Dr Barbara Graham, sub-regional representative for the United Nations'
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), delivered this message to representatives from the Caribbean and international donor
agencies onMonday afternoon.
She was addressing the task force meeting of Participating Agencies,
Latin American and Caribbean Countries for Enhancing South-South Co-operation.
Graham stressed that the meeting and partnership initiative would
be central to how Caribbean countries moved forward.
"Whether it be agri-foods, tourism or financial services, regardless
of the mix,
how we use our land and water resources, including our bio-diversity, will be critical to any growth and development
of member states," she said.
About two billion people worldwide were affected by land degradation,
and sustainable land management was the most important measure to control and reverse the tren, she said.
Graham added the challenge would be how to adopt a policy or strategy
that was measurable in outcome as well as conservation and preservation oriented.
She said the FAO was well aware of this and had strategically identified
the areas of food security and food as its prime focus area for the Caribbean region.
