Zeitz Foundation contributes to win-win strategies

During the “Win-Win Strategies for Sustainable Development” conference held in Cairo, the Zeitz Foundation explained how the Long Run Destinations (LRDs) contribute to sustainable development.

With kind support from the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Kenya, Britta Klemmer, Zeitz Foundation Programme Manager, explained how the Global Ecosphere Retreat certification helps LRDs maximize the positive and minimize the negative impacts of their activities, whilst encouraging them to strive for higher-order learning and long-term achievements.

A Representative of the Egyptian Ministry of Environmental Affairs, the German Ambassador and a Member of the German Parliament, Dr. Ruck gave keynote presentations. The latter emphasized the importance of functioning ecosystems for sustainable development and referenced the study on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)”.

Dr. Angela Lusigi from UNEP opened the first plenary session with a presentation about lessons learned regarding ‘poverty and environment mainstreaming’. She described the linkages between poverty and environment and how a lack of alternative livelihoods and of incentives for sustainable development can lead to increased poverty and worsening environmental problems. Other presentations focused on “Anticipating Climate Change Effects on the Local Community Level”, environmental justice, compliance and environmental awareness.

Participants heard case studies from Tunisia and Morocco about community involvement in environmental protection programmes. Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan from Kenya spoke about the experience with multiple stakeholder groups in the context of the Mau Complex conflict.

Parallel sessions addressed: “Urban Waste Management”, “Ecotourism”, and “The Built Environment”. The ecotourism session was opened by Mr. El-Kaissouni from the Ministry of Tourism in Egypt. He passionately described the importance of environmental protection and conservation of natural heritage for the future of ecotourism in Egypt. Mr. Chris Johnson, Director of Wild Jordan, talked about how ecotourism and private sector partnerships support forest conservation in a project in Ajloun, Jordan.

In the same session, Britta Klemmer presented the “Long Run Destinations and the Global Ecosphere Retreat Certification of the Zeitz Foundation”. The audience was interested to hear what the added value is for the Long Run Destinations to get certified and how new destinations could join. Participants from Egypt and Lebanon made suggestions for potential destinations, while another commended the impact orientation of the Zeitz Foundation. The feedback was positive and encouraging.

The conference, held at the American University and hosted by the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, closed on 30 April 2010 with a summary of reports from all parallel sessions and the official launch of the website www.winwininitiative.net.