UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV course program
a community platform for everybody who is in some way contributing to this program in environmental management (or has in the past)
After becoming a force to reckon with regarding the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of essential ecosystem services for sustainable development, 21 experts finished the “77th UNEP/UNESCO/BMU International Short Course on Ecosystem Management – Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services” and are returning to their respective workplaces to make a difference!
On Friday, July 12th 2019 the 42nd UNEP/UNESCO/BMU International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries came to an end with 21 fellows representing 21 countries, receiving their postgraduate diplomas, but having so much more in their minds and hearts (and probably also their suitcases) to carry back home – certainly, a cohort of new experts in environmental management, but also CIPSEM ambassadors was formed during this past 6 months in Dresden and Germany.
The fresh CIPSEM alumni were accompanied in their celebrations by friends, family, course facilitators, the CIPSEM team, representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) and not least by the rector of Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Prof. Dr. Hans Müller-Steinhagen. In his opening address he not only emphasized the general urgency to tackle environmental challenges for a global sustainable development, but also how these CIPSEM courses on environmental management fit into the Research Priority Area “Energy, Mobility and Environment” at TUD and furthermore towards the Internationalization Strategy of the university.
The potential impact CIPSEM courses can have was highlighted in a video message by Mr. Erik Grigoryan, Minister for the Environment in Armenia and CIPSEM alumnus (30th UNEP/UNESCO/BMU International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries in 2007). He congratulated his follow-up peers and encouraged them to implement the gained knowledge confidently.
This years “Best Final Paper Awards” for this course were given to:
Ms. Oleksandra Lohunova (Ukraine), for
“Land use planning aspects regarding tailings management facilities safety”
Ms. Urvana Menon (India), for
“Towards effective conservation of transboundary ecosystems – the case of Indo-Bhutan conservation region”
Mr. Marcio Alvarenga Junior (Brazil), for
“Payment for ecosystem services: an alternative for the Brazilian Amazon”
Additionally, warm words were also provided by representatives of the course itself. Hence, Ms. Saba Raffay (Pakistan) and Mr. Ireneo Jr. Silverio Piong (Philippines) summarized the time at CIPSEM in general, but each also with a very personal and also funny note respectively.
… and what better occasion there is than to close here with the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything.
On September 26th the 71st UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Short Course on Ecosystem Management – Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services came to an end in festive manner … but first let’s have a look back a few days into the course programme, where the participants got to know a guest lecturer from Brazil, invited with the support of TU Dresden’s Internationalisation Strategy. Mr. Nicholas Locke is in charge of the private reserve “Reserva Ecologica de Guapiaçu” (REGUA) in the Atlantic Rainforest in the state of Rio de Janeiro and not only shared his thoughts on the ongoing restoration projects on the property, but also talked about the challenges in building, maintaining and expanding such ambitious work. In addition to presenting valuable facts and insights, he was also able to transfer some of his very own passion to the group – here are some quotes on his lectures:
“Passionate and visionary person…Motivation 100% – Thanks!”
“Mr. Locke is a wonderful man, inspirational and full of good energy. We could learn a lot from this practical example.”
“I liked the passion behind the hard work Mr Locke has done in Brazil through his voice and presentation. I feel very inspired to go to my home country and make a difference. I feel privileged to meet such a great man.”
“From the great work that Mr.Locke had done in Brazil, the most important (and influential) for me was the point that he lived in the environment that he worked on. I am very motivated to do the same now.”
“It was an amazing presentation and gave us a lot of motivation for working in nature conservation even the difficulties.”
With this motivation we release 23 course graduates back to their duties. We are sure their positive influence is to be noticed and a change towards the better is possible and these 23 individuals are among “those people who do understand what we’ve lost are the ones who are rushing around in a frenzy trying to save the bits that are left.” (Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See, 1990).
overview about REGUA here
photos by Harald Schluttig (weissraum)
“Time just flew by” was the statement included in the speeches given by the representatives of the 40th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing and Emerging Countries (EM40) at today’s award ceremony. And really, also for us, it seems like yesterday that we met the EM40 participants from Honduras, Vietnam, Colombia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Kenya, Niger, Peru, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Sudan, Brazil, Ethiopia, Jamaica, and India at the airport. But even though, the one or other tear creates the impression of time having passed by maybe too fast and the moving speeches let us realize the sadness of goodbyes, they are also an impressive demonstration of how naturally people from different countries, with different religious backgrounds, and from different cultures can become friends or even more, become like a family and how a city which may have been entered with mixed feelings at first, can become a second home in the end.
Congratulations EM40 for all your professional and personal achievements during the last six months. We wish you luck, endurance, and success for your professional careers and for your efforts for a more sustainable future!
Photo: Harald Schluttig
On Tuesday, December 13th, we sent the last course participants in 2016 on their way towards a new and sustainable urban agenda. Four weeks of intensive course work, but also coping with the challenges (cold temperatures) and enjoying the benefits (Christmas cake and sweets) at this time of the year in Germany are over.
CIPSEM will welcome the 40th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing and Emerging Countries in January 2017.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
photos by Harald Schluttig
… and getting attention in the last University Journal of TU Dresden. The occasion was the festive closing of the 66th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB Internatioal Short Course on Soil and Land Resources and the general overall efforts in education towards sustainable development provided by CIPSEM and its partners.
UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV course program 