Cablegate: Program Evaluation: Jackson Hole Wildlife Film
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004696
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/PDA (SLEBENS, AEDWARDS), OES/ETC (KWALTZ,
JMCALPINE), PLEASE FORWARD TO USFS/IP (MZWEEDE) AND
USAID/LAC (CCAMPBELL)
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA SENV TBIO KPAO PE
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: Jackson Hole Wildlife Film
Festival, and Amazon Basin Forum, September 20-25, 2005 -
Peruvian participant Mr. Antonio BRACK
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY: Mr. BRACK participated in
subject program on federal natural resource management issues,
wildlife and forest management concessions and tourism. The
program included meetings with public agency officials, NGO
representatives and tribal representatives to focus on landscape
and park planning and on management of protected areas and
indigenous lands.
2. DATE, FISCAL YEAR AND QUARTER: September 20-25, FY-2005;
Fourth Quarter.
3. MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN THEME: Economic Growth and
Development.
4. RESULT/IMPACT: Excellent. Mr. Brack mentioned that
participating in this film festival and having had the
opportunity to meet with experts from the Amazon Basin gave him
new tools to ensure that television has a great influence in
public opinion for the good use of natural resources,
conservation of natural areas, and managing wild life. Mr.
Brack has a TV program called "La Buena Tierra" (The Good Land)
and he is grateful for the excellent contacts made, and for
having the opportunity of suggesting themes to specialized
institutions, such as National Geographic, to make Peru better
known worldwide.
5. AUDIENCE REACHED: A number of leaders working at the
forefront of Amazon conservation, and representatives of the
global environmental media community. Mr. Brack's TV program
audience in Peru will definitely hear what Mr. Brack has learned
from this program.
6. QUALITY OF SUPPORT FROM USG: Program was funded with FY-05
joint allocation from State Department (OES - Kathy Waltz), USFS
- International Programs (Michelle Zweede), USAID's Amazon
Conservation Initiative (Connie Campbell), and Lima Post.
7. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM:
-- Mr. Brack mentioned that he was surprised by the U.S. lead on
forestry administration. "It is of utmost importance the
creation of local wealth, like tourism sites and appreciation of
the wild fauna."
-- Mr. Brack was amazed to know that Jackson Hole, being a city
of approximately 8,000 people, receives annually 4,4 million
tourists attracted by the Grand Teton National Park, its forest,
and winter sports.
-- At the Teton Science School he learned about its splendid
program to educate children and young people on conservation and
management of natural areas and environment.
-- Mr. Brack observed that the National Park had admirable
volunteer programs of different kinds. One consists of retired
people who participate assisting tourists. Another group is
formed by young volunteers who work during the high summer
season and obtain experience to be potential candidates for a
future job there.
8. LONG-TERM RESULTS: Mr. Brack has already signed up on the IV
Alumni web site, and will continue participating actively in our
programs. On December 1, 2005, the Peruvian IV Alumni
Association will hold one of two workshops on Environment in a
provincial city, Arequipa, and Mr. Brack has agreed to be one of
the lecturers. Mr. Brack has exchanged experiences with his
colleagues from different countries, which has allowed him to
find common thematic issues, besides establishing contacts for
ongoing exchanges.
9. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: Mr. Brack expressed his gratitude to
the USG for this special invitation, to Ambassador J. Curtis
Struble for meeting with him before his program; to USAID
official Connie Campbell, for her kind assistance during the
program; to the Forestry Service representative Michelle Zweede
for her significant support; to Lima Post FSNs Borie Velez and
Maria Eugenia Rodriguez for taking flawless care of all the
administrative details for his participation; to everyone at the
Forestry Service, Park Service and each institution they
visited. He was surprised by the kindness and pleasant treatment
he received everywhere.
-- During panels and debates, Mr. Brack noticed that worldwide
there is a lack of knowledge about Peru's efforts to preserve
natural areas and manage the Amazon forest. In general, there
is an idea that the Amazon forest is being destroyed
irresponsibly, and that there is a limited knowledge about
protected areas, indigenous titled lands, and concessions to
manage the forest. The reality is that Peru, with its problems
and limitations, is implementing a system to preserve the
forest, the biodiversity and indigenous cultures through 12
million hectares of protected areas, 10 million hectares of
indigenous land, and 24,5 million hectares of Forest of
Permanent Production in the Amazon. This system guarantees the
conservation of 46,5 million hectares of forest and its
biodiversity, representing more than 60 percent of Peru's
portion of the Amazon forest.
Suggestions:
-- It would be essential that officers from INRENA (Natural
Resources Institute in Peru) visit the U.S. in a similar program
to learn about the forestry system and its policies. INRENA
could contact the U.S. Forest Service for an agreement on grants
to developing countries. This would enhance INRENA's management
of national parks.
-- Peru can learn a lot from the U.S. Park Service and its
management of protected areas. "One of the most important
lessons is that the parks are integrated to the local economy
and generate income for the local economy through tourism,
recreation, and admiration of beautiful scenery and wild fauna."
STRUBLE