As part of phase 2 of the BIO-PLATEAUX project, a delegation from the Office de l'Eau de Guyane, the Guyanese focal point for the project, the sub-prefecture of Saint-Georges and the Office International de l'Eau, the project coordinator, met and exchanged views with Brazilian partners in Macapa (Amapa) between March 8 and 10.
A highlight of the mission was a meeting with the newly-created State Secretariat for International Relations and Foreign Trade (SECRICOMEX), headed by Lucas Abrahão. SECRICOMEX takes on the role of Brazilian focal point for the project previously assumed by the Amapa Agency. The Secretary reiterated the institution's ambition to maintain and develop the cooperation initiated during Phase I. The project's objectives and roadmap are confirmed, with the aim of prefiguring a cross-border observatory to support the planning and management of water resources on the Maroni and Oiapoque rivers by 2026.
The mission also provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with technical partners and meet new stakeholders showing interest in the project. The delegation met with :
- government stakeholders (SEMA Environment Secretariat, SVS Health Surveillance Secretariat, Amapa Agency)
- academics (Amapá State University UEAP, Federal University of Amapá UNIFAP)
- research institutes (Amapá State Institute for Scientific and Technological Research IEPA)
- field players (Civil Defense, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Protection ICMbio).
The partners are renewing their commitment to BIO-PLATEAUX and to cross-border collaboration, with the aim of developing joint management of the Oiapoque river bassin. In order to prepare an Observatory adapted to needs and capacities, the development of this network of stakeholders will guide and contribute to the various technical themes covered by the project. A river bassin planning approach offers the opportunity to exchange respective methodologies, share experiences and align knowledge efforts, prioritizing studies and research according to criteria to be defined by the partners.
Finally, the mission facilitated discussions on the organization of the 5th River Council of the Oyapock between the Saint-Georges sub-prefecture and SECRICOMEX, at a meeting between Lucas Abrahão and Gaëlle Deriaz, in charge of cross-border cooperation at the sub-prefecture. The SECRICOMEX is a consultative instance for exchanges between stakeholders in the Guianese and Brazilian border territories, which provides the Joint Cross-Border Commission with concrete proposals on a wide range of topics, including the economy, education and the environment.