Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday suggested an initiative to recuperate the wildlife and environment following decades of armed conflict.
The president suggested the initiative could be implemented following the conclusion of ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the country’s largest rebel group, the FARC, in Cuba.
The head of state made the suggestion to the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, whose country is guarantor of the peace talks.
Santos said that the fund could be similar to what “the Norwegians had in Brazil, an ecosystem-related post-conflict fund, to grant many people a livelihood.” Such an initiative could enable sustainable development to advance peace, said the Colombian president.
Santos is in New York City to participate in the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations where he decorated the Colombian biologist Cristian Samper with the Order of San Carlos.
The Order of San Carlos is a state order granted by Colombia to honor Colombian citizens, foreign civilians and military officers who have made outstanding contributions to the country. Dr. Cristian Samper is a tropical biologist and an international authority on conservation biology and environmental policy. He is currently the President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society
To advance the proposed project, the president asked for support from Samper. “We want to give Cristian Samper the opportunity to help us to design the fund which will be focused on sustainable development,” said Santos.
Sources
- Presidente Santos propone crear Fondo Bioclimático para el Posconflicto (Presidencia de la Republica)