April 21, 2011
Volume Two, Issue Sixteen
USAID Celebrates Earth Day
Happy Earth Day! This year Earth Day coincides with the United Nations International Year of Forests.
Today, USAID proudly celebrates more than 30 years of supporting projects to promote forest conservation in ways that reduce poverty, combat climate change, and recognize the economic, cultural, and ecological benefits for sustainable development.
Be sure to read Administrator Rajiv Shah's Statement on the Celebration of Earth Day and Assistant Administrator Eric Postel's Earth Day Blog post to learn more about how USAID's work in forest conservation is helping people in the developing world.
DC Details
Disability Inclusive Development
Donald Steinberg, Charlotte McClain-Nhalpo, and Judith Heumann. Photo credit: Pat Adams, USAID
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This week, USAID hosted a listening session and panel discussion about disability inclusive development. This is a topic of importance to USAID and the administration. The event was an opportunity for key stakeholders from the disability community to come together with senior U.S. officials responsible for disability issues to discuss ways in which they could work together toward their common goals.
The panel was chaired by USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg who opened the event and signaled that USAID is poised to lead in disability inclusive development.
Panelists included Judith Heumann, special advisor for International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State, and Charlotte McClain- Nhlapo, coordinator for Disability Inclusive Development, USAID. The panelists were joined by two guest speakers - USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero.
From the Field
Trekking through Nepal
USAID partnered with the World Wildlife Fund on a unique event to highlight the impacts of global climate change on the Himalayas. The Green Hiker-Green Planet Campaign, which includes a four day trek through the Langtang area in Nepal's Sacred Himalayan Landscape, brings together individuals from a variety of sectors to increase awareness and spur joint action on conservation, climate change advocacy, and preparedness.
Nepal is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change - highlighted by rapidly melting glaciers, changing rain patterns, deforestation and air pollution - issues that the participants will be seeing firsthand during the four day trek. The team has already observed the impact of climate change on Nepali communities and witnessed community initiatives to adapt to climate change, such as community seed banks, farmer schools, and "water smart" initiatives.
Bits from the Blog
Planting Trees in Memory of Haitian Earthquake Victims
Students and chaperones carry their seedlings to a ceremony in the forest. The group planted 2,000 of the 300,000 seedlings iin memory of earthquake victims. Photo credit: Kendra Helmer, USAID
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In the mountains south of Port-au-Prince, there is little evidence of the earthquake that devastated the capital city last year. The mountains suffer from a different kind of damage: decades of deforestation.
Haitian schoolchildren participating in a USAID project recently hiked into Parc National La Visite on a dual-purpose mission. About 40 kids, who live in quake-devastated neighborhoods, trekked into one of the country's last natural habitats to fight deforestation while also commemorating those killed.
USAID is partnering with a non-governmental organization, Fondation Seguin, to plant 300,000 pine and cedar seedlings in the national park.
Joseph, who has lived in a tent with his mother and siblings since the earthquake destroyed their home, delighted in the mountain air.
"Before sleeping, my friends and I were talking about this place which feels like paradise, because when you live the way we do, a place like this is paradise even though we know that paradise is more beautiful," he said. "We couldn't wait for the next morning to plant trees for those who died."
Read the full post and see a video from the event on the USAID ImpactBlog.
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