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Group Exchanges
This section identifies opportunities for and examples of group exchanges and tours available to U.S. professionals and government officials. The following resources are provided below:
Case Highlight
Saving Salmon in Oregon and the Netherlands
In Oregon, salmon stocks witnessed a drastic decline from the late 1970s, such that the federal government was on the verge of listing coho salmon as an endangered species. Salmon in the Netherlands had experienced a similar decline, and the Dutch government instituted a green plan to comprehensively protect and rehabilitate the species, both up and downstream. "Green plans" are integrated, long-term strategies based on partnerships and stakeholder discussions that generate flexible, innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
The Resources Renewal Institute (RRI), with its long-term focus on Dutch green plans, sponsored a delegation of Oregon representatives to visit these initiatives in action. Already a pioneer in environmental management, Oregon built upon the exchange and implemented a green plan to recover salmon stocks.
The Oregon government engaged farmers, fishermen, timber companies, miners, officials and environmentalists to draft a bill that would protect the populations more holistically. Timber, fishing and mining industries contributed millions of dollars to the endeavor, and the partnership endured even after the coho was listed as 'threatened' under the Endangered Species Act in 1998. Implementation fell mostly to local government, businesses, and communities, and 81 watershed councils have been established in this effort. As of 2001, the coho salmon have seen an improvement in spawning numbers.
For more information, see RRI's case study of Oregon: On the Green Plan Path 
Case Studies
Chesapeake Bay - Netherlands Watershed Exchange
Eight officials representing local and state government, interstate commission, federal agencies, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation were invited to tour the Netherlands, an ecologically similar watershed. The delegations exchanged ideas and experiences, and concurred on the need for policy strategies to transcend agency divisions; the importance of addressing climate change; and the value of government collaboration with and engagement of the public. Some of the Dutch projects of interest to protecting the Chesapeake Bay included:
managing manure on farms; holding farmers responsible when runoff levels are exceeded
; burning poultry manure at "green" power plants; government promotion of green buildings; and stormwater filtration systems in urban areas.
German Marshall Fund Environmental Fellowship Program
The German Wuppertal Institute for Environment, Climate and Energy, and the Center for Clean Air Policy administered this program until 2002. The exchanged focused on transportation, energy policy and climate change. Each year, a group of Americans would travel to Europe, and vice versa. See this Web site to access the reports on work from 1997-2002.
New Zealand Research Exchange: Analysis of System Change
In 2000, twenty-six government, industry and non-profit leaders from California and other states traveled to New Zealand to learn its approach to sustainable environmental policy. According to the Resource Recovery Institute, the purpose of the visit was not to promote New Zealand's policies as a cure-all for problems in the United States, but rather, to show examples of this nation's innovative solutions to the same problems that persist in many American states.
The visit resulted in a report on New Zealand's environmental policy reforms and lessons California could learn. The Californians were particularly impressed by New Zealand's extensive, continuous stakeholder and public outreach that has ensured long-term policy survival. California also learned that New Zealand's reforms gave management of environmental policy to local and regional governments. Should California opt for local implementation it will require significant capacity and resources from the State government. Two California cabinet secretaries on the trip believed that the week's meetings and tours would inspire new and dynamic ideas in the way states, non-profits, and industry tackle environmental problems.
To learn more: Sumits, Andrea and Jason Morrison. "Creating a Framework for Sustainability in California: Lessons Learned from the New Zealand Experience. " Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security , December 2001.
Northern Virginia Regional Commission (PDF 31 pgs, 1.42M) (NVRC) - Verband Region Stuttgart, Germany, Cross-Cultural Exchange
Regional government and planning officials of both regions have conducted multiple cross-cultural, region-to-region exchanges since 1998. The two regions have an on-going partnership that will last at least until 2007. The sharing of information and experiences has influenced NVRC planning officials to include green roofs, LEED-certified architecture, bike lanes, and flex cars. NVRC Executive Director G. Mark Gibb wrote the EPA, “Other localities are implementing rooftop gardens, car sharing, new traffic calming techniques, open space planning, and town modeling as a result of our trip and information exchange. I think it is important to know that our international partnership is paying back with both interest and dividends.”
Potomac International Urban Watershed Management Exchange
In 2002, eight water management professionals from the Potomac Region visited several cities in Germany known for their urban environmental innovations. The team picked up lessons and ideas for strategies in urban watershed retrofitting, large-scale development, and green rooftops. Beyond the technical solutions, the integration of environmental awareness into city life and the public mentality made a deep impression. Notes the report, "In Germany, environmental considerations are like eggs in a cake. You would not consider making a cake without eggs and even further, the eggs are what bind together all the other ingredients."
On their return, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, and the Glynwood Center entered into a Cooperative Agreement to foster the exchange of knowledge at home and abroad, create opportunities for professional development of practitioners, integrate innovative approaches to stormwater and waste water management, and to educate, collaborate and cooperate in protecting the Potomac River.
For more information, contact the Glynwood Center .
RRI has been studying the most innovative and effective developments in the field of environmental policy for over a decade. At its core is a focus on "green plans" - integrated, comprehensive, long-term strategies. Explore the green plans of states and countries on this site. To deepen exchange between U.S. leaders and foreign counterparts, RRI has also sponsored Seeing is Believing tours and the Green Plan Leadership Program. While current funding for Seeing is Believing tours is unavailable, RRI may be able to guide a tour to an European country or New Zealand. .
Transatlantic Environmental Exchange on Transportation
Sponsored by the Center for Clean Air Policy and the Heinrich Böll Foundation , delegates from departments of environment, nongovernmental organizations, and industries in Maryland and Germany held a transportation brainstorming session on smart growth and transportation. They also conducted study-tours of both locations. Together, the teams developed recommendations to improve Baltimore's transit system, and exchanged experiences on regional responses to urban sprawl, brownfields, and watershed protection. This later blossomed into the Maryland-Schleswig Holstein Partnership, a collaboration that promises to exchange information, data, and technical expertise. Of particular interest are the subjects of smart growth, green buildings, brownfields, watershed management and renewable energy. Already, Maryland is developing two wind farms.
Group Exchange Opportunities
Group exchanges are harder to fund, and generally require a more long-term partnership with sponsoring organizations. Many organizations and foreign government bureaus may not have a formal program for exchanges, but will give grants for appropriate proposals. Below are some of the permanent programs. Many organizations and foreign government bureaus may not have a formal program for group exchanges, but will give grants for appropriate proposals. Below are some of the permanent programs
Energie-Cites Study Tour
During two days, Energie-Cités will take you to any of 12 European member-cities. Tours include site visits as well as meetings with local political and technical stakeholders. These study tours are specifically intended for elected representatives and municipal officers in charge of energy matters and town planning and environmental issues (30 persons as a max. per visit). A typical visit is provided for each town or city, but can be customized to suit your needs and expectations.
Glynwood Center Countryside Exchange
Countryside Exchange sends teams of professionals - experts in community planning, conservation, and economic development - into selected communities. The objective is to help these communities achieve economic well-being while retaining a vibrant culture, community, and environment. Through 2001, over 700 teams of professionals have served more than 80 communities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. A full year before the visit, Glynwood staff members begin selecting communities and team members; selected communities must form a local organizing committee. Following the exchange, the team must present its observations and recommendations, which the local committee spearheads to fulfill the project and community's objectives.
Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership - Intellectual Exchange
This program promotes collaboration among scholars and policymakers to encourage global partnerships between Japan, the United States, and other countries of the world. Funding is provided for projects that involve policy-oriented, individual research, as well as group dialogues that exchange the experiences and opinions of experts in various fields. Through this exchange, CGP seeks to promote sustainable development and increase the economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region. The following are priority areas in sustainable development: environmental governance, the impact of new technology on sustainable development, and economic globalization and sustainable development. The Center funds nonprofit organizations that are run collaboratively between Japan and the United States. For more information, please see "Grant Application Guidelines" under the Web site.
Sustainable Sweden Tours
These tours offer a program of study visits to examples of sustainable development in Sweden, a country with decades of environmental innovation experience. For instance, the city of Umea, Sweden, has a power plant fueled completely by the community's solid waste. The ten-day tour also includes seminars with pioneers in the sustainability movement, cultural events and open forums.
The International Transit Studies Program (ITSP)
ITSP, funded by Department of Transportation (DOT), leads study missions to visit exemplary transit operations in other countries, providing opportunities for learning from foreign experiences with new ideas or unique approaches to handling public transit challenges. Cities to be visited are chosen for their innovation and unique approaches in handling transportation challenges. Lessons learned and discussions of policies and practices that could be applied in the U.S. are documented in TCRP's Research Results Digest. Study missions normally are conducted in the spring and fall of each year. Teams typically consist of 14 individuals - a senior transit general manager designated as team leader, 12 participants, and a representative of the ITSP contractor team responsible for the smooth operation of the mission.
- In addition, an in-depth 2-year study resulted in a major 200-page report in 2001: Making Transit Work - Insight from Western Europe, Canada, and the United States . This report was prepared for policy makers searching for ways to boost public transit use in U.S. urban areas and wishing to know what can be learned from the experiences of Canada and Western Europe. To view the on-line version at Order TCRP Publications .