Earth Day 2021: Restore Our Future
This year, the Ethiopian Environment and Sustainable Development Council (EESDC) and Greenland Development Foundation (GDF) invites you to celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 at 9:00am PDT
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85484099943
Let’s come together and work to mitigate the coming disasters of climate change and environmental degradation, and celebrate this beautiful rock we call home.
We have a line up of speakers who are experts in their fields, musical entertainment from 3rd Rock Hip Hop, followed by videos and discussion to contribute to this year’s theme, Restore Our Future.
AGENDA
Introduction of the Earth Day 2021: Environmental Degradation and Sustainable Natural Resources Management Dr. Badege Bishaw
Growing Together: Agroforestry in South Africa (video)
KEYNOTE Earth Day 2021: Where we've been - Where we're going Barry Simon
Gashaw Tahir Greenland Development Foundation (video)
Musical Interlude 3rd Rock Hip Hop
Semien Mountain Ecological Restoration Project: GDF and Debark University Partnership Prof. Tessema Zewdu
Climate change and its threat to humanity: Causes and mitigation strategies Dr. Negussie Nega
Taking Care of ourselves so we have the capacity to take care of the Earth David Raynr
GDF Menu Integrated project (video)
ETFF Acheber Tree Planting project (video or PowerPoint)
"Human Beings have a superpower: we can make promises and create out of our speaking with integrity" Dr. James Dohn
Ingibara Tree Planting and Watershed Management (Aynshet video) Congressman Jason Crow
Tree planting and food security Seifu Ibssa
Jenny Sherman will serve as MC for the Celebration
Conference Organizers and Hosts
Greenland Development Foundation (GDF)
Greenland Development Foundation (GDF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Los Angeles, California, established in 2006. GDF focuses its efforts on the alarming rate of environmental degradation in Ethiopia and beyond. GDF’s principal focus is to support and promote Ethiopia’s reforestation and food-sustainability movements. Currently, GDF has established a partnership with the Ethiopia American Civic Council (EACC), and the Alliance for Brain Gain and Innovation Development (ABIDE). GDF, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC) and the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Green Legacy Office, is responsible for bringing its partners together to promote the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative on a global scale. The collaboration’s main objectives are to promote the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative through reforestation, afforestation, and conservation and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Gashaw Tahir, the founder and CEO of GDF, is helping to plant millions of trees and increase awareness of environmental degradation in Ethiopia. In 2009, he was awarded the label ‘Green Hero’ by then Ethiopian President, the late Grma Wolde Georgis. His work has also been recognized by the White House and the G-20 Summit.
Ethiopian Environment and Sustainable Development Council (EESDC)
The Ethiopian Environment and Sustainable Development Council (EESDC) is a not-for-profit
incorporated in Oregon. EESDC’s mission is to harness the collective knowledge and experiences of professionals based in Ethiopia and contribute to the development and conservation of natural resources, improve agricultural production and rural economic growth of Ethiopia using environmentally sound, socially acceptable practices and economically viable ways through participatory processes and intergenerational sharing of resources. To achieve this mission, EESDC will: 1) conduct baseline studies on environmental and ecosystem services; 2) engage in strategic policy designs and action plans; 3) be involved in project development and fundraising, organize workshops and scientific conferences; 4) engage in pilot watershed restoration and management projects.
Dr. Badege Bishaw is the President of the EESDC and has over 30 years of experience in forestry and natural resource education, research, and outreach in the United States and Africa.
He has been involved in various international research and development projects in Ethiopia and
East and Southern Africa funded by the USAID and ICRAF.