Sustainable Development

1

• Sustainable Development
• Initiatives of International Organizations
• Example of Heifer International
• Viktor Teres, PhD, MBA,
• President of the International Charitable
  Foundation Heifer Project International,
  Ukraine

2
Plan of Presentation

• Overview role of International Organisations
  (IOs) in promoting Sustainable Development (SD)
• Heifer Ukraine at a glance
• Heifer International at a glance
• Carpathian region challenges, opportunities of
  SD
• Carpathian convention as a platform for SD in the
  region
• HPI projects in Carpathian region
• EU INTERREG IIIB CADSES Carpathian Project
• Our partners IOs, management authorities
• Whats next further opportunities/ needs to
  facilitate SD in Carpathians

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Overview Role of IOs as Agents of Sustainable
Development
IOs

• Work with governments to help them meet
  obligations under international conventions (i.e.
  Carpathian Convention)
• Assess/ monitor local needs work with
  communities, all stakeholders to promote
  principles of sustainable development
• Develop/ implement international/ national
  /regional/ local policy initiatives, including
  sustainable agriculture, rural development,
  ecotourism, forestry etc.
• Publicize success stories and local needs
• Build alliances, develop capacities of
  stakeholders

What Heifer and its partners do in Carpathian
region!
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Heifer Project International in Ukraine

• Programme has been working in Ukraine since 1994
• Registered as an International Charitable
  Foundation Heifer Project International (ICF
  HPI) in 2000
• Key objective in Ukraine assisting rural
  communities, small businesses in rural area,
  farmers and their associations to raise the life
  standards and achieve self-support
• Offices Kyiv (11 employees), Lviv (4
  employees) regional representatives in Crimea
  and Odessa
• 50 projects since 2004.

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Areas of Heifer work in Ukraine

• Agroecology

• Development of small rural businesses and
  Agricultural Service Cooperatives

• Gender equity

• Youth at risk / orphans

• AIDS problems

• Disaster rehabilitation

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Heifer International in the world

• Heifer International international charitable
  foundation, with a mission to work with
  communities to end hunger and poverty and to care
  for the earth.
• Founded in 1944 in USA, Little Rock
• Works in more than 50 countries
• Supported over 10 mln. families
• See more at www.heifer.org

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Sustainability and Heifer International
Headquarters

• Green Facts
• Water is collected on roof in 25,000-gallon water
  tower, where it is cleaned by a natural
  filtration system
• As water moves around the building, it is
  filtered by native indigenous plants that remove
  impurities
• The building is crafted to maximize sunlight,
  with an east-to-west, narrow, curved design.
• Brownfield recovery of the site before
  construction
• Recycled ecologically friendly construction
  materials
• Recycling

• Recognitions/ Awards
• Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green
  Building Council, 2007
• National American Institute of Architects
  Committee on the Environments (COTE) Top Ten
  Green Projects 2007

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Heifer Internationals SD efforts in the field

• Soil Conservation (incl. vermiculture)
• Water Conservation
• Agro-biodiversity
• Agroforestry
• Indigenous Breeds of Livestock
• Zero-grazing

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Heifer International SD Projects in Mountain Areas

• Example Project for the Sustainable Development
  of the High Mountains Biodiversity, Peru
• Project components include management and use of
  biodiversity conservation the promotion of
  agroecology, incl.
• incorporation of manure
• compost and humus
• crop rotation for the control of pests
• crop diversification on the family premises for
  greater food options
• reforestation of slopes and agroforestry with
  native plants
• use of medicinal plants for pest control and
  diseases
• recovery of native forages
• Improved cookstoves.

We used to cut down trees for firewood, but now
we just cook with brush and no one cuts down any
trees.
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Carpathian Region

• Europes largest mountain range!
• Living environment for up to 18 million people!
• Europes greatest reserve of pristine forest,
  refuge for brown bears, wolves, bison, lynx,
  eagles and some 200 unique plant species found
  nowhere else in the world
• Continents cleanest streams and drinking water
  supplies
• Unique natural, historical and cultural heritage
  
• Heaven for wildlife and ecological networks
  within Europe

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SD principles in historical traditions of
Carpathians

• Ethnic diversity corresponding to landscape
  diversity (7 major ethnic groups and more than
  six principal religious groups)
• Sustainable mountain shepherding
• Good forest management practices (till XIX
  cent.)
• Caring about wildlife and farm animals as seen
  in traditions, mythology
• Nature-related arts and crafts environmentally
  friendly philosophy and life cycle.

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SD principles in Hutsul culture

• Where Southeastern Carpathians (Ivano-Frankivsk
  and Chernivtsy regions, Rakhiv district of
  Zakarpattia region)
• What
• Construction disconnectedness of farmsteads,
  unique close-circuit household complexes low
  waste production
• Traditional animal breeds
• Folk arts/ crafts carving, pyrography and
  encrustation, pottery, decorative weaving, carpet
  weaving etc.
• - Respect to nature in traditions and habits
• - Nature is personified, has deep impact on
  mythology.

• Some environmentally friendly traditions/
  beliefs
• Hutsul horse breed
• Animals are an integral part of traditional
  celebrations (Christmas, Harvest festivities
  etc.)
• Protecting water springs, trees (they are
  believed to have souls f.i. mavky)
• Caring about bird nests during mowing
• Persuading injured game animals a crime.

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Regional Challenges

• Rural mountain areas are facing new threats posed
  by globalization processes
• Negative demographic trends (aging population,
  low birth rates, abandonment of mountain regions
  - alarming migration rates)
• Low level of local and foreign investment and
  technological upgrade
• Low competitiveness of local produce
• Lower income in agriculture in comparison with
  the rest of the country
• High unemployment rates
• Problem of younger generations loosing the skills
  in traditional agriculture, crafts and other
  specialties
• Threat of spreading of the big companies
  (logging, tourism) having no traditional relation
  to the land
• Unsustainable water and forest management
  practices

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Carpathian Convention

• Unique agreement addressing exclusively mountain
  ecosystems
• Signed May 2003
• Entry into force - 1 January 2006
• Ratification by the Parliaments of all the
  Carpathian countries
• COP1 - 11-13 December 2006, Kyiv, Ukraine
• Carpathian Project promoted by the programme EU
  INTERREG IIIB CADSES
• Partnerships MoUs with the Alpine Convention,
  the Ramsar Convention and Central European
  Initiative (CEI), cooperative agreement with
  EURAC

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Carpathian Convention

• Carpathian Convention provides
• trans-national framework for cooperation and
  multi-sectoral policy coordination, including
  sustainable agriculture, rural development and
  forestry
• platform for joint strategies and policies for
  sustainable development
• forum for dialogue and permanent communication
  between all stakeholders involved

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Heifer-Ukraines projects in Carpathians

• 1. Support of rural communities projects - mainly
  dairy cattle husbandry (9 projects)
• Number of heifers -
• Purchased 283
• Passed-on 229

2. Revival of endangered breeds projects (6
projects) Carpathian Brown Cow Hutsul
horse Ukrainian Mountain Sheep Purchased
64 64 258 Passed-on 24 25 66
3. Rural tourism development projects (7
projects), including EU INTERREG IIIB CADSES
Carpathian Project and multi-component projects
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Projects on dairy cattle breeding in Carpathian
mountain areas

• Aim support of dairy cattle husbandry by private
  households through providing them with heifers
  of the Simmental breed, artificial insemination,
  improving veterinary care.
• 3 projects in Lviv oblast, 1994-2008
• 27-0810-01 Small Farm Devt in Drogobych raion
• 27-0801-01 Cattle Devt in the mountain area
  (Drogobych raion)
• 27-0805-01 Skole District Dairy Cattle Breeding
  Improvement
• RESULTS
• Provided 184 heifers, equipment for 2 veterinary
  centers and artificial insemination centers,
  specialized trainings, feeds, mineral fertilizers
  for pasture management.
• 2 ASCs are established and received equipment
  (tractors, equipment for milk collection)

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Project on Dairy Goat Breeding in Nelipyno

• Zakarpattia, 2002-2006
• RESULTS/ OUTCOMES
• Community received
• 54 does (female goats) and 2 bucks (male goats)
  in total
• Trainings on goat breeding.
• ASC Nelipinskiy created and provided with
  equipment.
• 2) Since 2007, ASC sells pure-blood goats.

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Heifer Ukraines Initiatives in Rural Green
Tourism

• Revival of endangered breeds of farm animals in
  Hutsul Region (2002 2008. Budget
  139,810 )
• Agroecological Initiative Revival of Hutsul
  Horse Breed in Carpathians (2003 2008. Budget
  25,000 )
• HPI / Carpathian Project 1 (2005 2009.
  Budget 149,900 )
• RESULTS
• Within the framework of these projects, 49 mares
  and 3 breeding stallions of Hutsul breed, 20
  saddles, 3 coaches, 53 heifers, 155 ewes, 120 bee
  packages as well as other equipment, seeds,
  ornamental saplings were provided for rural
  families.
• Totally, 74 horses are provided, incl. pass-ons
  (about 15 of world population according to FAO)
• All project participants are trained in
  veterinary management, marketing etc.
• Additionally, 18 heifers, 19 mares and 53 ewes
  were passed on as the gift to other families by
  project participants.
• During year 2006, income from Green tourism
  activity in these projects reached 2,700.
• 2 ASCS are created and effectively operate.

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Eurasia Foundation project Demonstration Model
of Sustainable Development in Ukrainian
Carpathians

• Budget 70,465 (Heifer-Ukraine 43,050,
  Eurasia Foundation 27,415)
• Accommodation Outputs of implemented project,
  which lasted only for 1 year (2004-2005)
• Beginning End
  Difference
• Operating agrohouseholds 38 59
  21
• Received visitors, inds. 1220
  2250 1030
• Households owners received additional income of
  2,277 from providing accommodation for tourists.
• Horse routes (horseback riding, trip by coach)
• 10 horse routes have been developed, manual on
  horse tourism To Carpathians riding the horse
  has been issued (500 copies)
• Income from tourism - 9,208 (2005)

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Heifer Ukraines Initiatives in Rural Green
Tourism (Carpathian project 2)

• 5 projects, incl.
• Helping rural families in the Bukovyna region
  (2007 2012. Budget 196,566)
• Carpathian Project Helping rural families in
  Turka raion, Lviv oblast (2007 2012. Budget
  121,540)
• Promoting rural tourism development for people
  residing in the area of Skolivski Beskydy
  National park (2007 2012. Budget 77,408)
• Outcomes Rural families will receive 20 mares
  and 2 breeding stallions of Hutsul breed, 20
  saddles, 1 cart, 60 heifers, 100 ewes and 7 rams,
  50 bee packages, other equipment, seeds,
  ornamental saplings. All project participants
  undergo trainings in veterinary care, tourism
  marketing etc.

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EU INTERREG IIIB CADSES Carpathian Project -
Protection and sustainable development of the
Carpathians in a transnational framework

• Funded by the EU Community Initiative INTERREG
  IIIB CADSES Environment Programme
• Developed by UNEP (Vienna) and RTI Polska
  together with Carpathian Convention Signatories
• Implementers 18 governmental and
  non-governmental institutions/orgs from 10
  countries, incl. Austria, Greece, Italy, Germany,
  Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Hungary,
  Ukraine and Czech Republic
• Approved in May 2006
• Aimed at solving of common problems, related with
  preserving of environment, historical and
  cultural heritage, economical and social
  development of the Carpathian Region
• Total funding of the project is 4.260.000 EURO.
  Funding of Ukrainian part of the project,
  financed by TACIS is 225,000 EURO and direct
  funding of Heifer-Ukraine is 25,000 EURO.

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Carpathian project (2006-2008)

• Outputs
• Web page and web-portal created/ updated as an
  information and teaching tool
  http//www.carpathianproject.eu/portal/
  www.greentour.com.ua
• Cultural heritage analysis conducted for future
  development
• Socio-economic analysis of the Carpathian Area
• Forestry and timber industry analysis
• Analysis of human settlements
• National spatial development strategies and plans
  review
• Developed 2 strategies (of rural tourism
  development SME support in mountainous areas)
  short term - 3-5 year and long-term - gt5 year
  plans
• Developed professional skills in tourism -
  trainings, exchanges
• Handbook for local authorities and development
  actors
• National conferences, workshops to discuss and
  exchange experience

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Carpathian project Skills development

• Trainings
• For tourism industry stakeholders in Greece
  (20 people)
• For members of households providing hospitality
  services
• Topics of trainings and consultationsRural
  tourism development Arranging the rural tourist
  householdHorse tourism Sustainable use of
  natural recourses for rural tourism development
  Community social development Fundraising and
  applying for grants.
• For local authorities and NGOs in Yaremche,
  2008 Development of rural tourism, Marketing
  in rural tourism
• For prospective inspectors of the Rural Green
  Tourism Network who are expected to certify
  private households providing hospitality services

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Carpathian Project

• Some outcomes/ impacts
• Established active network of rural tourism
  objects and stakeholders
• Increased number of households, which provide
  green tourism services (up to 20-30 annually)
• Introduced and widely supported voluntary system
  of categorization of accommodation places
• Increased role of local communities and private
  households in decision making on regional
  development
• Improved community socio-economical status
  (additional income).

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Partners of INTERREG IIIB CADSES Carpathian
Project

• Austria
• UNEP Vienna ISCC
• WWF DCP
• Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European
  Studies

• Poland
• RTI Polska
• Podkarpackie region
• UNEP GRID Warsaw
• Institute of Urban Development
• Institute of Spatial and Cadastral Systems

• Italy
• Retecamere
• EURAC

• Hungary
• Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Centre for
  Regional Studies
• CEEWEB

Greece Prefecture Authority of Drama - Kavala
Xanthi
Czech Republic University of Olomouc

• Slovakia
• REC Slovakia
• Academia Istropolitana Bratislava

Germany ISF Munich (Social Research Institute)
Ukraine Heifer-Ukraine
Romania Urbanproiect Bucharest
Carpathian Convention Secretariat, WGs
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Our partners in Carpathian region, Ukraine

• International orgs/ NGOs
• Union for Promotion of Rural Green Tourism
  Development in Ukraine (and its Lviv,
  Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia Centers)
• Lviv oblast center of green rural tourism
• NGO Halytski Oseli
• Kosiv raion Tourist Association Hutsuliya
• Regional NGO Hutslschynas Heritage
• NGO Nature
• Zakarpattia Association of Local Development
• Youth NGO Ecosfera

• Regional governmental institutions, public
  administrations
• Oblast (regional) state administrations in
  Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk,
• Administrations of protected areas National
  Nature Parks Hutsulschyna Skolivski Beskydy
  Regional Landscape Park

• Funding institutions
• European Commission Delegation to Ukraine
• Eurasia Fund

ASCs Gasda" Nelypinskiy" Promin" Silskiy
Hospodar" Fenix" Flora"
Local municipalities
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Other work of Heifer-Ukraine contributing to
sustainable use of natural resources

• Trainings on Agroecology
• Working together with the community of
  Trostianets village in Odesa region to improve
  the sanitary and environmental state of the local
  pond
• Vermiculture/ biogas/ compost components of
  current projects

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Planned Projects of Heifer-Ukraine in Carpathians

• Flood Rehabilitation project
• Payment of environmental services and other
  positive externalities (PESOPE) project under
  SARD-M cooperation
• European Mountain ABC Alpine experience-Balkan
  future-Carpathian opportunity project