Nov 20, 2023
Empowering Change: Insights from the 88th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course on Nature-based Solutions to Global Water Challenges
Participants, supporters, and guests celebrate the successful conclusion of the 88th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to Emerging Water Challenges (SC88) alongside the CIPSEM team.
In a festive and warm atmosphere, the 88th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to Emerging Water Challenges (SC88) ended last Friday.
Two course participants, Dr. Maria Jose Iturbide-Chang from Guatemala and Mr. Geoffrey Stuart Marshall from Jamaica, reflected on the enriching experiences and insights shared by participants and facilitators from around the world.
Over the past 3.5 weeks, the expert participants, all of whom work in ministries, other governmental organizations, civil society organizations or research institutions in countries of the Global South, delved into innovative approaches and practical applications of nature-based solutions and explored their transformative potential in addressing the complex and evolving water challenges facing our global community.
Throughout the course, participants engaged in lively discussions, hands-on workshops, and site visits, fostering a dynamic learning environment.
Visit to the Weißeritz green corridor with experts from the Dresden Office for Urban Planning and Mobility as an example of a nature-based solution that has already proven its effectiveness in flood protection after heavy rainfall events.
The diverse perspectives brought by participants contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the role that nature-based solutions can play in sustainable water management.
Visit to the Südpanke in Berlin with Dr. Maria Warter from Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) as an example of the renaturation of a body of water that has been extremely affected by urbanization and industrialization.
As Dr. André Lindner, Managing Director of the School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, said, experience from the past 46 years of the program shows that continued collaboration and knowledge sharing among the participants are a likely outcome of the course.
The relationships forged during these intensive days of learning will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of nature-based solutions worldwide.
Tour of the Renzo Piano pond in Berlin with Dr. Maria Warter from Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) as an example of the local reuse of rainwater.
Isabel Bunce from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) shared insights into recent developments at both the Federal and European levels, discussing initiatives such as the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity. She conveyed her excitement for the potential contributions of participants to similar action plans and encouraged collaboration between the participants and the German Ministry, foreseeing opportunities for joint efforts in the future, especially in the development of action plans.
During the ceremony, CIPSEM expressed its sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of SC88. The dedicated members of the administration and supporters whose essential, behind-the-scenes efforts played a pivotal role in making this event a success have been especially mentioned.
All course participants expressed their gratitude for a well-organized course in their native language.
The commitment of the facilitators and participants to advancing our collective understanding of sustainable water solutions is also remarkable, and we hope that the knowledge gained from this course will inspire positive action in water management for years to come.
The course was organized by the staff of the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences on behalf of the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.