GRID-Arendal: Annual Report 2012

sustainability of biofuels as a cornerstone for a Green Economy. Case studies from around the world are highlighted to exemplify possible approaches, les- sons learned, risks and opportunities. • GRID-Arendal participated with an exhibition stand at the Sustainable Destinations Conference organized by Innovasjon Norge in Røros in January. The mes- sage of the Minister of Commerce that Norway is aim- ing to become the most sustainable tourist destina- tion in the world may give GRID-Arendal opportunities for closer cooperation with Innovasjon Norge, which handles most of the tourism budget of the Ministry. In the context of identifying further cases of tour- ism supporting protected areas (Linking Tourism & Conservation (LT&C)) GRID-Arendal had established valuable relationships to “Responsible Travel”, a spe- cialized British travel agency, which connects to hun- dreds of LT&C cases and provides annual awards for most responsible travel destinations and companies. • From 23 to 28 April 2012, 21 young people from 15 European countries participated in the Wadden Sea Climate Training, and got the opportunity to experi- ence first-hand the world’s most important inter-tidal zone on the frontline of climate change. The training, organised by the British Council in collaboration with experts from GRID-Arendal and with the support of Youth in Action, was held in Langeness, a low-lying island in the Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer National Park (Germany).

the workshop were: to increase capacities of officials concerning WFD requirements, with the specific fo- cus on monitoring; to exchange knowledge and ex- periences between EU and non-EU riparian countries (e.g. Slovakia, Ukraine, Austria); to share procedures and lessons learned in the Danube River Basin and its tributaries; to provide key tools and methods for increasing preparedness and response in cases of emergency (e.g. the Danube River Basin, Lake Con- stance); and to strengthen cooperation between the Druksiai Lake Basin protagonists. Green Economy and Sustainable Tourism • In early 2012, methodological and educational mate- rial on payment for ecosystem services was published as part of the Vital Graphics series The publication highlights the concept and selected market segments relating to payments for ecosystem services and em- phasises the role natural capital can play in both en- vironmental conservation and in poverty alleviation. It also highlights the potential benefits of ecosystem- based economic development in an accessible, non- technical manner. • A second publication in the vital graphics series was produced jointly with UNEP early in the year, the Bio- fuels Vital Graphics. The report – which was present- ed at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE in January 2012 – visualizes opportunities, the need for safeguards, and the options that help ensure

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