CATHALAC

The Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC), received the official visit of Mrs. Shana Dale, Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on December 13, 2007.

 
The U.S. Group on Earth Observations, NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, NOAA and the Panamanian Ambassador to the U.S.  will host a media briefing to announce the successes of SERVIR, an early warning system used to alert populations of the occurrence of severe events, such as forest fires and tropical storms. Participants will discuss how the system provided early alerts during the past hurricane season in Central America, giving populations advance notice and guiding officials in the response effort. The team will discuss plans to expand SERVIR’s life-saving benefits to Africa.  

On August 16, 2007, the President of the Republic of El Salvador , Elías Antonio Saca, made an official visit to the President of the Republic of Panama , Martín Torrijos Espino. Among the results of this visit, agreements of technical and scientific cooperation were signed, as well as a Joint Press Release where both mandatories expressed the willingness for collaboration between both countries

The Third Award Ceremony of the Latin American and the Caribbean Water Prizes –PLACA 2007, took place on October 25, 2007 at the Panama Canal Miraflores Visiting Center. The Ceremony brought together representatives from the Diplomatic Corps, international organizations, and business sector. Established in 2005, PLACA’s objectives are to recognize and to share innovative solutions to issues related to water management and conservation in the region. PLACA seeks to honor outstanding local, national and regional efforts and best practices that serve as examples to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. After the difficult task the PLACA International Evaluating Committee had in selecting the winners and finalists, here are the final results of the 2007 PLACA Prize Categories:

El Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe (CATHALAC), presentó los Progresos en el establecimiento de sinergias entre organizaciones de la región acerca de la estrategia de funcionamiento de CATHALAC como Centro Iberoamericano de Análisis de Problemas Ambientales Emergentes y Cambio Climático para la región Mesoamericana y El Caribe.