Final technical report for the CINBIOSE node of the community of practice in ecosystem approaches to human health : Latin America and the Caribbean; community of practice in ecohealth - dissemination and institutionalization for research, outreach and policy influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, June 2009 - February 2013

Abstract

This final report is concerned with the role played by the CINBIOSE node in the Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health: Latin America and the Caribbean and should be seen as a complement of the final report of this Community. This role primarily involved (i) support to workshops and training in Ecohealth approaches organized in LAC; (ii) collaboration on research projects based on ecosystem approaches to health; (iii) brokering between our LAC and Canadian colleagues; (iv) concerting our efforts with other COPEH WHO-­‐PAHO Collaborating Centres to have ecosystem approaches to health put forward in PAHO strategic programs in environmental and occupational health. CINBIOSE’s work within CoPEH-­‐LAC allowed us to better develop our approaches to the study of the complex pathways between ecosystems, health and society. We learned about the diversity of ecosystems and the socio-­‐politico-­‐cultural traditions and realities in LAC regions. We widened our collaborations in LAC and enriched our own research and understanding of the links between research and policy-­‐ making, and passed this knowledge to our Canadian students and colleagues. In the end, our collaboration evolved into a Pan-­‐American partnership for the strengthening of research, policy and practice at the intersection of health, ecosystems and society.