This paper outlines a number of examples from around the world of participatory processes for
watershed decision-making, and discusses how they work, why they are important, their social and ecological potential, and the practical details of how to start, expand and develop them. Because of longstanding power differentials in all societies along gender, class and ethnic lines, equitable public participation requires the recognition that different members of society have different kinds of relationships
with the environment in general, and with water in particular. From a range of political perspectives,
inclusive participatory governance processes have many benefits.
The author has recently completed a 5 year project linking universities and NGOs in Brazil and Canada
to develop methods of broadening public engagement in local watershed management committees, with
a special focus on gender and marginalized communities. The innovative environmental education and
multi-lingual international public engagement practices of the Centre for Socio-Environmental Knowledge
and Care of the La Plata Basin (which spans Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia) are
also discussed in this paper.This research was supported by the International Development Research Centr
