1. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 "InfoAndina: Promoting low-cost communications for development in the Andes” By: Ana Maria Ponce InfoAndina, Node Manager of the Latin American Mountain Forum Elias Mujica CONDESAN Deputy Coordinator Joshua Posner CONDESAN Coordinator

2. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 CONDESAN, the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecorregion, was created in 1992 to address research issues related to poverty & loss of natural resources in rural areas in the Andes. Since the inception of the Mountain Forum in 1996, InfoAndina has operated the Latin American node of the Mountain Forum, a global communication network for information exchange on mountain conservation and development Introduction

3. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 The Mountain Forum services in Latin America reaches nowadays over 1000 list subscribers in Latin America InfoAndina's membership is composed of a wide base of institutions, Universities, Governmental, non-governmental and private sector InfoAndina Membership

4. INFOANDINA SERVICES

5. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 InfoAndina has enriched the Mountain Forum services, contributing with its experience in the organization of regional electronic conferences and specialized discussion lists in Spanish E-CONFERENCES

6. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 InfoAndina moderates the second largest list of the Mountain Forum. (See Chart 1), as well as thematic lists (ej. MF-Paramo ). Over its regional lists, InfoAndina disseminates newsletters on sustainable development issues (InfoNotas), and host E-Conferences MODERATED E-DISCUSSION LISTS

7. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 InfoAndina is the WEBmaster for CONDESAN (www.condesan.org) CONDESAN WEB includes electronic archives in PDF of specialized articles on sustainable development in the Andes, submitted by CONDESAN partners. CONDESAN WEB pages contains articles and proceedings of e-conferences New look including site map and “Andean Photographic Gallery” WEB Design & Host for regional IYM2002 Committees (GNTEM-Peru) CONDESAN WEBMASTER

8. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 To promote IYM2002 advocacy, and increase participation of partners from secondary andean cities, InfoAndina organize low-cost "travelling workshops" Between 2000 and 2001, InfoAndina has organized 12 travelling workshops in 4 countries, incorporating new members InfoAndina has edited a training manual titled: "Informatic Resources for Sustainable development" INFOANDINA OUTREACH STRATEGY “Travelling Workshops in The Andes” EcuadorPeruBoliviaColombia Quito23Arequipa8Tarija12Tunia5 Carchi7Cusco17Cochabamba19Popavan4 Riobamba7Puno11La Paz6Cali19 Cuenca7Santa Cruz1Bogota16 Loja2Oruro6Santa Marta2 Sub-totales46364446 total172

9. World Mountian Symposium, Interlaken, October 2001 To promote sustainability of the networks, it is important to transfer low-cost communication methodologies and train partners InfoAndina’s partners are “closing the information circle”, developing low-cost communication services. To increase "Informatic Culture" of partners at rural locations, InfoAndina promote edition of local electronic newsletters via e-mail in the Andes (Ej. Cajachito Electronico in Cajamarca, Peru) Ej. InfoAndina partners in Bolivia (AguaBolivia) are now organizing e- conferences on Water Resource Management Regional networks have an important role to play for IYM2002! InfoAndina provides e-lists for national IYM2002 Committees (Peru & Bolivia) InfoAndina will host regional e-conferences in 2002 for “Local Governments & Sustainable Development in the Andes” CONCLUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS