The Argentine Water Forum (FAdA) was
established in 2007, with 28 founding members from different
sectors involved in the use and protection of water resources.
This included governments, businesses, researchers, user
associations and civil society organisations located the length
and breadth of Argentina.
This association of members from such
diverse sectors contributes to the creation of channels of
communication and diffusion, in coordination (where appropriate)
with the social figures, institutions, programmes and networks
which promote the same interests.
The forum received the backing of the
Global Water Partnership (GWP) as a National Association (GWP
Country Water Partnership) in early 2008, whereby it actively
joined the work of the network at national, regional and world
level. It is an international network created in 1996 and open
to all organisations, with the aim of encouraging and supporting
countries in the Integrated Management of Water Resources.
The first Executive Board of the Argentine Water Forum was made
up of:
President: Santiago Ruiz Freites (Consejo de Regantes del Rio
Mendoza)
María Alejandra Bustamante (Instituto Argentino del Auga);
José Ortiz de Urbina (Consorcio de Usuarios El Tunal,
Salta); Juan Carlos Ferrero (Asociación de Amigos del
Río San Antonio); Luis Ragno (Centro de Estudios Prospectivos
de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo); Raquel Zabala (Centro Latinoamericano
de Globalización y Prospectiva); y Julián Varela
(Fundación Agreste).
GENERAL ASSEMBLY GWP SOUTH AMERICA
The Ordinary General Assembly of members of GWP South America
took place in the Argentine Senate from 11 to 13 June and
gathered over 60 representatives from South American countries.
The Chairman’s report for the 2007/8 biennium was presented and
approved, the progress, results and limitations of the
activities undertaken by members in that period were discussed
and amendments to the Articles of Association were approved.
During the assembly the creation of the role of vice president
of GWP South America was decided upon and Nicole Bernex, the
President of GWP Peru, was nominated. Nicole was elected during
the meeting of the Executive Committee of GWP South America
which also took place in Buenos Aires.
The representatives of the Executive Committee also had the
opportunity to meet with the Vice-president of Argentina, Julio
C Cobos, who is also the highest authority in the Argentina
Legislature. The private meeting took place on 12 June in
Buenos Aires and materials and publications explaining the work
of GWP were handed out. Cobos, a hydraulic engineer, was
pleased with the progress made by GWP in the region and said he
was happy to invite discussions on water resources in the
Senate. It was the right occasion to recognise the importance
of sensitising and training South American legislators on the
key issues and strategies in relation to integrated water
resources management (IWRM).
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PRIMER PANEL INTERNACIONAL DE AGUA Y AMBIENTE “Gestión Integrada de Recursos Hídricos y Organismos de
Cuenca”
La jornada contó con la disertación de
destacados panelistas de ámbito hídrico nacional y
expertos de la Universidad de Zaragoza, España, así
como también profesionales de del hermano país
trasandino.
Cabe destacar la importancia de la Jornada
para la región ya que se llegó
a la conclusión de que en los
próximos años deberemos
tomar más en cuenta y con mucha
mayor responsabilidad la utilización
de los recursos hídricos, tanto
para el consumo como para la producción
energética.
Se vió reforzado el lanzamiento
por la presencia de autoridades del
gobierno Mendocino, entre ellos el actual Gobernador de la Provincia Sr. Celso
Jaque, y la importantísima presencia
de nuestra querida amiga e inspiración
para muchos en la temática ambiental,
la Sra. Yolanda Ortiz, Primer Secretaria
de Medio Ambiente de la Nación.
Una vez finalizada la jornada, se
llevó a adelante la Asamblea Ordinaria del Foro
Argentino del Agua en las instalaciones de la
Universidad Champagñat, en la que Fundación Agreste
participó como miembro del Consejo Directivo, y se
tomaron decisiones de gran importancia para como las
directrices para el año 2009 y la presencia FAdA en
el Encuentro Mundial para el Agua a realizarse en
Estambul, Turquía, durante 2009.
