Since its inception in November 2018, the MSPglobal Initiative has made it a priority to provide a forum for the active and effective participation of different categories of stakeholders involved in the marine space, in particular in the regions covered by its two pilot projects.
In the Southeast Pacific, capacity development activities on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Sustainable Blue Economy took place during the first quarter of 2021 with two binational training courses targeting mainly representatives of the key maritime sectors:
- 16 March 2021: Colombia and Panama
- 23 March 2021: Ecuador and Peru
During the trainings, Michele Quesada da Silva, MSPglobal Regional Coordinator for the Southeast Pacific, was in charge of presenting the concepts and the importance of integrated policies such as MSP and the Blue Economy, focusing on conflict resolution and opportunities. These events also provided the opportunity for the representatives of the MSPglobal National Focal Points to disseminate the status of their national maritime policies.
In total, 77 stakeholders representing about ten different sectors participated in the trainings. The private actors were mainly from fisheries, maritime transport and oil & gas.
Colombia and Panama – 16 March 2021:
Tatiana Pusquín Ospina, a GIS specialist of the Colombian General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR), presented a timeline of the national policies related to MSP. She also explained the work developed by DIMAR in the framework of their institutional approach called “Coastal Marine Planning: Vision of the Maritime Authority (OMC:VAM)”, such as the development of suitability maps for different maritime uses.
Osvaldo Rosas, legal adviser of the Panamanian Ministry of Environment (DICOMAR/MiAmbiente), explained the four themes that compose the National Ocean Policy under development: 1) biodiversity and marine resources; 2) maritime governance and security; 3) Blue Economy and logistics development; and 4) science, technology and innovation.
Click here for the speakers’ presentations.
Ecuador and Peru – 23 March 2021:
David Carranza, Director of National Maritime Development at the Directorate-General of Maritime Interests of the Ecuadorian Navy (DIGEIM), presented the main national policies and norms, as well as the key governmental institutions engaged in the topic. He also explained the components of maritime interest, such as ocean literacy, scientific and technological infrastructure, and maritime economy.
Antonio Vildoso Concha, Director of Maritime Interests of the Peruvian Navy, presented the National Maritime Policy and its background, from the 1980s to today. He explained the priority objectives, the steps to develop the policy and the status of the working committees established to support it, which are focused on developing a maritime GDP, a Multisectoral Strategic Plan, a database and an analysis of all existing norms.
Click here for the speakers’ presentations.
RELATED LINK:
MSPglobal pilot project in the Southeast Pacific
CONTACT:
MSPglobal.comm@unesco.org