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FUNAM is non-governmental organization (NGO) that links both people and
institutions towards a sustainable development.

Environment Defense Foundation
(FUNAM) has consultative status at United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

FUNAM is Global 500
Award from United Nations

Argentina. Ecologists stand against the dismembering of the Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Developmet.

An unprecedented movement of environmental NGOs, grassroots and citizen's groups from all over the country asked President Fernando de la Rua to maintain the current structure of the "Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development" (SRNyDS). If achieved, the dismembering "will move 30 years backward the environmental management in Argentina. The argentine NGOs' movement request the support of the International Community to save the current structure of the Secretary.

Argentina: Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario, Santa Fe, Parana, Resistencia, Posadas, Mar del Plata, Puerto Madryn, December 10th 1999.

An unprecedented coalition of ecological organizations from all over the country joined themselves to avoid the split of the "Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development". The dismembering was announced by recently elected federal officials. NGOs representatives, networks, councils and coalitions involving more than 300 NGOs, all them alerted by the planned split of the Secretary, are attempting to meet Argentinian President, Fernando de la Rua, in order to transmit him the idea that "even though Maria Julia Alsogaray's administration was regrettable, the Secretary structure she created is the best we have ever had. If the Secretary is divided, we will move 30 years backward both in environmental management and policy".

Through an article entitled "towards a participatory environmental management: NO to the split of the Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development", environmentalist groups' representatives and other social movements, trade unions among them, stated that "the elected government receives a structure that can be improved. Its dismembering would be a mistake with serious consequences in terms of social and environmental sutainability. The task of the new federal government is to properly staff the Secretary with working, respectful and honest officials and not to dismembering it. NGOs remembered that "an increased participation of the civil society, never achieved during Alsogaray's administration, could be improved now". The article is signed by world renowned environmentalists, among them Jorge Cappato, Lilian Corra and Raul Montenegro, who were granted by the United Nations Global 500 Award. Daniel Sabsay (FARN), Carlos Galano (CTERA-teacher's national union), Miguel Rementeria (Buen Ayre Forum), Manuel Luduena (Citizen Environmental Forum), Anna Petra Roge (Cabayu Cuatia), Jorge Rulli (Transgenic Alert Network), Miguel Pellerano (Citizen Power), Juan Luis Merega (South Foundation), Horacio Fazio (FLACSO), Gustavo Costa y Santiago Krapovickas (AOP) y Silvana Bujan among other are representatives of social organizations, unions and NGOs that take in this movement, which is also supported by the Environment Ombudsman, Antonio Brailovsky.

Environmentalists pointed out that "before the creation of the Secretary, governmental areas like Hydric Resources, National Parks and Wildlife worked isolately. With the creation of the Secretary all of them were brought together under a sole structure facilitating policy coordination. This innovative structure was an improvement internationally recognized. Raul Montenegro, FUNAM's president, warned about the fact that "officials who might be good or bad, must not be mistaken with a useful administrative apparatus. Fernando de la Rua and his team have an historic opportunity to achieve a sustainable environmental management never achieved by former Secretary Maria Julia Alsogaray". It is worth reminding that FUNAM has started five proceedings against the former environmental officer at the Federal Court of Justice.

"The Secretary was one of the best examples of the absent State. It is precisely for that reason that a new political vision is needed, though maintaining a strong and coherent organism, avoiding the deterioration of vital resources for present and future generations", said Elba Stancich, coordinator of the Taller Ecologista and member of the Latin American Living Rivers Coalition.

"Should this split be made the Secretary would divide the State responsibility for the environment, preventing society to exercise the right to a healthy environment and to an improved quality of life, as is bequeathed by the 41 Article of the National Constitution", stated Jorge Daneri, member of the "Institute of Environmental Rights of the Association of Lawyers from Entre Rios".

NGOs from all over the country mobilized when acknowledging that Hydric Resources would switch its area and that National Parks would go to Tourism. Roque Pedace (Friends of the Earth - Argentina) stated that "dismembering the Secretary would not be a punishment for those who were in charge of it, but for the society itself. The lack of sustainable development keep poverty and deserts growing, we have already lost 84% of our native forests, most of our urban rivers are polluted and there are tens of illegal toxic dump sites, such as the Argentina one in Santiago del Estero. A structure does not solve the problem, but the solution is possible as long as them are capable people in there".

Environmentalists, mobilized in an unprecented way all over the country, pointed out that "a National Environmental Law must be passed in Argentina, environmental impact reports should be compulsory, and the Environmental Federal Council should be renewed opening its doors to NGOs and other social sectors".

Pablo Bergel, from "Iniciativa Arcoiris", added that "well known people belonging to this movement are coming from several points of the country in order to dialogue with President De la Rua. We need to guarantee a State environmental policy, by means of top level organisms, exercising large power, transverse jurisdiction and an active involvement of the civil society". Finally, Martin Prieto, Executive Director of Greenpeace Argentina, pointed ou that "if this national mobilization don't succeed, our campaign will be launched at International level. Many of our organizations have consultative status within the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and are heard by foreign States. Government and NGOs must work together and in plurality in order to achieve a sustainable development".

Contacts/ Board of Coordinators:

Greenpeace Argentina.

Martín Prieto.

Tel. and fax +54-11-4962-0404

Email: eezcurra@dialb.greenpeace.org

Fundación PROTEGER, IUCN Member (Santa Fe).

Jorge Cappato

Tel. and fax +54-342-4558520

Email: jcproteg@satlink.com

FUNAM (Córdoba)

Raúl Montenegro

Tel. +54-351-4690282 and 4557710 Fax 54-351-4520260

Email: funam@funam.org.ar

Foro Ecologista de Paraná (Parana, Entre Ríos).

Jorge Daneri

Tel. +54-343-156-110653

Email: jdaneri@gamma.com.ar

Taller Ecologista (Rosario, Santa Fe)

Elba Stancich

Tel. and fax +54-341-4496167

Email: taller@cyberia.net.ar

Fundación Patagonia Natural (Puerto Madryn, Chubut)

Jose Maria Musmeci

Tel and fax +54-3965-451920

Email: fpnat@satlink.com

Amigos de la Tierra (Argentina)

Roque Pedace

Tel. +54-11-4629-0386

Email: apedace@correo.uba.ar

Iniciativa Arco Iris (Buenos Aires)

Pablo Bergel

Tel. and fax +54-11- 4553-0845

Email: pablobergel@house.com.ar

FUNAM hasConsultative Status at ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council, United Nations). FUNAM is member of IUCN, ELCI (Environment Liaison Center International, BUN (Biomass Users Network), Minewatch, EarthAction, Social Forestry Network, Global 500 Forum, INFORSE, The NGOs Council of Cordoba (Argentina) and RENACE. FUNAM is Global 500 Award from UNEP (1987).

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