Current and Upcoming Equator Initiative Events

Past Equator Initiative Events

1 October 2007 Energy and Climate Change Forum: North and South Perspectives – This timely forum was held at the Fordham Law School, and was hosted by the Sustainable Development Legal Initiative of the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice. Participants highlighted and discussed the UN response to climate change and the opportunities that exist and challenges faced in effectively utilizing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency to meet climate change goals.

May - June 2007 Equator Prize Celebrations in UNDP Country Offices – Over the past two months many of the Equator Prize finalists were honored by their UNDP country offices and partners. These communities were recognized for their innovative efforts at the intersection of community development and biodiversity conservation. The ceremonies were held to coincide with worldwide celebrations of the International Day for Biological Diversity and World Environment Day.

5 June World Environment Day – A series of events was held at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin, Germany, addressing the theme “Biodiversity, Climate Change and Community Action: A Message for Our Future.” Hosted by UNDP Equator Initiative, the CBD Secretariat and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), participants from governments, business, communities and civil society attended a press conference conveying a message to the G8 summit convening 6-9 June 2007 in Heiligendamm, Germany, a policy dialogue focusing on strategic opportunities and priority actions for G8 members and global leaders to build upon synergies between the climate change and biodiversity agendas, and the Equator Prize award ceremony and dinner.

23 May 2007 A Dialogue for the Future: Indigenous Entrepreneurship - Successes and Challenges – During the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues the Equator Initiative hosted a dialogue in partnership with Aveda, Tribal Link Foundation, the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme, and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  The dialogue focused on indigenous entrepreneurship with participation from indigenous representatives, the private sector, business leaders, academics, donors, and policy-makers and was held at the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

22 May 2007 UNDP Celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity – The Equator Initiative gathered to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity by holding a press conference to officially announce the winners of the Equator Prize. The press conference also served as a way to discuss the importance of climate change, environmental sustainability and biodiversity loss.

22 May 2007 Aveda Honors Equator Prize Winners – To continue celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity, the Equator Initiative, AVEDA and Tribal Link foundation held a reception to recognize the important role indigenous peoples play in the sustainable use of biodiversity. The evening served to formally announce the Equator Prize winners and spark conversation amongst guests about the importance of environmental awareness. 

Spring 2007 Fordham Lecture Series – (Mis)conceptions and Changing Perceptions – The Role of Markets, Education and the Media –  This three-part lecture series explored the myths and realities, perceptions and misconceptions, surrounding the environment vs. development debate, from the role of the media and the marketing of the environment in the developing world, to the importance of education in promoting a better understanding of role of the environment in social and economic development. The series is an initiative of Fordham University, an institution founded in the Jesuit tradition of pursuing open intellectual discourse for the betterment of our world, The Nature Conservancy, and the Equator Initiative program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

14 March 2007 Announcement of Equator Prize Finalists at Equator Initiative Board Dinner – The Equator Initiative partners, hosted by the German Mission, BMZ, and UNDP, gathered to celebrate the announcement of the finalists for the Equator Prize and the launch of the MDG Poster Book and online toolkit. The event also recognized the endowment of the Philippine Kalinga Women’s Microfinance Program through a generous donation facilitated by TribalLink.

9 September 2006 – Dropping Knowledge: Table of Free Voices – Seven Equator Prize finalist community representatives participated in Dropping Knowledge’s Table of Free Voices in Berlin. These community representatives provided the community/grassroots perspective for this one-day event that aimed to harness the knowledge of 120 experts from all over the world in various fields. Participants answered 101 questions asked by people from all over the world on the most pressing issues of our time. Dropping Knowledge has recorded all 11,200 answers given on that day and has used them to launch a global knowledge portal and dialog forum.

7 – 8 September 2006 – Community Knowledge Service Workshop – The Equator Initiative, in partnership with Ecoagriculture Partners, hosted a two-day consultative workshop with a small but diverse group of stakeholders to design a strategy for developing and implementing a Community Knowledge Service to support community action to enhance livelihoods while conserving biodiversity. This workshop is the latest step in the effort by the UNDP Equator Initiative and partners to develop of an International Community Knowledge Service for biodiversity conservation and enhanced livelihoods. The workshop brought together twelve community representatives with ten partners to design a framework for the Knowledge Service. The group identified initial pilot activities and established guidelines for the governance of the process by a core group of community-based collaborators and partners. 

5 - 6 September 2006 – GTZ Eschborn Dialogue: Knowledge Powers Development – Sharing experience, shaping the future – The Equator Initiative participated in this two-day policy dialogue in Eschborn, Germany, hosted by partner institution GTZ. Equator Initiative staff and four representatives from communities actively involved with the program gave presentations during a session on Knowledge in Development: Developing Capacity to Design Processes of Change. The Equator Initiative’s contribution focused, in particular, on the role of community knowledge and the importance of opportunities for communities to learn from each other and share experiences in order to develop locally appropriate and sustainable solutions to the hardships caused by poverty and a degraded environment. Community representatives Esther Mwaura-Muiru of GROOTS Kenya; Livingstone Makuleke from the Maluleke Community, South Africa; Donato Bumacas from the Kalinga Mission in the Philippines; and Benson Venegas from the Talamanca Initiative, Costa Rica, shared their experiences with the documentation and sharing of community knowledge and gave personal accounts of how capacity development can shorten innovation times and lead to creative solutions for sustainable development.

Spring 2006 Fordham Lecture Series – People and the Environment: The Role of Environment in Poverty Alleviation – This four- part lecture series will explore the environment as both the "cause of" and "way out" for people living in poverty. It is intended to establish a dialogue and information exchange among policy makers, indigenous peoples and their advocates, academics, business leaders, authors, and the general public. The series is an initiative of Fordham University, an institution founded in the Jesuit tradition of pursuing open intellectual discourse for the betterment of our world, The Nature Conservancy, and the Equator Initiative program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

18-31 March 2006 The Community Taba: Local Voices for a Global Vision - 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Building on the success of previous community dialogue spaces, the Equator Initiative and partners will host the Community Taba in Curitiba, Brazil as part of the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 8), happening March 20 - 31st, 2006. The Community Taba will highlight grassroots sustainable development victories, focus on the challenges faced by community-led action around the world, and foster an enabling environment for community participation in achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target as well as the Millennium Development Goals for 2015.

19-21 October 2005 Pastoralist Manyatta - World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP) organized an official side event at the UNCCD COP 7 that consisted of a “community-led space” where pastoral leaders discussed issues of relevance to sustainable pastoral development and rangeland management, and engaged in dialogue with government delegates at the COP. Co-organized and funded by UNDP-GEF and IUCN, and modeled after the very successful “Community Boma” organized by the Equator Initiative.

4-25 September 2005 The Equator Initiative is showcased at Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan. The Equator Initiative's work is highlighted in a special display on biodiversity and development issues at the UN Pavilion during this global event. It is expected that up to 150,000 visitors per day will visit the Expo 2005 site.

16-18 June 2005 The Community Commons. The Equator Initiative partnership is pleased to join with Fordham University to present the Community Commons - a community dialogue space to address local approaches to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Community Commons will be held at the Rose Hill (Bronx) campus of Fordham and will see 150 community representatives travel to New York for an intense period of exchange on the topics most critical to reducing global poverty and achieving sustainability. The Community Commons will provide policy-relevant inputs to September's Millennium Review Summit and will add critical local voices and perspectives to this important global event.

25-27 May 2005 Latin America Regional Exchange Workshop – The Equator Initiative, regional community representatives, and partners gather for an intensive examination of community experiences at the interface of biodiversity and poverty issues, with a special focus on promoting peer learning and learning exchange. Merida, Mexico.

20 May 2005 "Indigenous Conservation and Poverty Reduction Experiences: Grassroots Lessons for Achieving the MDGs." The Equator Initiative and Conservation International are pleased to present this official side event to the 2005 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The panel presentation and discussion will feature speakers from indigenous communities working to reduce poverty through the conservation of biodiversity. The panelists will speak on their work and on the relationship between indigenous peoples and the MDGs. The event will take place from 1:15-2:45 p.m. in Conference Room 9 in the Secretariat Building of United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

22 April 2005 Equator Initiative CSD-13 Side Event. This official side event to the 13th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development will feature speakers from Equator Prize-winning communities in Costa Rica (Benson Venegas Robison of the Talamanca Initiative) and the Philippines (Donato Bumacas of KAMICYDI). The title of the event is "Communities, Conservation and Poverty Reduction: Grassroots Perspectives on the MDGs". The side event will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

21 April 2005 Fordham University Guest Lecture by Equator Prize Laureates. The Equator Initiative was pleased that Fordham University invited two remarkable representatives of Equator Prize finalist organizations - Mr. Benson Venegas (Costa Rica) and Mr. Donato Bumacas (Philippines) - to speak to students during the recent UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Both Venegas and Bumacas are community representatives to the Equator Initiative Board. During their several hours with a Fordham International Politics class, they were able to speak on their experiences in the field and give the students a sense of the challenges they face in bridging the gap between conservation and development at the local level.

18 April 2005 "Growing the Equator Initiative - A Partnership for Community Conservation and Poverty Reduction". An evening reception - held in conjunction with the 13th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development - to launch "Equator Ventures" and welcome Fordham University to the Equator Initiative partnership. To be held at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, 871 UN Plaza (1st Avenue at 49th Street), New York City.

3 March 2005 Community Action 2015 Brownbag Seminar Series –"Disasters to Development: Grassroots Women's Solutions to Disaster Management". Equator Prize 2004 finalists, Garifuna Emergency Committee, speak on their work to cope with, and reduce vulnerability to, natural disasters in Honduras. United Nations Headquarters, New York City.

2 March 2005 CSD 13 Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting Partnership Fair – The Equator Initiative participates in the preparatory meeting for the 13th United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development with a presence at the partnership fair in the United Nations Secretariat, New York City

28 February 2005 CSD 13 Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting Presentation - Charles McNeill, Senior UNDP Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction Advisor, speaks about the Equator Initiative and its work during a special session of the preparatory meeting for the 13th United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. United Nations Headquarters, New York City

23 February 2005 Equator Initiative Brownbag Seminar - "Biodiversity and the Bottom Line". Christine Eibs-Singer, Executive Director and COO of E+Co, a non profit pioneer in the practice of pro-poor business and investment at the local level, speaks about 10 years of lessons learnt and emerging models in the green SME investment sector. Jennifer Morgan (Conservation Internationl) and Philipp Kauffmann (UNDP Equator Initiative) introduce Equator Ventures - the new biodiversity SME investment program being launched by the Equator Initiative.

24 January 2005 Fordham Lectures: "Conserving Biodiversity in the Developing World" – Sean Southey joins Isabella Rossellini and other notable speakers in a panel discussion on "The Power of One: Social Entrepreneurship and Conservation" - the first of Fordham University's International Political Economy and Development Lectures, New York City, NY

6 - 14 January 2005 The Equator Initiative and partners present the Community Vilaj - a dialogue space for local voices - at the 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States (BPoA+10) in Port Louis, Mauritius.

11 January 2005 The Equator Initiative co-hosts the Community Action 2015 Brownbag Seminar Series –"Hope After Disasters: How Emergencies can Become Development Opportunities". Hank Shannon Room, 21st Floor, DC1 Building, New York, NY

17 - 25 November 2004 The Equator Initiative at the World Conservation Forum (3 rd IUCN World Conservation Congress) Bangkok, Thailand. Presenting the Community Mubaan - a dialogue space to recognize communities as a vital driving force of sustainable development.

27 October 2004 Red Sky at Morning – A celebration of former UNDP Administrator Gus Speth's new book on the crisis of the global environment, UN Headquarters, New York City

25 September - 1 October 2004 The Equator Initiative and partners present the Community Shamba - a learning hub for grassroots ecoagriculture innovators - at the International Ecoagriculture Conference & Practitioners Fair in Nairobi, Kenya.

9 May - 26 September 2004 The Equator Initiative at the Barcelona Forum 2004. This international event sees the Equator Initiative host a Showcase Exhibition on biodiversity and conservation and sponsor an international Dialogue on conservation and poverty, Barcelona, Spain.

8 -10 September 2004 World Culture Open Global Festival 2004 – The Equator Initiative partners with the World Culture Open to Support a Global Festival to Showcase Humanity at its Best, New York and Seoul, Korea.

20 -23 June 2004 4th Regional Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum for S. E. Asia, Manila, Philippines

9 -11 June 2004 4th Regional Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum for Africa: Biodiversity and Livelihoods in Africa - Delivering on the Millennium Development Goals, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

10 June 2004 National Equator Prize Awards Ceremony to Honour Namibian Equator Prize 2004 Winners, Windhoek, Namibia

5 June 2004 National Equator Prize Awards Ceremony to honour Costa Rican finalsit Monte Alto, San Jose, Costa Rica.

20 May 2004 UNDP CBI Lunch Seminar Series - “Grassroots Action and Innovation for Sustainable Development: Stories from Equator Prize-Winning Communities". Featuring Equator Prize winners from Colombia (Proyecto Nasa), India (GREEN Foundation), and Namibia (Torra Conservancy). UNDP Headquarters, New York City

19 May 2004 "Learning from Community Action: Biodiversity and the Millennium Development Goals" - A Global Dialogue to be held at the German Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York City. (To include presentations by Equator Prize 2004 winners from Namibia, Colombia, and India)

18 May 2004 UNDP Equator Initiative / Civil Society Organizations Division Side Event on "Local Action: Indigenous Peoples and the MDGs", at the 3rd Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Headquarters, New York City

6 May 2004 National Awards Ceremony to Recognize Philippino Equator Prize 2004 Finalists, KAMICYDI -Makati City, Philippines

3 May 2004 Grand Festival to Honour Colombian Equator Prize Winners "Proyecto Nasa". Toribio, Colombia.

23 April 2004 UNDP CBI Lunch Seminar Series - “Community Action, Water Governance and the MDGs”: Featuring Equator Prize Winners, Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme.

22 April, 2004 Opening of the "Focus on Nature" Exhibition, UN Visitors Lobby / Earth Day GEO Photo Exhibit – "Focus on Nature"

18 April 2004 IIED Meeting on "The work of the Urban Poor Federations at the Commission on Sustainable Development" (9:00am - 1:00pm)

14-30 April 2004 Commission on Sustainable Development, 12th Session (CSD-12) - New York

13 April, 2004 – Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee comes to the UN

9 - 20 February 2004 7th Conference of the Parties (COPVII) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Equator Prize 2004 Awards Ceremony, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

5 - 20 February 2004 Community Kampung at the COP7 to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

19 February 2004 Equator Prize 2004 Awards Ceremony, to be held at the 7 th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

18 December 2003 Equator Initiative / Community Based Initiative Seminar on Ecoagricultural Lessons from the Equator Prize Experience, UN Headquarters, New York

25-30 November 2003 ExpoAmbiente Centroamericana, Panama City, Panama

18 November 2003 IIED Conference - The Millennium Development Goals and Local Processes. Canada House, London

20 October 2003 Community Based Initiative / NetAid Lunch Seminar, UN Headquarters, New York

5 – 7 September 2003 The Global Biodiversity Forum, Cancun, Mexico

8 - 17 September 2003 World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa

10 - 14 September 2003 Fifth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, Cancun, Mexico

13 - 18 July 2003 Learning from Community Action to Realize the Millennium Development Goals: Biodiversity and HIV/AIDS, Nairobi, Kenya

16 - 18 June 2003 Global Biodiversity Forum and Sustainable Livelihoods Workshop, Dhaka, Bangladesh

5 June 2003 World Environment Day, Berlin, Germany

22 - 23 May 2003 2010 - The Global Biodiversity Challenge: A Major Meeting to Identify and Articulate the Connections Between Biodiversity Loss and Poverty and Chart a Course to Sustainability. London, United Kingdom

1 May 2003 Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) 11: Presentation on the Equator Initiative - A Partnership for Sustainable Communities in the Tropics.

26 - 27 April 2003 Earthday NY, Grand Central Station, New York, USA.

10 March 2003 Equator Initiative Research and Learning Agendas, Convention on Biological Diversity SBSTTA Side Event, Montreal, Canada.

2 - 4 March 2003 Biodiversity After Johannesburg: The Critical Role of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services in Achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, Zoological Society of London, London, UK.

7 November 2002 Biodiversity and the Millennium Development Goals: Opportunities and Challenges from Johannesburg Seminar, New York, USA

17 October2002 Equator Initiative supports global commemorations of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

30 August 2002 Equator Prize 2002 Ceremony, Johannesburg, South Africa

26 August 2002 The Equator Initiative at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa

20 August - 5 September 2002 Community Kraal at the WSSD in Johannesburg

5 June 2002 UNDP/Equator Initiative Side Event: Communities Make the Difference, WSSD PrepCom IV, Bali, Indonesia.

22 May 2002 Biodiversity and the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals Seminar, New York, USA.

April 17, 2002 Equator Initiative Side Event: Sustainable Community Livelihoods and WSSD, 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, The Hague, Netherlands.

26 April 2002 Equator Initiative Technical Workshop, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

25 April 2002 The Brazilian Launch of the Equator Initiative, Sao Paulo, Brazil

26 March 2002 Food Security and Wild Biodiversity Workshop,
WSSD PrepCom III, New York, USA.

25 March 2002 Panel Discussion on Developing New Partnerships to Link Food Security and Wild Biodiversity Conservation, WSSD PrepCom III, New York, USA.

20 March 2002 Biodiversity and the Poor Seminar, Zoological Society of London, London, UK.

19 March 2002 Equator Initiative EUROPEAN LAUNCH and Symposium, London, UK

30 January 2002 The Initiative Launch Event