The Department of the Environment will this week host their first ‘Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Conference’ covering Geographical Information Systems, at the Rock Hotel. The conference has been jointly organised with the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

The conference aims to highlights the different work areas that the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are involved in, particularly in the field of marine resources, which are important assets of all of the territories. Participants in the Conference include the Falklands, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, St. Helena and Jersey, all of whom will be in Gibraltar this week.

One of the aims is to set up a framework for regular gatherings of technical staff from the different territories to exchange views and working practices on issues of mutual interest.

Commenting on the Conference, Environment Minister Dr. Cortes noted, ‘I am delighted to welcome technical experts from the territories and dependencies. Such contacts can only be good for all concerned as we have so much in common and so much to learn from each other. In addition, GIS is such an important tool in asset monitoring and management and of particular use in small territories. Gibraltar is finally progressing fast in this field so we have much to share.’