November 2014: Over 90 representatives from more than 40 countries discussed how data and technology can be used to advance forest and land rights at the Fifth Global Gathering of The Access Initiative (TAI).

According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), the event built civil society capacity, facilitated exchange of information on work on forests and land rights and discussed how to improve the Global Forest Watch (GFW) tool to benefit the work of civil society organizations.

Participants developed the meeting agenda in a collaborative manner as the event occurred. They proposed over 50 sessions, which took place concurrently on a range of topics related to community mapping, forest governance and technology. Sessions included: TAI’s UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Right to Know Campaign; Enhancing Accountability of Forest Governance; Obtaining and Using Aerial/Satellite Images in Support of Public Interest Environmental Cases; TAI and Youth: How to Involve Young People in the Defense of Access Rights; Community Mapping to Create Transparency in Sarawak, Malaysia; and Protocols to Protect Environmental Defenders. An interactive project showcase also took place during the meeting.

Participants also met in regional groups to discuss commonalities and ways to advance progress on regional goals within TAI’s network. For instance, TAI’s Latin American and Caribbean regional group discussed progress on the Principle 10 process.

The event also highlighted the WRI’s work on the GFW and TAI’s forthcoming Environmental Democracy Index, which will measure country progress in protecting public rights to information, participation and justice.

TAI member Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad hosted the meeting, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, from 29-31 October 2014. [Meeting Website] [TAI Blog on Meeting] [The Environmental Democracy Index] [IISD RS Sources]