Accompanying Ms. Rojas-Urrego on the visit, on behalf of the Ministry of Ecology and the Environment of the State of Quintana Roo, was the biologist Wady Hadad, Advisor to the Secretary; and, representing CONANP, the biologist Andrew Rhodes, Director General of Institutional Development and Promotion of CONANP, the biologist Omar Ortíz, Director of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, and Laura Martínez, Coordinator for Wetlands and Coastal Marine Zones.
The Secretary General reiterated the support that the Ramsar Convention Secretariat offers the Contracting Parties, and highlighted Mexico’s outstanding commitment to the Ramsar Convention, since it is the country with the second highest number of Ramsar Sites, and a benchmark country for several issues such as the restoration of mangroves, water reserves for the environment, and the effectiveness of the management of PNAs.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rhodes reiterated that Mexico is committed to strengthening the capacities that guarantee the conservation and rational use of wetlands in Mexico, and he acknowledged the great value of the commitment to the Ramsar Convention, since it offers international recognition, promotes the effective management of Ramsar Sites, and favours the creation of synergies with State governments, civil society organisation and academic institutions, in order to look after each of the country's Ramsar Sites.