Mesoamerican Declaration

As a result of the first Mesoamerican Convergence on Sustainable Development and Permaculture, the participating delegates, brought together by the Mesoamerican Institute of Permaculture (IMAP), held at the IMAP reference center from Jan. 17th to the 24th 2006, on behalf of the Mesoamerican pueblos, the organizations and representatives, and cooperative solidarity, We declare:


1. In accordance with the analysis of the Mesoamerican reality realized through the experiences of the organizations present, we have arrived at the following conclusions:

a. In the Mesoamerican region the society is being governed by politics that serve neo-liberal interests, resulting in socio-economic disequilibrium, with around 70% of the population below the poverty line, without access to basic living services, health care, education, etc. and a dignified way of life. As consequence to these factors, there are high levels of migration, the sale or abandonment of lands, loss of cultural values and identity, and violence. In counterpoint to this, there is an accelerated concentration of wealth and power in small groups.

b. We consider that democracy in the Mesoamerican region is reduced to a permanent electoral practice, in which the true problems of the people are left out of the agendas of the political parties, and prohibit real participation in decision-making. High levels of corruption characterize governments.

c. Natural resources in the region are being progressively deteriorated, and are characterized by: deforestation, water and soil contamination, deteriorated watersheds, forest fires, species extinction, loss of our native biological plasmas, an increasingly higher presence of transnationals exploiting natural resources, displacement of communities in the management of protected areas etc…

d. Because of its geographic location and the increase in climate change, conditions for the occurrences of natural disasters are present in the Mesoamerican region. This situation, in combination with community’s vulnerable infrastructures, results in recurrent disasters that cause severe damage and deteriorate social, environmental, and economic conditions.

2. Being of organizations that represent and work with rural communities whose livelihoods are based in agricultural subsistence, and as active participants in the transformation of our lived realities, in search of sustainable development, we conclude and put forth the following concept of "Sustainable Development": The combination of strategies and actions which work to satisfy basic necessities, and progressively better and enrich the conditions of community life, in accordance with the following conditions:

- Respect of the right to auto-determination for distinct pueblos and cultures
- Active participation of communities in decision making
- Assurance of access and control by communities of their resources
- Guarantee of intellectual and spiritual development for all people
- Living in harmony with nature
- Egalitarian participation between men and women

3. We consider permaculture as a plan for sustainable production and fundamental avenue to accomplish development as we have defined for the region, because it takes into account the principles of our culture, particularly in relation to: redemption of ancestral knowledge and human values, auto-determination of the pueblos, care of nature, and at the same time, utilization of appropriate technologies and modern knowledge.

4. To move forward as member organizations affiliated with IMAP we agree to:

a. Integrate the practices and principles of permaculture in the workings of our organizations in each of our countries

b. Advocate and develop capacity of permaculture for producers and promoters

c. Create permacultural experiences as references in each country, considering the particular characteristics of each region

d. Promote permaculture through forums, exchanges and publications

e. Protect and enrich genetic biodiversity with the establishment and responsible management of native open-pollinated community seed banks, through local cooperation and a regional web

5. Finally, we make claim in front of the local and national authorities, and international entities, to incorporate and stand in accordance with this declaration, in the search of development and we propose it.

Signed in Pachitulul, San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala on the 23rd day of January in the year 2006