CATIE at the First National Watershed Congress of Panama

• Dra. Laura Benegas highlighted innovative elements of financing and green businesses for the sustainability of watersheds
  
  

The CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) participated in the First National Watersheds Congress of Panama, held from July 24 to 26. The event brought together over 300 participants under the theme "Together Towards Integrated Watershed Management in Panama: Building a Future with Water Security."

The congress was organized by the Ministry of Environment, the Panama Canal Authority, and other institutions, with the support of the United Nations System in Panama.

Dr. Laura Benegas Negri, representing CATIE, played a prominent role as the keynote speaker, addressing "Challenges and Perspectives in Regional Watershed Management."

She also took part in the first panel of experts that discussed the "Sustainability Challenges in Watershed Management," analyzing national, regional, and local perspectives.

Dr. Benegas also led one of the congress's parallel sessions, which focused on watershed management in the face of challenges such as climate change, water crises, and environmental degradation.

This session facilitated the sharing of existing experiences and initiatives in Panama to address these challenges, identifying lessons learned and opportunities to scale these experiences to other watersheds across the country.

During the congress, CATIE showcased its work in watershed management and highlighted innovative approaches to financing and green businesses for the sustainability of watersheds. In doing so, CATIE not only addressed the challenges but also presented solutions grounded in its expertise.

Panama is recognized for its advancements in watershed management, supported by national legislation and decrees that standardize planning and management processes through officially recognized committees. The expertise of the Panama Canal Authority in managing watersheds vital to its operation was also highlighted during the event.