Yes!

The very important other event taking place in the CIPSEM-world today is the marriage of Trupti and Carlos. Coming from India and Bolivia, they got to know each other during the 65th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Short Course on Ecosystem Management – Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology in 2015. Today, they have married in Copenhagen. We send our best wishes and are very happy with and for you!

This goes to show that love and determination can get us a long way – in everything.

Thank you for the pictures, Angela!

Some hopeful news for biodiversity and sustainable development?

Today is a day of farewell but also of new and hopeful beginnings. We are concluding the 65th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Short Course on Ecosystem Management – Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology.

Here you see the participants and CIPSEM staff after the award ceremony.

It is clear we face many challenges regarding

•  species extinction and loss of diversity
• drastic changes in biogeochemical cycles such as that of nitrogen
• land use changes and the loss of ecosystems, fragmentation of habitats, the pollution of water, air and soil.

In the course we have discussed the overarching concepts of biodiversity as such, of restoration approaches, of putting a value on ecosystem services and many other approaches. The course has benefitted greatly from the experience and kind sharing of this group of highly motivated, diverse participants.

In their wonderful short speech on behalf of the group, Ms. Yetunda McLean from Jamaica and Mr. Mindaye Teshome Legese from Ethiopia have highlighted some of the characteristics which everybody contributed to help this group to grow and explore together. This gives good reason for hope, because there are a lot of issues to tackle.

Overall, this is a year of hope. On this very day the world leaders come together in New York to make sustainable development with its many interlinked aspects a top priority for all countries.
The 17 sustainable development goals are designed as one indivisible package. That two of the 17 targets address terrestrial and marine biodiversity directly, highlights the importance of this topic:

• Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (Goal Nr. 15)
• Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (Goal Nr. 14).

Let’s take our governments by their words. And also: let’s assume the responsibility we all have for how our circumstances develop, and let’s celebrate the small victories along the way.

SC65: Excursion to Berlin

The course headed to Berlin to participate in a workshop organized by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) at the International Climate Initiative. In the afternoon the group was first guided through the BMUB facilities and afterwards had the opportunity to explore more of Germany’s capital on their own.

(Photos: F. Biesing)

Welcome SC65!

The 65th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB Short Course has just begun. Representatives from Argentina, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Zambia have moved into the CIPSEM headquarters to deepen their knowledge in the field of “Ecosystem Management – Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology”.

(Photos: A. Lindner)