Southeast Pacific

Agreements

Initiatives

Actors


Lima Convention • Permanent Commission of the South Pacific
  • Convenio Para la Protección del Medio Marino y la Zona Costera del Pacífico Sudeste (Español)
  • Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Area of the South-East Pacific (English)

The Lima Convention was adopted 1981 and came into in force in 1986. Its objective is to protect the marine environment and coastal zones of the South-East Pacific within the 200-mile area of maritime sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Parties, and beyond that area, the high seas up to a distance within which pollution of the high seas may affect that area. The Contracting Parties agree, inter alia, to take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the Convention area, particularly pollution from land-based sources, from or through the atmosphere, from vessels and from any other installations and devices operating in the marine environment.

The Convention has six protocols. En Español: Tradados Regionales.

The Permanent Commission of the South Pacific — Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur, CPPS — serves as the Secretariat of the Lima Convention and the South-East Pacific Action Plan (see text in Spanish: Plan de Acción para la Protección del Medio Marino y Áreas Costeras del Pacífico Sudeste).


Viña del Mar Agreement on Port State Control
The Latin American Agreement on Port State Control of Vessels (Viña del Mar Agreement) was signed in 1992. It lays the foundation for closer cooperation among Maritime Authorities in the region. It aims at coordinating measures to inspect foreign vessels calling at regional ports. Actions taken comply with the provisions established in international treaties and conventions in force in the field of maritime safety, training and certification of crewmembers and prevention of pollution from vessels at sea and in rivers and lakes.

Integrated Management of the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem
The general objective of this GEF-funded project Integrated Management of the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem (IMHCLME) is to enhance the national and regional efforts to move forward towards an integrated and sustainable management of this LME. The first phase of the project started in July 2002, and the primary tasks during the first year of will be to define the key problems, issues and threats and identifying priorities options and alternatives; to make a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Programme for the IMHCLME; to outline a series of activities and projects funded by national governments and donor agencies, together with a financing plan; and to make detailed proposals for GEF financing. (See also Instituto del Mar del Perú.)

UNEP ROLAC
UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) seeks to further UNEP's global mandate of providing leadership in and promoting joint efforts for environmental care, and encouraging, informing and building the capacity of nations and peoples to improve their lives without endangering that of future generations. ROLAC also serves as the Secretariat of the Forum of Environmental Ministers for Latin America and the Caribbean (only in Spanish).

UN ECLAC
The objective of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is to contribute to the economic development of Latin America, coordinate actions directed towards this end, and reinforce economic relationships among the countries and with the other nations of the world. ECLAC is also to promote the region's social development.

LAPA
The Latin Petroleum Analytics (LAPA) — Information Centre for Latin America's Petroleum Industry — is an independent research firm providing insights into the Latin American petroleum industry. LAPA specializes in analyzing energy markets, specifically the upstream sector of the industry.

ARPEL
The Regional Association of Oil and Natural Gas Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL) is formed by more than t25 oil and natural gas companies, which represent over 90 per cent of the region's upstream and downstream sectors. ARPEL is "an interactive forum for exchange of ideas, experiences and knowledge; a forum designed for a timely identification of issues that may influence the industry's development." See also ARPEL Environmental Code of Conduct.

Mundo Azul
Mundo Azul is a non-governmental Peruvian organization for scientific submarine and subaquatic investigation, for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and species, for environmental education, and sustainable development. It is pointed out that "The increasing urbanization — mostly informal and disorganized — destroys important coastal habitats". [English]