An international workshop, aiming to provide a platform for sustainable development and discuss urban ecosystems in poverty alleviation, will take place in the city at Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
An international workshop, aiming to provide a platform for sustainable development and discuss urban ecosystems in poverty alleviation, will take place in the city at Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
The two-day workshop, commencing from April 13, is part of a collaborative initiative of the CEE with Sweden Education for Sustainable Development (SWEDESD).
The project will have Ahmedabad as one of the participating cities in the first year of the programme. Participating teams from Dhaka, Ahmedabad and Sweden will have discussions on urban ecosystems and poverty alleviation.
Ahmedabad's team will have five participants, each from a different organisation, which are - Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), CEE, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC).
In all, six cities of the world have been selected for this project, Ahmedabad and Dhaka are the only two from south Asia.
Martin Westin, member of SWEDESD, said that the workshop will focus in two major directions.
"Firstly, the discussion will be on trying to think of new ways for ecosystem development. Secondly, it will be an attempt towards collaborative learning," he said.
Elaborating on the need for such a workshop, Martin said that Malmo city's (Sweden) ecosystem was found to be at risk, prompting the urgency and the need to preserve the ecology of other cities as well.
"The initial focus will be on creating proper ecosystem services in urban cities. On the second day, the focus will narrow down to Ahmedabad and Dhaka," said Kartikeya Sarabhai, director, CEE.
"While developing the ecosystem, the meet will discuss how to deal with poverty. The ecosystem will be planned in such a way that it helps poverty alleviation," said Sarabhai.
"Ahmedabad has a huge population, but we need to address the water, sanitation, air and greenery issues. Gandhiji once said that before making policies, always think about the poor first and ask yourself that, will the policy benefit the poor?
This is what we are doing through this workshop. Bringing forth new ideas for ecosystem development of the city but keeping in mind the poor," explained Sarabhai.
Elaborating, Sarabhai said that the workshop will also discuss the city's riverfront project and Gujari bazaar.
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