In a demonstration of shared commitment to wildlife conservation, representatives from 25 countries in the Western Hemisphere were joined by members from over 40 international NGO conservation groups and wildlife conservation stakeholders to develop strategies for cooperation for conservation of migratory species and collaboration on wildlife conservation issues among the countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of State brought together these wildlife conservation decision-makers at the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Conference which took place in Termas de Puyehue, Chile, on October 6, 7, and 8, 2003.
"It is of great interest to my country to get involved in conserving migratory species, as they could be a base tool to protect and conserve native habitat and species as well. What better way to participate in this movement than the involvement of Guatemala in the Conference on Migratory Species of the Western Hemisphere." Said Jose Luis Lopez, the Guatemala representative.
The products of the meeting included: (1) a detailed, prioritized list of issues of conservation concern needing international collaboration; (2) an emerging matrix of tools available from NGO
