Peru's Lima and Cusco cities play host to the conferences “Katoomba Marketplace: Opportunities for Investment in Green Infrastructure,” on October 11-14 to debate on the importance of water source conservation.
The meeting will gather international experts from the United States and England, as well as specialists from a range of institutions such as Arnold & Porter, LLP, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Blue Forest Conservation, Cornell University, Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), SDC, Ecotrust, Encourage Capital, Global Green Growth Institute, Mecanismos de Desarrollo Alternos (Alternative Development Mechanisms) and New Forests.
The event will also feature Costa Rica's Regulatory Authority of Public Services (ARESEP) and Ecuador's Public Metropolitan Water and Sanitation Company (EPMAPS).
Peruvian participating institutions include the Environment Ministry, the Housing, Construction and Sanitation Ministry, the National Water Authority (ANA), the State-owned Water Utility (SEDAPAL), Banco de la Nacion, among others.
The Katoomba Marketplace Latin America meetings aim to share success stories regarding green infrastructure financing in the water sector, as well as in other environmental sectors all over the world.
Such experiences will serve as models to develop practical proposals on public-private green infrastructure to guarantee water supply for Latin American populations.
Green infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a development concept that covers investment measures to protect, restore and maintain natural landscapes, such as reforestation, protection of forests, riverbanks and wetlands, as well as all activities associated with ecosystems' protection and restoration.
Green infrastructure has proven a more cost-effective alternative to guarantee water supply. Nowadays, there's a vast scientific foundation to underpin how green infrastructure measures can be more economical, reducing operating and maintenance costs.
Peruvian experience
Peru has addressed water source conservation through water utilities for the first time through a public policy. In this respect, Peru's National Superintendency of Sanitation Services (SUNASS) took up the challenge to develop a method for Sanitation Service Providers (EPSs) to include a fee for protection of basins in their tariffs.
Katoomba Marketplace meetings' agenda also includes a field visit to the Piuray Lagoon in Cusco region in order to learn about Cusco's EPS (SEDACUSCO) investment in lagoon preservation.
(END) NDP/LIT/DHT/RMB
Published: 10/11/2016