Latin American forests could absorb Spanish carbon dioxide

9 July 2004

MADRID — A group of Latin American environmental experts have suggested forests in South America could act as ‘carbon sinks’ to absorb carbon dioxide emissions produced by Spanish industries, it was reported Friday.

During the meeting in Madrid on the implications of the Kyoto Protocol on the reduction on greenhouse gases, representatives from Uruguay and Colombia said that for years their countries have followed “clean policies,” which have allowed the protection of carbon sinks – forests that absorb carbon dioxide – and can compensate for Spain’s excess emission of gases.

Walter Oyhantcabal, coordinator of climatic change projects for the Uruguayan Agriculture Ministry, explained the requirements and procedure whereby Spanish companies can request emission permits.

Reinaldo Gargano, president of the Uruguayan Senate’s Environmental Committee, said that since 1987, Uruguay’s then- 70,000 hectares (approximately 173,000 acres) of planted forests have been increased to 600,000 hectares (about 1,480,000 acres) thanks to the government’s environmental policies.

Gargano said that the Kyoto Protocol should encourage governments and businesses to “seek a balanced economy that meets the needs of the environment and industry.”

Claudia Cardona, managing director of Colombia’s environmental agency CVC, stressed the importance of the Protocol for Latin America and the efforts countries in that region make towards research and social and economic policies “to solve a problem that affects us all.”

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news