Press release: two Summer Schools organized by Tropenzentrum

Tropenzentrum, Georg-August-Univesität Göttingen, Germany is organizing two international Summer Schools in Goettingen funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)/BMZ, for the graduates of German universities from around the world. Each Summer School has 25 participants coming from 29 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand and Venezuela.

The theme of the Summer School of the German Forestry Alumni Network (GAForN), which is starting from 21 September - 2 October 2009 is dealing with the multiple demands in forestry sector underpinning the conflicts between profit-oriented forest management and conservation of the ecosystem. While the economic and social values of biodiversity in the tropics are covered in the second Summer School, which is beginning on 27 September to 5 October 2009 in Goettingen. The participants of the Biodiversity Summer School will visit the Tropentag 2009 in Hamburg from 6-8 October 2009.

GAForN Summer School is aimed at German graduates who are involved in responsible position in forestry or related profession. Participants of this Summer School will discuss the latest research relating to future development of multi-functional forest management strategies. Under the major title "Reconciling Competing Demands and Meeting the Challenges of Global Changes" is among other relevant themes, the problem of monocultures, the role of forests in international CO2 trading, the wood as an energy resource and the access of smallholders to international markets will be discussed. The summer school will help initiate new joint research projects in the German Forestry Alumni Network (GAForN). The network was established in 2007 with the joint partnership between Tropenzentrum and the University of Dresden, and coordinated by Tropenzentrum, University of Goettingen.

The Summer School on "Conservation and Management of Biodiversity in the Tropics," focuses on the economic aspects of biodiversity. The participants of this Summer School will deal with significant issues on sustainability management, eco-labels, biodiversity in developing countries, monitoring of biodiversity and biodiversity as an issue in higher education. The Summer School is a part of the German International Biodiversity Network (GAInBiNet), which was also founded by Tropenzentrum and consortium of the Alumni- Network of the Universities of Goettingen and Kassel, Marburg.

Programs of the opening ceremonies are available online:

GAForN Summer School (Monday, 21 September 2009)-
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/sh/115688.html

Biodiversity Summer School (Monday, 28 September 2009)-
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/sh/119020.html

Both events will take place in St Paul's Church and are public


Note to editors:

To participate in the opening day of the Summer Schools and for reporting on the event you are cordially invited. If required, Mrs. Ingrid Howe will arrange your time for a talk with the participants.