Virtual Consultation Forum with Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples

(May 17th - November 9th, 2006)

The Government of Bolivia, the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) of the Organization of American States (OAS), in cooperation with the Summit of the Americas Department and Development Gateway Foundation would like to invite you to participate in the Virtual Consultation Forum with Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples.  The forum is being organized as part of the preparation process of the First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Sustainable Development that will address economic development sustainability and strengthening of environmental management through public participation, governance, gender equality, and protection of the rights for indigenous peoples.

This virtual forum has been created to facilitate the discussion on three important themes related to sustainable development in the region and that will be analyzed during the Meeting:  (1) sustainable development of water resources, supporting integrated water resources management; (2) managing risks of natural disasters; and (3) sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and sustainable tourism.

The objectives of the forum are:

1) Mobilize civil society and indigenous peoples support for the preparation of the Santa Cruz Declaration.

2) Build consensus positions and recommendations among representatives of civil society and indigenous peoples and obtain recommendation and follow-up activities on the three themes to be analyzed during the meeting.

3) Benefit from the best practices efforts, including advocacy, of civil society and indigenous peoples work on the three themes to be analyzed during the meeting.

Reference Documents:

1.   Invitation to Virtual Consultation Forum 

2.   Consultation Process: how will your comments reach Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Sustainable    Development 

3.   Annotated Provisional Agenda

4.   Announcement

5.   Background Document: Summary of Preparatory Workshops and Key Guiding Questions for Discussion

6.   Background Document for the Preparatory Workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management

7.   Background Document for the Preparatory Workshop on Managing Risks of Natural Hazards

8.   Background Document for the Preparatory Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism

9.   Final Report of the Workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management

10. Final Report of the Workshop on Managing Risks of Natural Hazards

11. Final Report of the Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism

12. Summary of postings

13. Informative Bulletin No.1  and No.2

We believe that this forum will complement links among governments, international organizations, civil society, and indigenous peoples, and will also serve as part of the follow-up activities of the Fourth Summit of the Americas that took place in November 2005. We thank you in advance and look forward to your participation in the forum.

Forum’s Moderators:

Specialists from DSD of the OAS the three themes selected for the Meeting.