10th Session of Regional Assembly of ASLAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In April 2019, a soil partnership between South and Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico was formed. This synergy named Latin America and the Caribbean Soil Partnership (LACS) aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and overcome differences in information, capacity, investment and environmental challenges experienced by countries in the region. In this framework, national needs and priorities are translated into regional actions, and national representation is usually through the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) National Focal Point.

Representing Antigua and Barbuda at the regional assembly of the ASLAC is Mr. Brent Georges, Projects Coordinator within the Ministry of Agriculture. The meeting was held in Mexico City during 19th to 22nd June and covered the following matters and activities:

· The validation of the protocol of Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

· Technology activities of the Global Soil Partnership

· Mapping activities

· Laboratory activities

· The Global Soil Doctor Programme

· The implementation in the regions

· The Red Soil Project

· How to design a regional project

Each country represented at this forum gave updates on the soil projects within their territories. It was disclosed that Latin America was more advanced than the islands of the Caribbean and they have embarked on a project called “Soil Doctors”, sponsored by FAO. According to Georges, this project would be educating farmers on the importance and the characteristics of soils that would further support “Sustainable Soil Management”. Antigua and Barbuda would be a part of this initiative.

Other areas of interest discussed were Global Environment Facility Projects, Climate Change Projects and Land Degradation Neutrality Projects.

According to Mr. Georges, the meeting was very engaging and informative. “The meeting was very enlightening. Antigua and Barbuda, through Dr. Linroy Christian, was reelected and confirmed as the Vice-President of the Caribbean sub-region of the ASLAC. This is a significant milestone for us”, Georges said.