AS/COA Online interviewed the World Resource Institute's Senior Associate for Natural Infrastructure and Water Todd Gartner during the Latin American Cities Conference in Lima, Peru.

Gartner talked about the importance of adding the usage of natural infrastructure—environments already present in a country such as forests, rivers, and mountains—to complement other efforts in water management. He said Latin America and countries like Peru have great potential to implement new technology in conjunction with natural infrastructure. "Part of the advantage [Latin American countries] have is that, unlike other places on the globe, they have not seen dramatic econsystem degradation. So they still have a strong asset to build from," explained Gartner. 

Khoo Teng Chye, executive director of the Centre for Liveable Cities at Singapore's Ministry of National Development, discussed water management in Peru and the lessons that the Andean country can learn from Singapore.

The island city-state has expanded its water supply by harvesting storm water through reverse osmosis, using desalination on the sea water, and recycling water. Rainfall now accounts for two-thirds of Singapore's water supply, while 30 percent of all the country's reservoir comes from recycled water.

Access the 2013 Latin American Cities Conferences: Lima panel and video highlights.

Speakers:

• José Giancarlo Gasha Tamashiro, Vice Minister of Economy and Finance of Peru
• Luis Rivases, Vice President, Andean Region Debt Capital Markets, Citigroup
• Erich Arispe, Director of Sovereign Ratings, Fitch Ratings
• Gonzalo Zegarra, Director, Semana Económica (moderator)

Speaker:

• Marisol Espinoza, Vice President of Peru

At AS/COA's 2013 Lima conference, two speakers discussed examples of water management from other parts of the world as well as best practices that could be replicated in Peru.

Khoo Teng Chye, executive director of the Centre for Liveable Cities in Singapore's Ministry of National Development explained Singapore's evolution as a country struggling with limited water resources to becoming an example of innovative water management.

Todd Gartner, senior associate of natural infrastructure and water at the World Resources Institute, highlighted the importance of complementing policies like Singapore's with an assessment of natural resources infrastructure. Known as green or natural infrastructure, ecosystems serve as a tool for providing clean water and reducing flood risk. Gartner said that investing in forests, lakes, and other ecosystems as infrastructure can help to preserve water resources and improve a country's management policy without having to develop new technology.

Speakers:

• Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, Ministry of National Development, Singapore
• Todd Gartner, Senior Associate, Natural Infrastructure & Water, World Resources Institute

Speaker:

• René Cornejo, Minister of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation of Peru

Speakers:

• José Carrera, Corporate Vice President of Social Development, CAF
• Gabriel Quijandria, Vice Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources of Peru
• Luis Montoya, President, Latin America Beverages, PepsiCo
• Julia Torreblanca, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde SAA
• Anders Berntell, Executive Director of the 2030 Water Resources Group (moderator)