Global Lessons on Ecological Rehabilitation From the Loess Plateau

Thursday, May 15, 2008
in

ORGANIZERS:
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-State of Louisiana
Asia Trade Office
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Guest Speaker:
John D. Liu
Director, Environmental Education Media Project for China
Director, EarthsHope.org

Date:5/19, 5/20, 5/21, 2008
Time: 19:00-21:00
Venue: Pamir Law Group. 14F, No.116, Nanking E. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei

In 1995 the Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP) documented a decade long project to restore ecosystem functions which dramatically and successfully transformed a portion of the north central China Loess Plateau in an area larger than Belgium. This experience is the basis for successful national and local efforts in Africa in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The UNEP is cooperating to share this knowledge globally. The global implications to transform large areas of the planet’s ecosystem and climate cannot be under-estimated. This represents a paradigm shift in human understanding and behavior. It is a critical component of the knowledge needed to address many of our most pressing concerns, including food security, fresh water, habitat, poverty, income disparity and even climate change.

In this presentation, John D. Liu will share the lessons learned and conclusions reached during this massive ecosystem rehabilitation project, which include:

  • Ecosystem degradation has local, downstream (regional) and global impacts suggesting that we must rethink the way we see our relationship with the Earth. History provides strong, compelling evidence that ignoring these lessons will lead to ecosystem collapse which would not only bring poverty but the end of our civilization.
  • In order for unsustainable agricultural practices to end, policies must reflect these principles, alternative livelihoods must be identified, training and investment must be provided to help transition the poorest toward sustainable behaviours. Governments must understand these lessons and their policies must reflect these principles.
  • It is possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems and restore ecosystem function that has been lost over vast areas.
  • Learning these lessons will ensure that future generations will enjoy rushing rivers, forests, wildlife and more efficient, productive farms, as well as living in peace and prosperity.

About The Speaker

-John D. Liu is an American who has lived in China for more than 25years. He helped open the Beijing CBS News bureau at normalization. He was also a photo-journalist with Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI Italian Television) and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF German.Television). Since 1997, his Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP) uses television to deliver ecological, sustainable development and public health messages in China and other countries.

John has delivered his presentation to audiences around the world including the Royal Society, JP Morgan, Sky TV, The Green Cross, The Global Environment Facility, the Wilson Centre for Scholars in Washington, The Wilton Park Conference, Chatham House, The British Society, UNEP, The Jane Goodall Institute, UNDP, The Presidents of Rwanda and Ethiopia and the Finance Environment Ministers from numerous countries at the Global Environment Facility meeting