Launched by the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) in 2003, the triennial Mesoamerican Congress of Protected Areas brings together experts from Mexico and the eight Central American Integration System (SICA) countries (Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) and interested regional and international actors to dialogue, share experiences and propose initiatives involving protected areas, including marine protected areas, and their role in sustainable development. The IV Congress, organized by Costa Rica's National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and Environment Ministry (MINAE) with support from CCAD, German International Cooperation (GIZ), and the IUCN, will feature eight symposia addressing, inter alia: governance; knowledge management within protected areas; protected areas and climate change; protected areas as social and economic instruments; and cooperation and financing for protected areas. This event was originally scheduled for 2013, but was postponed until March 2014.  

dates: 18-21 March 2014   venue: Hotel Wyndham Herradura   location: San Jose, Costa Rica   contact: Mariliz Arnold, SINAC   e-mail: ivcongreso@sinac.go.cr