Brazilian Farmers Launched a Proposal for the Creation of the Area of Permanent Protection in the World During 6th Water Forum in France

BRASILIA, Brazil, March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Concerned about the conservation of the water, the president of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), senator Katia Abreu, launched yesterday, during the 6th World Water Forum, in Marseilles (France), the proposal for the creation of an area of permanent protection of the world. The initiative aims to suggest a worldwide debate about the protection of springs, rivers shoulders and aquifer recharge areas that, in Brazil, are called permanent preservation areas (PPAs). They are fragile areas, of mandatory preservation, on which the good functioning of the water cycle depends. The launching will occur during the lecture of the president of the CNA on the subject Brazilian Agribusiness: Constructing to Solutions for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Water in the Field in the Brazilian Pavilion, where more than 40 public and private Brazilian institutions presented their projects of environmental responsibility.

As the leader of the discussion on the subject, CNA intends to show that the Country is an example of environmental conservation to the world, besides stimulating and intensifying the dialogue on the subject in the Conference of United Nations on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), that will be held from June 13th to 22nd, in Rio De Janeiro. "The world's largest tropical agriculture cannot be left out of this kind of discussion. Therefore, we are going to show that the Brazilian rural producers give an example of preservation of water to the world, but we need the other countries to do the same to protect its natural resources," emphasizes the Senator.

The president of CNA reminds that Brazil uses only 27.7% of its territory for farming activities, being able to maintain 61% of its territory preserved. Thanks to this effort of preservation, the 12% of fresh water of the world that is in Brazilian rivers and lakes is well protected. "It is a potential that can and must be explored with responsibility," says the Senator.

At the time, the Senator will talk about the Biomes Project developed by CNA in partnership with the Agricultural Research Company of Brazil (Embrapa) to make available for farmers scientific/technical solutions that would give even better conditions to the practice of sustainable production and the preservation of rural properties in the six water biomes of Brazil. The project also has the support of the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small enterprises (Sebrae), Monsanto and John Deere. Still in the Brazilian Pavilion, CNA will be responsible for the Brazil Gourmet Space, a place where products of the Brazilian agribusiness will be displayed, as a way to support the promotion of the Brazilian products abroad.

The 6th World Water Forum is organized by the World Water Council (WWC), which CNA joined last year, after unanimous approval of the board of the entity, to contribute to the search for solutions to overcome the challenge of feeding 9 billion people in the world in 2050, expanding the production of grains and meat in a horizon of efficient management of water resources. The WWC gathers institutions from several countries and for over 15 years promotes discussions on effective management and use of water resources.

The sixth edition of the Forum will be focused on three subjects: Good Governance, Contribution for Economic Development and Preservation. In the regional context of Americas, six subjects will be prioritized: Water and Sanitation, Water and Adaptation to the Climatic Changes, Integrated Management of Water Resources, Water for Food, Water for Energy and Improvement of the Quality of Water Resources and Ecosystems. It is estimated that 20 thousand people from 140 countries participate in the event, looking for alternatives to ensure the rational use of water resources, in the face of growing world demand for water in the coming decades. 

About the CNA
The CNA - Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil - composes the agricultural union system together with 27 state federation and 2,142 unions with municipal scope. With headquarters in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, it is the national forum of discussions on Brazilian farming activity, permanently acting in defense of the rights and social-economic interests of who lives and works in the field.

About Senator Katia Abreu
Katia Abreu, president of the CNA since 2008, is a livestock and forestry producer, and also senator by the State of Tocantins. In 2011, she was re-elected President of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock in the State of Tocantins, serving for four consecutive terms, from 1995 to  2005.

Further Information
Pedro A. L. Costa ([email protected])
www.canaldoprodutor.com.br

SOURCE CNA - Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock