Anna Sartorio de Ponte is essayist, activist and environmentalist with a long trajectory in Venezuela; founder member and current President of AVVA Frontera Gran Sabana (Association of Voluntary Vigilantes of the Environment in the Frontier Zone of the Gran Sabana); founder member of COAMA (Orinoco-Amazon Coalition); ad honorem consultant to the Deputies' Commission on Energy and Mines (1997-98) and at present is ad honorem consultant to the Senate Permanent Commission on the Environment

Juvencio Gómez is Captain-General of the Pemon indigenous communities in the Gran Sabana, Bolivar State

René Estaba Yekuana is founder member and current president of Kuyujani (indigenous organisation of the Caura basin) and executive secretary of Conive (Venezuelan National Indigenous Council)

Jerrick André is a member of the Pemon indigenous communities of the Gran Sabana, Bolivar State

Jorge Hinestroza is an environmental historian; professor in the Experimental Sciences Faculty at the University of Zulia; researcher at the Experimental Centre of University Studies; co-ordinator of LEA, an electronic mailing list for the discussion of ecological issues in Venezuela; founder member of the Front for the Defence of Perija and its People

Glevys Rondón Mariño is Project Director at the Latin American Mining Monitoring Programme, England

Julio César Centeno Ph.D. is a specialist in forests and a prolific writer on the topic. His contribution was recognised with the Ark gold medal of The Netherlands. He is professor at the University of the Andes, Venezuela, and vice-president of Tropenbos, a foundation based in Holland.

Dr. René Kuppe is Assistant Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law, Vienna University, Austria