WHMSI CONFERENCE IN PARAGUAY

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000572

SIPDIS

STATE TO KBEAMER WHA/BSC, ACONDO OES/ENRC, DEPT OF INTERIOR
TO DR. KAUSH ARHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV ETRD PA PGOV
SUBJECT: WHMSI CONFERENCE IN PARAGUAY


1. (U) Hosted by the Paraguayan Ministries of Environment and
Tourism and Guyra Paraguay (an environmental NGO),the third
Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI)
Conference was held from July 22 to July 25. Representatives
from NGOs such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF),international
conventions such as the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS),and representatives from various Western Hemisphere
countries, including the U.S. Department of Interior,
attended the conference. Key priorities identified for WHMSI
were: to build country capacity to conserve and manage
migratory wildlife; improve hemispheric communication on
conservation issues of common interest; strengthen the
exchange of information needed for informed decision-making,
and; provide a forum in which emerging issues can be
identified and addressed.


2. (U) During the conference, members worked towards
continued cooperation, provided updates on what had occurred
since the last WHMSI conference in 2006, and discussed a
capacity building proposal from the Organization of American
States (OAS). There were also thematic sessions on marine
turtle conservation, adapting important migratory species
habitats in the face of climate change, and on the
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Program. Members made
improvements and suggested changes to the program, which
awards grants funded by Congress to organizations and
governments. Members of the initiative also discussed the
syntax of the WHMSI Purpose and Organization structure and
the accuracy of the Spanish translation.


3. (U) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of
the Interior, Dr. Kaush Arha, attended WHMSI for the U.S.
government. While in Paraguay, DAS Arha attended a dedication
ceremony at a cultural center celebrating the designation of
Bahia de Asuncion (a wetland area north of Asuncion) as an
important site for migratory bird landings. He was given a
tour of some of Paraguay's distinct ecoregions by members of
Guyra Paraguay. DAS Arha also met with key environmental
leaders, including the Executive Director of Guyra Paraguay
(Alberto Yanosky),the Paraguayan Minister of Tourism (Liz
Cramer) and both the current and incoming Secretaries of the
Environment in Paraguay. With these leaders, he discussed
Paraguay's environmental challenges and opportunities. DAS
Arha expressed his thanks for his welcome in Paraguay and his
support for and interest in environmental issues in Paraguay
and international cooperative initiatives such as WHMSI.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Although there were many competing
interests from participating countries, the conference
fulfilled its key objectives and participants agreed on the
way forward. This conference provided a good example of
productive multilateral regional cooperation. END COMMENT.


5. DAS Arha did not have an opportunity to clear this cable.

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