.ambientebrasil.com.br/noticias/ind ex.php3?action=
ler&id=17776

--------------
Protected Areas
--------------


17. Forest Fire Consumes Uruguayan National Park

JAN. 26, 2005 - A fire, which began in La Esmeralda beach,
consumed nearly 5,000 hectares of the Santa Teresa National
Park. Nearly 14,000 people were evacuated from Santa Teresa
and Punta del Diablo. Neighboring countries Argentina,
Brazil, and Chile were asked to aid in stopping the fire.

Source - Clarin http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/01/26/um/m-
910967.htm
--------------
Science & Technology
--------------


18. Brazilian Biotech Center to Receive IMF Funding

JAN. 24, 2005 - The Biotechnology Center located in Manaus
(Brazil) has been chosen as a baseline project for an
agreement between the Brazilian government and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). The center, which was
built in 2002, will build another 12 labs and four support
units over the next five years. The main research issues
include toxicology, production of cosmetics, insecticides
and pharmaceuticals, and nutrition.

Source - Ambiente Brasil
http://www.ambientebrasil.com.br/noticias/ind ex.php3?action=
ler&id=17745


19. Oil Palm Research Takes off in Colombia

JAN. 21, 2005 - Plans to increase Colombia's share of the
global palm oil market received a boost last month when the
Center for Oil Palm Research, Cenipalma, opened its first
research station. Researchers at the experimental farm -
called La Vizcaina - will attempt to breed new varieties of
oil palm that produce higher yields of better quality oil.
They will also try to improve the palms' ability to resist
attack by crop pests and diseases. This site is intended to
become a living collection of oil palm varieties, with about
half of the farm's 825 hectares set aside for growing
samples of both the American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) and
the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Both species are
grown in Colombia.

Source - SciDev
http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseacti on=readNews&ite
mid=1866&language=1


20. Ecuador Allocates US$582,000 for Scientific Research

JAN. 20, 2005 - Ecuador's Science Foundation Fundacyt has
announced it will invest US$582,000 in research projects and
US$234,000 in university scholarships in 2005. Projects
that have been going on since 2002 through 2004 are priority
to receive funding. In contrast, according to the press
report, the pharmaceutical industry in Ecuador will invest
nearly US$10 million in scientific research.

Source - El Comercio
http://www.elcomercio.com/noticias.asp?noid=1 15657

--------------
Pollution
--------------


21. OES-Sponsored Mercury Project in the Media
FEB. 15, 2005 - The United Nations Environmental Program
(UNEP) newsletter Tierramerica published a brief summary of
efforts by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)
to elaborate a plan of action to minimize mercury
contamination in the eight countries of the Amazon region.
Brasilia Regional HUB Officers were present at the OES-
sponsored working group meeting held in Lima (Peru) February
1-3, where this plan of action was outlined and discussed by
six of the eight Amazon region countries. A cable on this
meeting is currently being drafted.

Source - Tierramerica
http://www.tierramerica.net/2005/0212/ecobrev es.shtml

--------------
Energy
--------------



22. Colombia- Panama Electricity Project Sparks
Environmental Concern

FEB. 05, 2005 -A project is being developed by the Colombian
Ministry of Mines and Energy and plans to interconnect 500-
600 km of electric lines between Colombia and Panama at
a cost of US$172-221 million. Environmentalists are
concerned the lines will cut through and, thus, negatively
affect, the Darien forest, the largest protected area in
Central America (597,000 hectares; created in 1980) and also
claim that the local communities were not consulted. If the
project is carried out, the electric lines will connect
Cerromatoso substation, in Cordoba (Colombia) and Panama II
by 2008.

Source - Tierramerica
http://www.tierramerica.net/2005/0205/acentos .shtml


23. Argentina: Experimental Hydrogen Production, in
Patagonia

FEB. 01, 2005 - The first trial production of hydrogen was
successfully carried out in Pico Truncado, Santa Cruz
(Argentina),generating high hopes for future energy
possibilities. The collaboration of the University of
Quebec, The Hydrogen Association of Argentina, and the city
of Pico Truncado resulted in a successful demonstration of
enough hydrogen to inflate small balloons. Residents of
Pico Truncado hope that the hydrogen plant will one day meet
the city's domestic electricity consumption and potentially
serve as a heat and vehicular fuel source.

Source - La Nacion (summarized by US Embassy Buenos Aires)


24. Brazil to Resume Works in Nuclear Plant

JAN. 27, 2005 - Brazilian president Luis Inacio `Lula' da
Silva authorized a R$134 million (US$52 million) investment
to resume construction of the Angra 3 nuclear reactor which
has been on hold since 1986.
Source - Public Affairs US Embassy Brasilia


25. Colombia, Brazil Study Transborder Hydroelectric Project

JAN. 20, 2005 - Colombian president Alvaro Uribe is
proposing to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula Da
Silva, that the two countries construct a hydroelectric
plant on their common border. Uribe said the construction
of a hydroelectric plant would guarantee permanent
electricity to the Brazilian border town of Tabatinga and,
on the other side of the border, the Colombian town of
Leticia. He said feasibility studies have begun, though
costs and other relevant issues haven't yet been worked out.

Source - Dow Jones Newswire


26. Brazil: Controversial Hydroelectric Project Follows
Through

JAN. 12, 2005 - A controversial hydroelectric project, which
threatens a highly endangered remnant of Brazil's Atlantic
forest now looks likely to go ahead. Deforestation has
resumed in the gorge of the Pelotas River dividing the
southern Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande
do Sul, to prepare for the filling of a reservoir behind the
180m (590ft) Barra Grande dam. It follows the ending of a
long impasse during which the $400m project was threatened
by blockades from local people affected by the dam and court
proceedings brought by environmental groups.
Source - BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/416 7393.stm

--------------
General
--------------


27. OAS and ACTO Sign Cooperation Agreement

JAN. 28, 2005 - The Organization of American States (OAS)
and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) signed
in Washington an agreement to "work together to support
Amazon countries in the elaboration and implementation of
policies [...] that contribute to the regional development
of the Amazon." The two organizations hope to work on joint
projects related to water resources management, environment
and health, environmental protection and economic
integration, and biodiversity conservation.

Source - Amazonia.org
http://www.amazonia.org.br/noticias/noticia.c fm?id=143805



28. Chile: Mining Project Stirs Environmental Complaints

JAN. 19, 2005 - Environmental groups claim that Codelco's
Mansa Mina project in Calama will cause significant damage
to the landscape and want it to be reconsidered. Citizens
said they are worried about water filtration near the mine
and possible runoff into the river Loa.
State-run Codelco plans to spend US$900 million on a new
mine in northern Chile that could produce 188,000 metric
tons of the precious metal a year by 2007. The mine would
excavate 50,000 tons of copper a day.

Source - Santiago Times

DANILOVICH