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Norway

Crown Prince Haakon highlights the importance of preserving the rainforest

Last week Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited Colombia in his role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Dvelopment Programme. In his last day in the country, the Crown Prince wanted to learn more about environmental issues in the country and a short film was later published by the Norwegian Royal Court. In it, Crown Prince Haakon says:

“Now we are in the rainforest of Colombia and here, around 15% of the world’s oxygen is created and there are ecosystems containing 10% of the world’s species. It goes without saying that this is an important area to take care of and so we are working very much on this at the UN. Norway supports this in order to ensure that we maintain the rainforest.”

HRH Crown Prince Haakon in Colombia. Photo: PHOTO: EIVIND OSKARSON / UN-PRESS OFFICE / UNDP

Crown Prince Haakon had the opportunity to learn about a very special project. The Environments for Peace project combines the reintegration of guerrilla soldiers with sustainable development and the fight against deforestation. Crown Prince Haakon congratulated the participants in the project, saying “This project and the work you do as Colombians – in collaboration across past conflict lines – is an inspiration to the whole world”.

Crown Prince Haakon also opened a  new addition to the growing tourism industry during his visit to Mesetas. He inaugurated the Caño Rojo Trail, a path through the rainforest to the waterfall which helps to make biological diversity and the protection of the forest a way of life in Mesetas.

The Crown Prince opened the Caño Rojo Trail. Photo: PHOTO: EIVIND OSKARSON / UN-PRESS OFFICE / UNDP

Crown Prince Haakon was appointed as a UNDP Ambassador in 2003. During the first 12 years, he worked to promote the Millennium Development Goals, which were evaluated and completed in 2015. Then, the UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The UNDP has been fighting poverty worldwide for the last 50 years. During his time as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP, the Crown Prince has been on working trips to Liberia in 2017, East Timor in 2015, Tanzania in 2014, Zambia in 2013, Haiti in 2012, Nepal in 2011, Botswana in 2009, Mongolia in 2008, Burundi in 2007, Guatemala in 2006 and Sierra Leone in 2005.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.