US embassy cable - 05LIMA4696

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/PDA (SLEBENS, AEDWARDS), OES/ETC (KWALTZ, 
JMCALPINE), PLEASE FORWARD TO USFS/IP (MZWEEDE) AND 
USAID/LAC (CCAMPBELL) 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSCA, SENV, TBIO, KPAO, PE 
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: Jackson Hole Wildlife Film 
Festival, and Amazon Basin Forum, September 20-25, 2005 - 
Peruvian participant Mr. Antonio BRACK 
 
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY:  Mr. BRACK participated in 
subject program on federal natural resource management issues, 
wildlife and forest management concessions and tourism.  The 
program included meetings with public agency officials, NGO 
representatives and tribal representatives to focus on landscape 
and park planning and on management of protected areas and 
indigenous lands. 
 
2. DATE, FISCAL YEAR AND QUARTER: September 20-25, FY-2005; 
Fourth Quarter. 
 
3. MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN THEME:  Economic Growth and 
Development. 
 
4. RESULT/IMPACT:  Excellent.  Mr. Brack mentioned that 
participating in this film festival and having had the 
opportunity to meet with experts from the Amazon Basin gave him 
new tools to ensure that television has a great influence in 
public opinion for the good use of natural resources, 
conservation of natural areas, and managing wild life.  Mr. 
Brack has a TV program called "La Buena Tierra" (The Good Land) 
and he is grateful for the excellent contacts made, and for 
having the opportunity of suggesting themes to specialized 
institutions, such as National Geographic, to make Peru better 
known worldwide. 
5. AUDIENCE REACHED:  A number of leaders working at the 
forefront of Amazon conservation, and representatives of the 
global environmental media community.  Mr. Brack's TV program 
audience in Peru will definitely hear what Mr. Brack has learned 
from this program. 
 
6. QUALITY OF SUPPORT FROM USG:  Program was funded with FY-05 
joint allocation from State Department (OES - Kathy Waltz), USFS 
- International Programs (Michelle Zweede), USAID's Amazon 
Conservation Initiative (Connie Campbell), and Lima Post. 
 
7. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM: 
-- Mr. Brack mentioned that he was surprised by the U.S. lead on 
forestry administration.  "It is of utmost importance the 
creation of local wealth, like tourism sites and appreciation of 
the wild fauna." 
-- Mr. Brack was amazed to know that Jackson Hole, being a city 
of approximately 8,000 people, receives annually 4,4 million 
tourists attracted by the Grand Teton National Park, its forest, 
and winter sports. 
-- At the Teton Science School he learned about its splendid 
program to educate children and young people on conservation and 
management of natural areas and environment. 
-- Mr. Brack observed that the National Park had admirable 
volunteer programs of different kinds. One consists of retired 
people who participate assisting tourists.  Another group is 
formed by young volunteers who work during the high summer 
season and obtain experience to be potential candidates for a 
future job there. 
 
8. LONG-TERM RESULTS:  Mr. Brack has already signed up on the IV 
Alumni web site, and will continue participating actively in our 
programs.  On December 1, 2005, the Peruvian IV Alumni 
Association will hold one of two workshops on Environment in a 
provincial city, Arequipa, and Mr. Brack has agreed to be one of 
the lecturers.  Mr. Brack has exchanged experiences with his 
colleagues from different countries, which has allowed him to 
find common thematic issues, besides establishing contacts for 
ongoing exchanges. 
 
9. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: Mr. Brack expressed his gratitude to 
the USG for this special invitation, to Ambassador J. Curtis 
Struble for meeting with him before his program; to USAID 
official Connie Campbell, for her kind assistance during the 
program; to the Forestry Service representative Michelle Zweede 
for her significant support; to Lima Post FSNs Borie Velez and 
Maria Eugenia Rodriguez for taking flawless care of all the 
administrative details for his participation; to everyone at the 
Forestry Service, Park Service and each institution they 
visited. He was surprised by the kindness and pleasant treatment 
he received everywhere. 
-- During panels and debates, Mr. Brack noticed that worldwide 
there is a lack of knowledge about Peru's efforts to preserve 
natural areas and manage the Amazon forest.  In general, there 
is an idea that the Amazon forest is being destroyed 
irresponsibly, and that there is a limited knowledge about 
protected areas, indigenous titled lands, and concessions to 
manage the forest.  The reality is that Peru, with its problems 
and limitations, is implementing a system to preserve the 
forest, the biodiversity and indigenous cultures through 12 
million hectares of protected areas, 10 million hectares of 
indigenous land, and 24,5 million hectares of Forest of 
Permanent Production in the Amazon.  This system guarantees the 
conservation of 46,5 million hectares of forest and its 
biodiversity, representing more than 60 percent of Peru's 
portion of the Amazon forest. 
 
Suggestions: 
-- It would be essential that officers from INRENA (Natural 
Resources Institute in Peru) visit the U.S. in a similar program 
to learn about the forestry system and its policies.  INRENA 
could contact the U.S. Forest Service for an agreement on grants 
to developing countries.  This would enhance INRENA's management 
of national parks. 
-- Peru can learn a lot from the U.S. Park Service and its 
management of protected areas.  "One of the most important 
lessons is that the parks are integrated to the local economy 
and generate income for the local economy through tourism, 
recreation, and admiration of beautiful scenery and wild fauna." 
 
STRUBLE