Fonds 22-010 - INSTRUCT programme fonds

The Inter-American Networking for Studies and Training in Natural Resources Usage for Community Transformation (INSTRUCT Programme) was a Trent University led, CIDA supported project that was active from 1997-2003. INSTRUCT involved stakeholders from Ecuador, Mexico, and Canada.

INSTRUCT provided countries in Latin America with environmental training to clean up degraded watersheds. The two watersheds that were part of INSTRUCT’s project were in Rio Texcoco, Mexico and Lago San Pablo, Ecuador.

INSTRUCT’s main objective was to use the framework of Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) to promote and enhance positive relationships between local institutions and communities and their natural environment and resources.

Dr. Chris Metcalfe and Dr. David Morrison of Trent University directed the program and Linda Slavin was the Programme Manager. There were also opportunities for graduate students from the academic institutions involved in INSTRUCT to perform fieldwork in Mexico and Ecuador. There were also seminars and workshops that took place at Trent University. One of the workshops was called “Practical Ways of Sharing Equity” and one of the seminars was called “Roots of our Future”.

Other Canadian organizations involved in INSTRUCT included the University of New Brunswick, Guelph University, Kawartha World Issues Centre, Horizons of Friendship, Sir Sandford Fleming College, Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Latin American organizations involved in the project included la Corporación para la Defensa del Lago San Pablo, El Centro de Estudios Pluriculturales, El Centro Panamericano es Estudios y Investigaciones Geográficas, la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Ecuador, University of Chapingo, el Colegio Postgraduados and the INSTRUCT Mexico office.