DSD inventory of maps

Since the mid-1950s, the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) has worked with member countries to address natural resource management, environmental protection and risk reduction in natural disasters.   As baseline information, geological, soil, land use, and vegetative cover surveys were prepared by DSD for the member States.  Today, the DSD is custodian to some 1,600 maps that provide invaluable historical information regarding hydrological characteristics, average rates of precipitation and river discharge rates, indigenous forest type and coverage, and other data which has various applications, including in helping countries model climate change impacts and climate adaptation plans, as well as reforestation and land-use planning.  (An inventory of maps held by the DSD can be accessed by clicking here.)

The UN Climate meeting in Bali highlights the importance of historical records so that developing countries could calculate, for example, their average forest cover loss over time, in order to work out potential benefits from avoided deforestation.  One action plan calls for compensation for reduced greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and protection of standing forests. More...

Payment for Ecological Services

To respond to trade-related capacity building development needs in the area of environmental management, the DSD is working towards improving market-based approaches to the conservation of biological diversity, through the support of Payment for Ecological Service Payments (PES).    More..

 

The Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) supports OAS member States in the design and implementation of policies, programs and projects oriented to integrate environmental priorities with poverty alleviation, and socio-economic development goals. Translating sustainable development and environmental protection goals into concrete actions, DSD supports the execution of multiple-country projects in such diverse areas as integrated water management, renewable energy, natural Hazards-climate change adaptation and land use planning, biological diversity and environmental law and policy.  The Department also supports transparency and Public Participation, as practical ingredients of good governance. More...  

 

The DSD will hold the Third Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean Region of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). More..

 

 The IABIN Project seeks a consultant for the Ecosystem Thematic Network More...

 

DSD Director Attends Fourth Caribbean Environmental Forum on “Climate Change, Water and Sanitation: A Shared Responsibility”.  More..

 

Request for Proposals for Protected Areas and Pollinators for the IABIN Project

 

OAS joins forces with Caribbean to fight climate change. More...

 

1

 

 

  

1

Sep, 4, 2008. Mexico. III Regional REEEP Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean Region.  More..

 

 

 

This page was last updated on Tuesday August 19, 2008.