Sostenibilidad

Nestled among towering volcanoes, Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan is often described as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Four of the Central American region’s seven biomes meet in the Atitlan region, making it a biodiversity hotspot and a natural “gas station” for migrating birds. But here, as elsewhere in the developing world, a lack of economic opportunities often drives local residents toward activities that devalue local ecosystems for biodiversity and for the people who rely on them for resources.

Consider this hypothetical scenario. The government of Betija is investing in a provincial road infrastructure project, which will upgrade nearly 140 km of roads between the city of Tosan and Ican. The government had identified several categories of stakeholders who could be potentially affected by the project. These groups were given an opportunity to meet with project officials to express concerns and make suggestions to the project design. However, women were not considered in those meetings.

Improving Lives is a slogan commonly used by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to underscore that the work of the different parties involved in projects receiving financing can change (for the better) the lives of people living in our Latin American and Caribbean nations. I am convinced that this is true. How can we improve lives? How can we create better projects? How can best practices be achieved? These are valid questions that those who are involved in development issues ask ourselves all the time.

To commemorate International Mangrove Day (July 26th) let’s take a moment to think about why these wonderful tropical ecosystems are unique and worthy of our protection. Mangroves are formed by trees that are highly tolerant to salt and that grow in an amphibian environment, with aquatic and terrestrial characteristics. Here are five of their superpowers. 1. Reducing CO2 Mangroves have a great capacity to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Road transportation plays a pivotal role in Nicaragua’s economic development. The competitiveness of its industry, agriculture and trade is closely linked to the efficacy and efficiency of the transportation operation. In order to support this sector, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has implemented the Transport Sector Support Program (PAST, after its Spanish initials).

The imposing Buenos Aires is a metropolis full of contrasts. Its mix of urban design elements includes magnificent buildings with unique facades built in the early 20th Century. Its metro railway system (the first in Latin America) and state-of-the-art construction in the Puerto Madero feature the latest trends in modern architecture. And within this massive metropolis, right in the heart of Buenos Aires, is Barrio 31, whose singular history makes it a veritable sustainable urban development challenge.