Biopolis – Sustainable Urban Development 2011
As director of an environmental NGO, the materials covered in the course module are very much related to my work. The course introduced me to a number of new concepts and tools in urban environmental management and helped me to give heed to concepts and aspects of the environment which I would not have given attention to. The most valuable aspects of the course are the way it is organized and delivered. Although it is e-learning, it has a feeling of a course delivered in a classroom. Consequently, it can reach and transfer knowledge to a large number of people around the world. I use the concepts discussed in the course materials in my day-to-day work. Moreover, I use the concepts discussed in the new projects I develop and to revise some projects already developed by incorporating the new concepts I am introduced to as a result of this course. Moreover, I use the ideas in the training and awareness raising workshops I organize. In the future, I would like to suggest, if it is possible, to organize sessions and group discussions via internet and to make the discussion forums lively. I suggest that B.I.O. raise issues on a weekly basis, which participants could discuss and share their experience. Solomon Desalegne, Executive Director, Clean and Green Addis Ababa Society, Ethiopia
The course addressed important issues in the area of sustainable urban development. It is fortunate that some of the material covered in the module helped me revise and update the course on Urban Environment Management that I am providing. Thus, I will incorporate some of the course materials in the course offered by my institute. Hayal Desta Yimer, Lecturer, Addis Ababa University, EiABC, Ethiopia
Green Salary 2010-2011
This course material will help me in different ways. But above all, given the current situation of our world (climate change), it will now be possible for me to see the diverse impacts of climate change and the possible options that we have to tackle the problem. Since my organization focuses on the environment and on policies, strategies, laws and regulations that incorporate the issue of climate change, the course will be important in examining different ideas and measures that must be taken to address the problem while developing environmental and climate related laws. The most valuable aspect of the course is that it is enriched with timely and hot issues of climate change and that everybody is urged to contribute to cleaner production, green employment and to green development overall. Hilina Getachew Belete, Environmental Legal Expert, Ethiopia
As an employee of an Environmental Protection Authority, the course is of so much help for my job. We introduce and review projects of Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). The ones mentioned in the course will give us new ideas in terms of future CDM projects. Wengelawit Tadesse Teklemichael, Legal Assistant, Federal Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopia
The course discloses how employment and environment and also natural resources issues are interdependent. It perfectly teaches me how one country’s unemployed work force can engage in the protection of the environment and make money from it. This course especially can apply to our county where there is a large unemployment rate and a large amount of environmental degradation. The course assists me to look for the best way of reducing our country’s unemployment rate through protecting our environment. I will struggle to mainstream these issues in our country’s legal and policy structure as I am legal personnel. Just like the natural recourses course, the most valuable aspect of the course was providing examples of many countries good experiences and helping me to contrast my country’s status. I am now competent to integrate the lesson I learnt from this course into the country’s developmental and environmental policies, strategies and law. Thank you very much!! Shelemat Tesfaye Junfesa, Environmental Legal Expert, Federal Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopia
Natural Resources 2010
I have found the material covered in the course to be very important in my work. It will help me consider natural resources, their formation, quality, degradation, pollution, contamination, etc. Since my background is social science, I will now be able to entertain and consider the physical aspect of natural resources in the law making process, so that I will be able to help my organization prepare a well built and all-inclusive natural resource law. And, also, now I can give constructive policy advice for my organization with regard to natural resources and their sustainable use. The most valuable aspect of this course is that it will give guidance on how to use natural resources wisely and sustainably. I am now able to incorporate this aspect of the course in natural recourse policy, law, regulations and directives. Hilina Getachew Belete, Environmental Legal Expert, Ethiopia
As an employee of an Environmental Protection Authority, the course is of much help for my activities in my job. Wengelawit Tadesse Teklemichael, Legal Assistant, Federal Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopia
It is a great pleasure to be enrolled in this excellent course and learn about the different aspects of natural resources. The course perfectly covered the basic natural resources problems and their combating techniques. The course perfectly helped me to look at how sustainably managed natural resources can help a country’s development. So I will insist and push decision makers and government officials in my country to give due regard to natural resource conservation and their sustainable use. The most valuable aspect of the course is that it provided examples from many countries that sustainably mange their natural resources which can help me to grasp useful methods of how to incorporate sustainable natural resource management in the current environmental, forest, and water policy of my country. Thank you very much!! Shelemat Tesfaye Junfesa, Environmental Legal Expert, Federal Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopia
Sustainable Agriculture 2010
The material covered in the course module will help me to consider the practice of sustainable agriculture in the EU which in return will contribute input in preparing and drafting environmental laws in my country. The most valuable topic of this course for me was the one which dealt with Organic Agriculture and Farming (Chapter 2). I am now thinking of using the material as significant input in preparing and drafting future laws on agriculture. Hilina Getachew Belete, Federal Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia
It helps me to know about European sustainable agricultural systems. As an employee of an Environmental Protection Authority, it is a great asset for me to know about other countries’ experiences. Wengelawit TadesseTeklemichael, Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority
It reveals most European countries’ sustainable agriculture systems. It is a great help for a developing country like ours to be able to compare and identify the best sustainable agricultural practices. As an environmental policy maker, I will try to absorb the lessons I have learnt from this course and apply them to our country’s agricultural system. Thank you very much. Shelemat Tesfaye Junfesa, Environmental Legal Expert, Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopia
Sustainable Forest Protection and Management 2011-2013
The course addressed the important issues in the area of Sustainable Forest Protection and Management. It is fortunate that the material covered in the module helped me to revise and update the course on “Soil and forest conservation” that I am teaching. Thus, I will incorporate the course material, especially the sections on forest conservation, in my institute. Hayal Desta Yimer, Lecturer, Addis Ababa University, EiABC, Ethiopia
As director of an environmental NGO, the material covered in the course module is very much related to my work. It introduced me to a number of new concepts and tools in sustainable forest management, especially in relation to urban areas, and helped me to become acquainted with concepts and aspects of the environment which I would not have given attention to. The most valuable aspect of the course was the way in which it is organized and delivered. Although it is an e-learning course, it has a classroom feeling to it. In this way, it can reach and transfer knowledge to a large number of people around the world. I use the concepts discussed in the course materials in my day to day work. Moreover, I use the concepts discussed in the new projects I develop and in revising some projects already developed by incorporating the new concepts I am introduced to as a result of this course. I also use the ideas in the training and awareness raising workshops I organize. In the future, if it is possible to organize sessions and group discussions via the internet (eg Skype), I suggest that the Biopolitics International Organisation raise issues on a weekly basis which participants could discuss and share their experiences. Solomon Desalegne, Executive Director, Clean and Green Addis Ababa Society, Ethiopia
