OAS Panel on Environmental Trends and  Good Governance

This panel is convened to provide input to the First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Sustainable Development.  The Ministerial meeting, to be held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia on December, 4-5th, 2006, will bring together ministers, senior government representatives and members of civil society from the 34 OAS Member States.  It will address three main issues: (a) sustainable water management; (b) reducing the risks of natural disasters; and (c) supporting sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and sustainable tourism.  The meeting will also address the following cross-cutting issues: good governance, meaningful public participation, the inclusion of indigenous groups and gender equity.  

Context: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), completed in May 2005, marks one of the most comprehensive and rigorous peer-reviewed assessments of the planet’s critical ecosystems.  It adds to a growing body of scientific analysis regarding trends in environmental quality, and the importance of ecosystems to economic development, employment and sustainable livelihoods.  The completion of the MA coincides with a growing recognition of the pivotal role of good governance in supporting effective environmental management and sustainable development. 

This page was last updated on Monday February 25, 2008.