A Condor’s eye view of environmental impacts

A Condor’s eye view of environmental impacts

Organizations and companies interested in undertaking infrastructure works in Andean countries now have help from a tool that can be consulted free of charge on the Internet, and which lets them plan projects with the least possible environmental and social impact.

This is the Cóndor 2.0. Program, the result of five years’ joint work by the CAF and Conservation International on the development of a Geographical Information System which brings together a vast database of environmental and social information on the entire Andean Region.

From May 19 to 28 training courses on how to use of the program are being held in the Andean countries for officials from public sector, representatives of the private sector and academics.

A training session was held in Bogotá on May 21 for officials from the Ministry of Transport, Invías, Ministry of the Environment, Controller General of the Republic and the Urban Development Institute (IDU), among others. Also present were private consultants and representatives of companies such as Ocensa, responsible for the construction and maintenance of one of Colombia’s main oil pipelines. The course was given by Juan Carlos Rodríguez of Conservation International. The certificates were presented by Harold Cáceres, executive officer of the CAF Environment Department, and Fabio Arjona, former environment vice minister and currently director in Colombia of Conservation International.