Rio+20: UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will take place on June 20 – 22, 2012 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Fifty thousand participants are expected this year, including government representatives, inter-governmental organizations (such as the UN and the World Bank), NGOs and business sectors. The conference is held once every decade. The theme of this year\’s conference is building a green economy to achieve sustainable development and combating poverty, while improving international cooperation for sustainable development.
KKL-JNF representatives will participate at the conference as part of Israel\’s official delegation along with Mr. Gilad Erdan, Israel\’s Minister of Environmental Protection, and Israel\’s ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Rafi Eldad. KKL-JNF\’s delegation to the conference includes Dr. Orr Karassin, a member of the KKL-JNF Board of Director, Mr. David Brand, KKL-JNF Chief Forester, Mr. Itzik Moshe, Deputy Director of KKL-JNF\’s Southern Region, Ms. Alejandra Kadden of KKL-JNF\’s Latin American Desk and Mr. Michael Edri, KKL-JNF emissary to Latin America.
During the conference, KKL-JNF will be displaying its diverse fields of activity at the Israeli pavilion, including a video clip on KKL-JNF\’s achievements in the field of sustainable development along with various publications related to subjects being discussed at the conference.
KKL-JNF will also hold a Sustainable Development Learning Center workshop on "Water harvesting and afforestation as a means to rehabilitate degraded lands."
Ms. Gerda Verburg, former Minister of Agriculture of the Netherlands will be the opening speaker, and KKL-JNF\’s David Brand and Itzhak Moshe will speak about advanced practices for gully control and afforestation in semi-arid environments; and tree improvement – traditional and new methods for selection and propagation of drought resistant species, including nursery principles and practices for producing quality saplings; and means and measures of dealing with invasive species.
Dr. Tony Simmons of the World Agroforestry Center in Kenya will be joining the panel.
In addition, the KKL-JNF delegation will be participating in a number of community events in cooperation with the local KKL-JNF bureau.