| In recent decades, the concepts of sustainability and public participation have become increasingly popular in international development and environmental stewardship. Broadly, sustainability integrates ecological, economic and social concerns, and public participation involves increasing public influence in decision-making processes. Through programs developed in the name of sustainability, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) transmit the concept to local contexts, and interact with and influence the local communities where they operate.; A case study of an NGO in Chile, the Bosque Modelo Chiloe (BMCh), involving a field stay and interviews, explores its conceptualization of sustainability. The research focuses upon the influence of the international discourse on the BMCh's conceptualization of sustainability, and the organization's efforts to ensure that its sustainability initiatives are locally relevant and rooted. This research aims to enhance the relevance of sustainability initiatives in local contexts by stimulating reflection and clarity about how NGOs understand the concept.; Although the BMCh conceptualizes sustainability broadly, its conceptualization is comparable to that of the international discourse. Some BMCh programs place a high emphasis on economic means to achieve their goals, such as through the commercialization of craft products to preserve local culture. Such programs have a tendency to ignore the root causes of sustainability challenges. The BMCh, however, attempts to balance the influence of the international discourse through public participation, and efforts have been underway to increase local influence and involvement in the organization. |
