Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) advised the UN's General Assembly to consider proclaiming a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, to start in 2005 (par. 117d, Implementation Scheme).

In December 2002, resolution 57/254 on the "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" (DESD) was approved, starting 1st January 2005.The resolution was presented by Japan, with the support of 46 Nations.

For more information about the Decade, visit www.unesco.org/education/desd

Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, one that vigorously promotes human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries, and recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for development. The goals have been commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress.

The Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information on the creation of the millennium development goals (MDG) and on the targets within individual goals, see the UN website, www.un.org/spanish/millenniumgoals

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a document outlining 16 targets through which the ultimate aim of halting the current and continuing loss of plant diversity can be achieved. It is a plan to save the world's plant species. The strategy's mission is to ‘be a tool to enhance the ecosystem approach for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and focus on the vital role of plants in the structure and functioning of ecological systems' (GSPC 2002).

The specific aims of the GSPC are grouped into five main themes:

• Understanding and documenting plant diversity, through databases, monitoring of populations and research;
• Conserving plant diversity, with both in-situ and ex-situ programmes, with special attention to conservation of species with direct importance to human societies;
• Using plant diversity sustainably, involving trafficking controls and supporting the fair and equitable sharing of benefits;
• Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity; and,
• Building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity, through networking and enhancing infrastructure and human resources.

The strategy outlines the different aspects of these aims in a series of 16 targets. Each of these is explained with terms and technical rationale. It is the achievement of these targets and themes which will lead to the ultimate goal to halt the current and continuing loss of plant- diversity.

BGCI documents

BGCI tries to make as many of its publications electronically available for download as possible and in as many languages as possible. New publications are being added all the time. For any additional documents, have a look at http://www.bgci.org/worldwide

Environmental Education in Botanic Gardens; Guidelines for Developing Individual Strategies

This document evolved out of a stated need by botanic gardens for direction in setting up and developing environmental education programmes. It provides botanic gardens with a framework within which to develop their programmes. The guidelines contain section on audience identification, educational approaches, running programmes, marketing and fundraising and relevant case studies.

Education for Sustainable Development: Guidelines for Action in Botanic Gardens

The last 25 years have seen a growing awareness of environmental issues. While the very complexity of the problems we face has become clearer, there is also evidence that governments at all levels are starting to address some of these urgent issues. This development has corresponded with a worldwide renaissance in botanic gardens. Conservation organisations, private corporations, and governments alike are realising that gardens have valuable collections and expertise that can contribute significantly to sustainable development. One area where their contribution is likely to be invaluable is in the area of education.

These guidelines look at what botanic gardens have to offer ESD and the challenges they face. The guidelines also recognise that botanic gardens have the potential to become models for sustainability and offer a process by which this may be realised.