Nanao City/Bangkok, 2 November 2009 – Ten innovative project proposals from civil society groups, non-governmental organizations and research institutes in Asia Pacific will receive an award of up to US$ 30,000 for their novel approaches to sustainable development. The 10 proposals were selected from approximately 200 proposals received under the Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED) Showcase Programme this year.The APFED Showcase Programme, which began in 2006, grants up to US$30,000 to Asia Pacific projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to development, implementation, monitoring, and information dissemination. The Showcase Programme is administered by the APFED Showcase Facility housed in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Environment Programme, in coordination with the APFED Secretariat (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, IGES).
“For the 2009 Programme additional emphasis was given to project proposals that aimed at addressing climate change, reduce, reuse, recycle (3Rs) and biodiversity conservation,” said Mr. Henk Verbeek, Senior Officer of UNEP.
The winning projects include a chemical-free bamboo treatment in Indonesia, mentha cultivation for livelihood enhancement and biodiversity conservation in Nepal, rainwater harvesting, afforestation and biomass growth to prevent drought in India, community conservation of elephants in Cambodia, public participation in environmental rights protection in China, crab fattening and mangrove restoration in Bangladesh, climate risk management in Bangladesh, biodiversity conservation through environmental education in buffer zones in Sri Lanka, reduction in wood cutting and emission of GHGs through fuel-efficient technologies in Pakistan, and innovative community development and good governance on integrated coastal resource management in the Philippines.
These projects, including those selected implemented since 2006, will be shared with stakeholders through the APFED Good Practice Database to encourage replication in other countries in the region. Each of the Showcase projects will be mentored and evaluated by one of the eight institutes of the Network of Research Institutes for Sustainable Development (NetRes) established under APFED.
“It was a challenge for the Panel members to decide on the final recipients of the award from the 28 shortlisted proposals. We had to select the best proposals among the very good ones, not only taking into account the quality but also thematic and geographical balance. We believe that the high level of responses from our stakeholders indicates their compassion and resource demands for sustainability and innovation,” said Prof. Akio Morishima, former Chair of the Board of Directors of IGES and the current Chairman of the APFED Panel members. 192 applications were received this year of which 187 were considered eligible.
The 10 Showcase projects were selected at the APFED Showcase Panel meeting held in Nanao City, Japan, on 30 July 2009 by the APFED members who were appointed as APFED Panel members for this year.