Minister Walter Garcia will represent Ecuador and CMAR at the third Our Ocean Conference in Washington D.C.

U.S. president Barack Obama and Hollywood actor and conservationist Leonardo Di Caprio, will also attend the event.

The Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Walter García, will deliver a speech this Friday 16th at the «Ocean and Environment» plenary during the third Our Ocean conference in the capital of the United States.

The leadership of Minister García on the recent Ecuadorian maritime boundaries expansion for preservation and scientific research, placed him as a valuable representative to the prestigious conference.

Ecuador took over this year the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR). The Galapagos Islands World Heritage status constitutes a clear example of the country’s concern towards the protection and conservation of its marine life.

On March 21st, 2016 the Government of Ecuador declared Darwin and Wolf islands as Marine Sanctuary that adds up to the 17 marine and coastal protected areas already existent in ecuadorian mainland.

The Marine Sanctuary declaration is a regional model and prompted the will of Colombia and Costa Rica heads of state to expand the size of their marine reserves. It is the case of the Costa Rican Cocos Island and the Mapelo Island from Colombia, that were enlarged more than 4000 square miles and 10000 square miles respectively.

Minister Garcia will participate in the plenary with the representatives Wang Hong, from China and Hakima El Haite from Morocco. The current Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Kathryn Sullivan, will be the moderator for the session.