The main objective is, in order to develop sustainable water management at river-basin scale and efficiency in water use in the Pantanal, to strengthen the cooperation between policy makers, stakeholders and scientific institutions in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay and to stimulate the cooperation between these three countries, the European science community and NGO's working in the region. European environmental research groups from different countries have long-term research ongoing in the area in diffe rent but related fields, but they do not yet cooperate nor is there an established linkage with authorities. NGOs work in the region, but do not yet cooperate closely with European research. The project proposes to build an agenda for an international r esearch area in which Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, the European Union and others can cooperate. The objective consists of two parts: - Developing insight in the scientific, political and social-economic actions, problems and solutions in the sustainable management of the Pantanal and the Upper Paraguay River Basin (UPRB); - Strengthening institutional and scientific cooperation at national and international levels for the region. To obtain these general objectives, the following working objectives have been formulated: - Realisation of preparatory workshops and a biregional symposium (Latin-America-Europe); - Development of a Research Agenda for the Pantanal; - Report to the Brazilian, Bolivian and Paraguayan governments and the European Commission.