The GEF Small Grants Programme in Panama was invited to present at the II Expo Terra Event in celebration of Earth Day - 2011. The 3 day event (June3-5) was celebrated at the ATLAPA convention center where SGP showcased 5 community-based projects. The event was centered around three main topics: sustainable design and construction; organic agriculture and sustainable animal husbandry; and waste management and recycling. Through the course of the fair, more than five thousand visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the projects from the GEF Small Grants Programme.
After the launch, the First Lady of Panama Marta Linares de Martinelli, who inaugurated the event, stopped by the SGP booth and congratulated the local team while she mentioned that she had heard about the GEF SGP projects and its special focus on gender issues and capacity building activities in rural areas. The event also served as the platform for launching a publication about good practices for "Sustainable Animal Husbandry" with the participation of the Minister of Agricultural Development, Emilio Kieswetter and prominent figures related with that sector.
The five SGP projects presented at the fair focused on: cleaner charcoal production through the use of underground Japanese style furnace; crop diversification from policultivation systems in the Darien region; medicinal plants and soaps that enhance the use of biodiversity-based products; the agronomic practices of the Sweet Potato Producers Association of Cucula that reduce erosion and agrochemical use; and coffee from the highlands near La Amistad National Park a World Heritage site in Panama. Visitors at the fair had the unique opportunity to spoke with the producers and beneficiaries themselves, to learn more about the environmental benefits and impacts of these projects. In addition, Jose Manuel Perez, the SGP National Coordinator, gave a conference on Sustainable Agriculture showcasing SGP´s experience in Panama and its impact on small scale farmers and cattlemen through alternative practices.
Contact:
Jose Manuel Perez, National Coordinator of GEF Small Grants Programme in Panama | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.