Costa Rica held the III National Congress on Hydrographic Basins
The III National Congress on Hydrographic Basins was held on April 19th and 20 in Costa
Rica, organized by the Panamerican Committee of Hydrographic Basins (section Costa
Rica), the Technological Engineers Association, the Pan American Union of Engineering
Organizations (UPADI), the Professional Association of Engineers and Architects and the
“Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz S.A.”
(National Power and Lighting Company).
During this activity, one of the most important topics
analyzed was the scarce attention given to the topic
of adaptation to climate change. The absence of
political will and the lack of planning in public
institutions, have delayed the forecasting activities
about climate change in a more accurate manner,
which is in detriment of the specific actions in the
use of resources in hydrographic basins.
During the inauguration , from left to right: Eng.
Fernando Ortiz, President of CFIA, Guillermo
Alvarado, CNFL, Eng. Denis Mora, Vicepresident
Basins Committee,E ng. Irene Campos, Presidenta
UPADI.
Experts stated, that the government must establish an urgent plan to face the reduction in
water due to extended dry seasons and the reduction of forest and aquifer reloading
areas.
One of the biggest problems assigning human and financial resources to the adaptation
topic is that the efforts are done at the sector level and not at a national level, which
hinders an efficient use of resources. It is also necessary to increase any efforts made in
the topic of mitigation, such as reforestation, the use of energetic resources in a rational
manner and strengthening of institutions related to the topic, in order to attain further
progress.
Eng. Irene Campos, President of UPADI, stated “that climate change is more than a
scientific topic among meteorologists and scientists, we shall evaluate the prevention in
order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, which seriously affect the quality of the
hydrographic basins”.
In an analysis carried out during the Congress, the experts made emphasis on the need to
create more inter institutional policies in the topic of environmental protection of basins,
through a greater designation of resources in science and technology, an integral vision of
the territorial laws of the country,
On the other hand, Eng. Margarita Fontova, President of the Basins Committee of UPADI,
explained that it is necessary to join efforts since the adaptation measures require
resources, will to work and training in technical capacities.
As part of the adaptation to the climate related variables of the country, the experts stated
the following:
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The need to build with materials and finishings which are more resistant to extreme
climate.
Construction of sites to store water and which enable the assurance of water
supply even during severe drought periods.
National guidelines which involve both the private and the public sector in the
protection of the environment specially in hydrographic basins.
Provide more financial resources to the country for research regarding the
condition of the climate variables product of greenhouse effect, to warn the
population about the effects it will have on the natural resources.
Eng. Dennis Mora, Vice president of the Basins Committee of UPADI, made emphasis on
the importance of the IX Forum of Hydrographic Basins in Cuba from June 3rd-6th., with
the participation of Costa Rica in the integration of policies and exchange of experiences in
relation with the topic of basins.