Bilateral
Brazil
Non-Binding






Partner Parks Declaration between the Everglades National Park and the Pantanal National Park of the United States of America and the Federative Republic of Brazil, respectively, Brasilia, 1997
Done at 14 October 1997
Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the U.S. Department of State
Whereas, the national parks of the United States and Brazil provide protection of valuable natural resources and sanctuary for important ecosystems and the great diversity of life that resides in them;
Whereas, the national parks of the United States and Brazil contribute to sustainable development, provide places of wonder, recreation, learning and enjoyment for all people;
Whereas, the United States and Brazil have recognized the value of conserving their complex wetlands and each has created a national park to conserve portions of its wetlands systems of the Everglades and Pantanal;
Whereas, the United States and Brazil recognize the important contribution of non governmental organizations to the protection and development of national parks, including the National Parks of the Everglades and Pantanal;
Whereas, the United States and Brazil are signatories of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as waterfowl habitat (Ramsar, 1971), and that the National Parks of the Everglades and Pantanal are Ramsar sites, wetland systems included on the Ramsar list, which are considered natural storehouses of biological diversity that furnish life support systems for a large portion of humanity;
Whereas, in the Declaration of Principles of the Summit of the Americas the United States and Brazil committed to create cooperative partnerships to strengthen our capacity to protect ecosystems, a principle which was reaffirmed at the Bolivian Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as in the United States-Brazil Common Agenda for the Environment;
NOW, THEREFORE, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS:
The Everglades National Park and the Pantanal National Park are hereby designated as Partner Parks.
It is the intention of the United States and Brazil to encourage cooperation to strengthen conservation, management and sustainable use of these sites. It is the intention of the United States and Brazil to encourage Partner Parks to identify areas of mutual interest and capabilities to develop cooperative projects and initiatives that could involve governmental authorities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other entities, including activities such as:
a) Professional personnel exchanges to observe alternative methods of planning and managing natural resources, assessing environmental impacts, enhancing visitor services, assuring enforcement, increasing revenue, educating the public, and involving nearby citizens; and
b) Information exchanges to share knowledge and expertise on infrastructure technologies, scientific studies, financial mechanisms, and communications systems.
It is the intention of the United States and Brazil to develop a work plan annually based on available resources of both countries. Cooperative activities spelled out in the work plan are to be reviewed annually at the United States-Brazil Common Agenda for the Environment consultations.
Done at Brazil, on this 14th day of October, 1997, in duplicate in both English and Portuguese, both texts being equally authentic.

[Signature] [Signature]
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: FOR THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF
BRAZIL:

1184 The Marine Mammal Commission Compendium