CATIE's commitment with Agenda 21 into the XXI Century

CATIE’s mission, which is to improve the well-being of mankind through the application of scientific research and higher education to the development of tropical agriculture, and the management and conservation of natural resources, and the environment, is clearly in line with the objectives of Agenda 21. Since 1992 CATIE has made significant advances in the areas of research, education and outreach which tackle most of the main issues of Agenda 21 which relate to conservation and management of resources for development. In addition, the Center has also made contributions in relation to social and economic dimensions, and to strengthening the role of major groups in the American tropics. This paper presents a summary of CATIE’s major contributions to the fulfillment of the objectives of Agenda 21 in the last four years, and the related compromises of the Rio Accords such as those related to Biodiversity, Global Climate Change, Ocean Waters, and the non-binding Forests Principles.