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The conference will bring together some 50 actors of the COMPAS network with another 50 persons and relevant organisations having experiences in the promotion of bio-cultural and endogenous sustainable development. The list of participants and the abstracts we have received so far can be seen at www.bioculturaldiversity.net

The main objectives of the conference are:

1. Share and assess experiences on endogenous development and initiatives for enhancing bio-cultural diversity through policy, research, education and development initiatives.
2. Recommend changes needed for development, research, education and policy aiming at endogenous development and bio-cultural diversity on the basis of co-evolution of different 'communities of knowing'.
3. Strengthen strategic alliances and explore options for collaboration between Community-Based Organisations, NGOs, scientists and policy makers interested in further advancing endogenous development and bio-cultural development.

The programme of the conference involves plenary sessions and workshops on 10 different themes. The programme is included in a separate document and also the themes are elaborated in a document that is sent separately.

After the presentations, the groups reflects on the implications of the experiences and concepts discussed in the group and formulate recommendations for:

• Policy making at national and international level
• Reshaping relationships between research, education and development initiatives
• Future collaborative initiatives.

The group will formulate conclusions and recommendations for each of these and present them to the plenary.

Each group will also formulate a text of not more than 50 words to be included in the Geneva declaration on endogenous development and bio-cultural diversity.

There will be 10 subgroups, each focussing on a particular theme.

Themes:

1. Culture and perceptions of nature in biodiversity and management of natural resources
2. Food sovereignty and agriculture: foundations for an agenda that builds on diversity
3. Economic, ecological and cultural dimensions of poverty reduction agendas and bio-cultural diversity (Spanish)
4. Spirituality, religion and biocultural diversity
5. Dialogues within and between knowledge systems and sciences
6. Reshaping the development agenda: Worldviews and notions of development (Spanish)
7. Health, human-nature relationships and ecosystems
8. Territory, endogenous development and bio-cultural diversity (Spanish and English)
9. Education and learning in endogenous development
10. Traditional institutions local forms of governance and biocultural diversity

For more information: www.bioculturaldiversity.net