The document discusses the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) Community Grant Program which provides funding to local nonprofit and community organizations for hands-on environmental projects. It provides summaries of several funded projects including removing pavement in Toronto, facilitating climate change adaptation planning with indigenous groups, air pollution monitoring in Louisiana, restoring habitat along the Dolores River in Colorado, building sustainable infrastructure on Magdalena Island in Mexico, and treating greywater for reuse in Baja California. The goal of the program is to empower local communities to improve environmental quality and health through participation in environmental projects.
California Greenworks is a registered 501 c 3 organization who primary mission is to improve the quality of life in urban communities through environmental education and implementation of sustainable community-based restoration and neighborhood revitalization projects and programs that promote green space, eliminate urban blight and advocate for green jobs creation and economic development.
Presented by IWMI's Luna Bharati, Senior Researcher-Hydrology Water Resources, at a high level policy dialog held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 27, 2016.
California Greenworks is a registered 501 c 3 organization who primary mission is to improve the quality of life in urban communities through environmental education and implementation of sustainable community-based restoration and neighborhood revitalization projects and programs that promote green space, eliminate urban blight and advocate for green jobs creation and economic development.
Presented by IWMI's Luna Bharati, Senior Researcher-Hydrology Water Resources, at a high level policy dialog held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 27, 2016.
Infrastructure Use Case: Water & Transportation Workshop
- Liz O’Donoghue, Director, Infrastructure and Land Use, The Nature Conservancy
- Matt Freeman, Assistant General Manager/Project Director, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
- Brian Mendenhall, Project Manager Stream Stewardship Unit, Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Kearey Smith, Senior Planner/Analyst, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
- Emily Tibbott, Senior Program Advisor, California Strategic Growth Council
This presentation was given during a workshop at the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
Highlands Regional Green Infrastructure Workshop PresentationNew Jersey Future
On April 27, 2016, Michele Adams of Meliora Design and Tavis Dockwiller of Viridian Landscape Studio gave a presentation on green infrastructure during a workshop put together by New Jersey Future in partnership with ANJEC. The workshop was held for municipal leaders like mayors, planning and zoning board members, environmental commission leaders, and members of the general public in the Highlands region.
Indicator approach to understanding resilience of Socio-ecological Production...Bioversity International
Presentation by Kaoru Ichikawa from UNU-IAS and the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI).
This was presented during a seminar hosted at Bioversity International on 'The Indicators of Resilience in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)' in January 2014.
Find out more: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/agricultural-ecosystems/landscapes/
Bay Area Greenprint Launch and Workshop
Introduction to and Demonstration of the Bay Area Greenprint
The Bay Area Greenprint Team speakers were:
- Dick Cameron, Lead Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
- Liz O’Donoghue, Director, Infrastructure and Land Use, The Nature Conservancy
- Adam Garcia, Planning and Research Manager, Greenbelt Alliance
- Dan Rademacher, Executive Director, GreenInfo Network
- Tom Robinson, Director of Conservation, Science, and Innovation, Bay Area Open Space Council
- Carrie Schloss, Spatial Data Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
These speakers addressed the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
Rebuilding the Relationship between People and Nature: The SATOYAMA Initiative
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159`
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
This presentation from the 2015 New Mexico Recreation and Parks Association Conference describes the idea of optimizing community health and wellbeing with strategic design, operation, and maintenance decisions for park, recreation, and open space facilities. The presentation explores community-specific solutions and discusses the science and research that supports the correlation between park design and wellness.
Mimi Burns, ASLA, LEED AP, is a registered landscape architect who works with public and private clients to raise awareness of community health and wellbeing and to create custom strategies that facilitate community health, wellbeing, and happiness.
Strengthening Community Resilience to Impacts of Climate Change and Stewardsh...CANAAFRICA
Strengthening Community Resilience to Impacts of Climate Change and Stewardship of Natural Resources
in Baringo, Laikipia and Kajiado County by
Noah Lusaka - Project Manager Arid Lands Information
Network (ALIN)
Infrastructure Use Case: Water & Transportation Workshop
- Liz O’Donoghue, Director, Infrastructure and Land Use, The Nature Conservancy
- Matt Freeman, Assistant General Manager/Project Director, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
- Brian Mendenhall, Project Manager Stream Stewardship Unit, Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Kearey Smith, Senior Planner/Analyst, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
- Emily Tibbott, Senior Program Advisor, California Strategic Growth Council
This presentation was given during a workshop at the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
Highlands Regional Green Infrastructure Workshop PresentationNew Jersey Future
On April 27, 2016, Michele Adams of Meliora Design and Tavis Dockwiller of Viridian Landscape Studio gave a presentation on green infrastructure during a workshop put together by New Jersey Future in partnership with ANJEC. The workshop was held for municipal leaders like mayors, planning and zoning board members, environmental commission leaders, and members of the general public in the Highlands region.
Indicator approach to understanding resilience of Socio-ecological Production...Bioversity International
Presentation by Kaoru Ichikawa from UNU-IAS and the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI).
This was presented during a seminar hosted at Bioversity International on 'The Indicators of Resilience in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)' in January 2014.
Find out more: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/agricultural-ecosystems/landscapes/
Bay Area Greenprint Launch and Workshop
Introduction to and Demonstration of the Bay Area Greenprint
The Bay Area Greenprint Team speakers were:
- Dick Cameron, Lead Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
- Liz O’Donoghue, Director, Infrastructure and Land Use, The Nature Conservancy
- Adam Garcia, Planning and Research Manager, Greenbelt Alliance
- Dan Rademacher, Executive Director, GreenInfo Network
- Tom Robinson, Director of Conservation, Science, and Innovation, Bay Area Open Space Council
- Carrie Schloss, Spatial Data Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
These speakers addressed the Bay Area Greenprint Launch Event on June 21, 2017 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA. More info on the Bay Area Open Space Council's blog: http://openspacecouncil.org/the-bay-area-greenprint-has-launched/
Rebuilding the Relationship between People and Nature: The SATOYAMA Initiative
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159`
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
This presentation from the 2015 New Mexico Recreation and Parks Association Conference describes the idea of optimizing community health and wellbeing with strategic design, operation, and maintenance decisions for park, recreation, and open space facilities. The presentation explores community-specific solutions and discusses the science and research that supports the correlation between park design and wellness.
Mimi Burns, ASLA, LEED AP, is a registered landscape architect who works with public and private clients to raise awareness of community health and wellbeing and to create custom strategies that facilitate community health, wellbeing, and happiness.
Strengthening Community Resilience to Impacts of Climate Change and Stewardsh...CANAAFRICA
Strengthening Community Resilience to Impacts of Climate Change and Stewardship of Natural Resources
in Baringo, Laikipia and Kajiado County by
Noah Lusaka - Project Manager Arid Lands Information
Network (ALIN)
Triple Bottom Line: How Green Schools Save Money, Promote Health, and Improve...caiscalifornia
Why should schools develop a culture of environmental sustainability? With increasing environmental challenges in recent years, the “triple bottom line” applied to schools can help to save money, promote health, and improve achievement.
The EPA Catchments Unit held its 2018 annual Catchment Management Network Meeting on 14 November. All our local authorities and many other public bodies are invited to this meeting to talk about how to protect and improve Ireland's waters.
Oil and gas are essential parts of a sustainable future. Though these are finite energy resources and sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the world continues to require their production. For this reason, it is imperative that we consider improved industry practices.
To begin, the audience will be presented with the most basic principles of sustainability pertaining to oil and gas operations, including SPE’s position on this matter. When oil is discovered at a location, decisions and guarantees cannot be made without considering the project’s life cycle. Our commitments must be demonstrated consistently along each stage of a project in direct consideration of a sustainable future.
Next, several case studies relating to sustainability, integrating the realities of the social license to operate and operations will be presented to the audience, detailing the required steps for the successful execution of any project facing challenging conditions.
The presentation will conclude by underlining that the inclusion of internal and external stakeholders will only enrich the project and, therefore, pave the road to success. It is our responsibility to create a culture of operational professionalism and reliability through active participation. In order to counterbalance the world’s energy demand, we must produce oil and gas while considering that the more efficiently the energy is produced, the more affordable the energy will be. The oil industry is not only committed to its own sustainability but also to the sustainability of our planet.
Community Based Adaptation as a Pillar of National Adaptation Efforts NAP Events
Presented by: Atiq Rahman
SESSION VI: PLENARY –PILLARS FOR NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLANS
The session will examine a few case studies of how a particular issue of prime importance for a country can be the main entry point or pillar of the adaptation work, after which all other issues would then be considered. Three examples will be covered. Madagascar is a well-known centre of biological biodiversity. Addressing climate change through adaptation must consider the dynamics of this biodiversity including closely related stress factors such as poverty, pressure on land due to deforestation, shifting viability of the main cash crops when climatic conditions change, etc. Two other examples are on taking a regional approach to the assessment and development of adaptation responses in the context of hydro-energy. In other cases, a focus on community-based adaptation has been very successful, as is the case for Bangladesh.
Facilitating Action to Address Climate Change Adaptation Needs in Indigenous North America - 2012 CEC Council Session: Community and Ecosystem Resilience in North America, July 11, 2012
http://www.cec.org/council2012
Do contrasting social expectations along with biological differences lead men and women to be affected differently by environmental contaminants like mercury or pesticides? How do gender and sex interact and impact population health? Professor Donna Mergler has authored more than 150 scientific articles and has given many lectures around the world on the subject, and will share her research on how to promote social and gender considerations when conducting environmental health research.
Glen P. Kedzie, Vice President, Energy and Environmental Council, American Trucking Associations spoke at the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee round table on sustainable transportation in North America on July 10, 2013. More at: http://cec.org/council2013
Diane Gray, President and CEO, CentrePort Canada, Inc., spoke during the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee's round table on sustainable transportation on July 10, 2013. More info. at http://cec.org/council2013
Abel López Dodero, coordinador de la Dirección de Sistemas Integrados de Transporte, CTS EMBARQ México, habló durante las mesas redondas de discusión del Comité Consultivo Público Conjunto sobre transporte sustentable en América del Norte el 10 de julio de 2013. Más información en http://cec.org/consejo2013
Michael Kelley, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, External Affairs, YRC Worldwide, spoke at the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee's round table on sustainable transportation in North America. More at: http://cec.org/council2013
Bernard Gendron, directeur du Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur les réseaux d'entreprise, la logistique et le transport (CIRRELT) en tables rondes de discussion du CCPM sur le transport durable en Amérique du Nord le 10 juillet 2012. Plus d'information en http://cec.org/conseil2013
More from North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (20)
Normal Labour/ Stages of Labour/ Mechanism of LabourWasim Ak
Normal labor is also termed spontaneous labor, defined as the natural physiological process through which the fetus, placenta, and membranes are expelled from the uterus through the birth canal at term (37 to 42 weeks
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
4. • To support hands-on environmental community
projects lead by nonprofit nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs), environmental groups,
community-based associations, academic
institutions, among others.
• To empower and build the capacity of local
peoples and organizations to improve their health
and environmental quality.
Goal:
5. Council launched Call for proposals –
June 2011
500+ preliminary applications – August
2011
Two stage selection process
Stage one: pre-proposals – CEC staff
Stage two: full proposals – Selection
Committee (GSC, JPAC Chair, ED)
8. • 102 volunteers
engaged
• 12 media hits
• Generated $26,000
worth of matching
support
• Exceeded the
original target of
125m2, with a total
of 462 m2 of
pavement removed
Depave Paradise
9. Facilitating Action to Address
Climate Change Adaptation Needs
in Indigenous North America
10. • Workshop “Climate Change
Adaptation Planning:
Facilitating Action to Address
Climate Change Adaptation
Needs in Indigenous North
America” held in Akwesasne,
Ontario, on September 18-20,
2012.
• Worksheets to develop
adaptation plans are available
at the Centre for Indigenous
Environmental Resources
website http://www.ppw.ca/
• “Tips for hosting a similar event
on climate change adaptation”
Facilitating Action to Address Climate Change
Adaptation Needs in Indigenous North America
15. Tamarisk removal
The 2013 DRRP implementation
plan includes six weeks to
engage corps crews in priority
restoration projects on private
and public lands.
A Collaborative, Community-based
Approach to Watershed Restoration
20. • Conditions and needs assessment study
• 4 community workshops to date
• New housing spaces built using 100% sustainable materials,
from the island
• The first building: a community hall
Building a sustainable coastal
community on Magdalena Island
22. NAPECA:
Communities making a difference
• Addressing a wide variety of environmental
topics
• Delivering clear, tangible results
• Bringing about change through community
participation
• www.cec.org/napeca
Editor's Notes
Today I would like to highlight a few of the success stories that the NAPECA program is helping to generate, but before I do that I would like to provide you with a brief background of the program.
Improving environmental conditions across North America is a challenging task. Individual investments made by each country can achieve greater success if a shared sense of responsibility and stewardship is developed at the community level. With this in mind, the CEC Council established a grant program in 2011, the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) to support communities in their efforts to address environmental problems locally. The purpose of the program is to support hands-on environmental community projects lead by nonprofit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), environmental groups, community-based associations, academic institutions, among others. The objective is to empower and build the capacity of local peoples and organizations to improve their health and environmental quality. NAPECA supports a diverse set of projects that address CEC’s strategic priorities, build partnerships and present innovative approaches to tackling local environmental challenges. NAPECA grant selection criteria have been established to ensure that these projects deliver tangible results.
Following the launch of the program, by the closing date of the Call for Proposals, we had received more than 500 preliminary applications. This marked the beginning of the selection process, which comprises two stages: The first stage is related to reviewing and evaluating preliminary proposals, an assessment that is carried out by members of the CEC staff. The second stage takes place when a more reduced set of proposals is invited to present a full proposal. Once the full proposals have been received, the Selection Committee, consisting of five members: one General Standing Committee (GSC) representative from each country, the Chair of the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), and the CEC Executive Director, selects and proposes a preliminary list to the Council who will then decide which projects will be approved for funding.
In 2011,19 grants for projects across North America were awarded totaling C$1.4 million We are really happy to have three NAPECA grantees joining us here in Los Cabos, presenting the activities and results of their ongoing projects to the North American public. Depave Paradise from Ontario, Canada; the Dolores River Restoration Partnership, in Utah and Colorado in the United States; and Building a sustainable community on Magdalena Island, from Baja California Sur, Mexico all presented during the public session this morning.
I would like to begin this presentation, proceeding from North to South, highlighting one of the Canadian projects: Depave Paradise. The goal of the Depave Paradise project is to increase infiltration of stormwater by increasing permeable areas, and slow the flow of stormwater by enhancing the urban forest, literally by lifting off pavement and other hard surfaces and replacing them with native plants and trees that will act as filters and sponges for polluted runoff and restore the natural hydrological cycle.
Depave Paradise recruits and trains volunteers to carry out depaving events in parking lots, school yards, and similar areas. So far, events have been completed in four out of 5 communities, with more than 102 volunteers engaged. In the first year, Depave Paradise generated $26,000 worth of matching support and exceeded the original target of 125m2, with a total of 462 m2 of pavement removed to date.
Another very successful project taking place in Canada is helping indigenous communities plan and adapt to climate change. This project is being implemented by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER).
55 participants from 7 provinces and 3 territories in Canada, and 7 states in the USA attended the workshop on Climate change adaptation planning. Worksheets to develop climate change adaptation plans were produced and are available through the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources website http://www.ppw.ca/ The report “Tips for hosting a similar event on climate change adaptation” was developed to facilitate that efforts like this one can be easily replicated by other communities in North America.
In Louisiana, the Residents for Air neutralization project is tackling air monitoring, accident prevention and environmental justice through community participation. The goal of the project is to protect the health of communities living on the fencelines of the Calumet refinery from petrochemical emissions by training them to monitor and document pollution using innovative methods. With the funds provided by the NAPECA program, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade is providing fellowships for 4 youth Environmental Justice Corps to be trained in the areas of public health, fundraising, environmental law, community organizing, facilitation and participatory action research. These corps in turn train and raise awareness with other community members. The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is training community members to carry out air monitoring using “ the bucket”, where they get their name, which is an EPA approved air-sampling device that tests for Volatile Organic Compounds. According to the “bucket brigade” model, residents are trained to take the samples themselves and record the readings.
The information these volunteers are collecting is helping document and further analyze the link between the pollution in their neighborhoods and their health.
LABB is also training Shreveport youth and residents to report chemical accidents, odors and health effects using an online map where reports, photos and video can be posted called the iWitness Pollution Map (map.labucketbrigade.org).
The Dolores River Restoration Partnership project is addressing an entirely different environmental problem, that of invasive species. Along the Dolores River in Colorado and Utah, the invasion of tamarisk is an important problem. As it happens with invasive species, they tend to displace native species affecting the natural balance and the health of the ecosystems. The focus of this project is to remove tamarisk and restoring riparian plant communities. To do so Southwest Conservation Corps is recruiting volunteers from minority populations, including young adults in Hispanic communities as well as several indigenous communities including Navajo, Zuni, Acoma, Hopi, and Ute tribes from the region.
Two eight-person conservation corps crews started DRRP restoration activities in April, following two weeks of training and education on the project. These crews have just finished the two month spring season treating over 30 acres of tamarisk and preparing sites for follow-up treatment of secondary invasives, in the fall.
Continuing our trip South, into Mexico, the project called “ Treatment and recycling of greywater to be re-used in family vegetable gardens” took place in a small town in the outskirts of Mexico City. This was the second project to come to a successful conclusion. The problem this project addressed originated from the lack of a proper sewer system. The lack of a sewer system represents a public health problem in the community, as wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing would stay around washing sinks forming puddles until it decomposed, causing foul odors, and becoming a source of diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis and other frequent gastrointestinal illnesses. The problem worsens during the dry season as these grey waters decompose even faster.
The project provided education and awareness workshops on the importance of treating and recycling household grey waters to 75 families. Local bricklayers were trained to build the grey water treatment filters and each family received training to use them properly and to maintain the filters themselves to ensure optimal operating conditions. Escuela del Agua also trained the 75 participating families, to create and maintain family vegetable gardens which are already having direct benefits, including: helping to improve their diet, families plant and harvest their own vegetables so they are saving money, and in many cases achieve surplus produce, which they sell, providing families with an additional source of income.
42 water quality tests were carried out to make sure water met the standards for use in vegetable gardens. All water tests produced positive results.
Escuela del Agua also trained the 75 participating families, to create and maintain family vegetable gardens which are already having direct benefits, including: helping to improve their diet, families plant and harvest their own vegetables so they are saving money, and in many cases achieve surplus produce, which they sell, providing families with an additional source of income.
In 2009, hurricane Jimena left the Magdalena Island off the Coast of Baja California, in shatters. Almost none of the houses survived. To prevent this from happening again, COBI began to plan a project in which the local community would take an active role in designing and re-building their housing units, using 100% sustainable materials, found in the island. Thanks to the NAPECA funds, this project has become a reality and is helping families living in the island build new structures that are better fitted to their needs and the local climate. COBI designed a series of workshops addressing on community organization, to foster among others, participation of women and children in the decision-making process, on sharing responsibilities and on work distribution, making it a truly inclusive planning and design process. Subsequent workshops provided participants with information on climate change and they learned how to build the adoblocks with materials from the island, which are 100% sustainable, long lasting, and have thermal properties ideal for their weather and location. During the implementation of the project, the community chose a community hall as the first structure to be built using the eco-technique.
With the NAPECA funds an adopress machine used to make the adoblocks was aquired and will remain property of the community after the project concludes, so they can continue building additional living and recreational spaces.
This was only a snapshot of some of the success stories that NAPECA is helping to generate. There are several other projects that are making a difference in the lives of many. The NAPECA portfolio of projects covers a wide range of environmental topics, but one thing in common to all of the projects is that they are delivering tangible results. All of these projects are having a positive impact in the lives of community members, helping to improve their health and local environment. The NAPECA projects are successfully bringing about change through active community participation and are helping to advance the work of the Commission by addressing CEC ’s strategic priorities. Building on this success, I would like to call on Secretary Juan José Guerra, to announce the new NAPECA grant cycle and opening of the 2013 Call for Proposals.