This meeting will examine three areas: sustaining the development of water by supporting integrated water-resource management, particularly in the context of transboundary water basins; reducing the risk of natural disasters, and supporting risk sharing and risk transfer arrangements; and supporting ‘win-win’ partnerships that advance sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and sustainable tourism. As part of the preparation process of the meeting, a Virtual Consultation Forum with Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples, organized by the Government of Bolivia, the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) in cooperation with the Summits of the Americas Secretariat and the Development Gateway Foundation, will address economic development sustainability and strengthening of environmental management through public participation, governance, gender equality, and protection of the rights for indigenous peoples. To participate in the Virtual Consultation Forum with Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples (17 May to 30 September 2006), visit: http://www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/VirtualForumCSandIP.htm.  

dates: 5-6 October 2006  
location: Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Plurinational State of  
contact: OAS Department for Sustainable Development  
e-mail: sustainable_dev@oas.org  
www: http://www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/ReunionInterAm_eng_v1.htm