DILI, 28 february 2024 (TATOLI) – Forty-one public officials from the national directorates of Forestry, Tourism, and Environment attended training on the ASEAN socio-cultural pillar, as part of Timor-Leste’s preparation for its accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Secretary of State for Forestry, Fernandino Vieira, highlighted the importance of the training to strengthen the capacity of the technical teams of the two institutions to prepare human resources for the country’s accession to the regional organization, which is expected to occur next year.
“The training focused mainly on measures to combat and prevent wildfires, while establishing cooperative relations in disaster management, as well as reforestation. These three issues are important for Timor-Leste if it is accepted as a new member in the future,” Vieira said, in Dili, today.
He said that becoming a member of the ASEAN would bring advantages in terms of fighting wildfires and mitigating and preventing natural disasters.
Pedro da Costa, the President of the National Designated Authority for Combating Climate Change (AND I.P.), one of the participants in the training, said that the training also focused on strengthening infrastructure that is resistant to natural disasters like in Singapore and Thailand.
He said that, in terms of climate change mitigation and prevention, AND, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has implemented several basic infrastructure projects such as irrigation, water pipes, and road construction in the municipalities of Baucau, Viqueque, Lautém, Aileu, and Liquiçá.
Costa recalled that since 2019 Timor-Leste has mobilized US$65 million from the Green Climate Fund in order to implement an early warning system project through the establishment of antennas and radars to expand regional coverage with meteorological information based on World Meteorological Organization standards, climate change, biodiversity and soil degradation.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
