Ten new Wetlands of International Importance are extremely important additions to the Ramsar List. They represent impressive array of under-represented wetland types typical of arid lands, including salt-bed chotts, oases, and “gueltas”. They are key geographical position for migratory birds during journeys across the Sahara. These wetlands sustained rich evolutionary adaptations to the harsh arid conditions in isolated circumstances. They are, also, of unique cultural significance. WWF’s Living Waters Campaign commended the Government of Algeria for these impressive designations.

http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-pubs-notes-photo-essay-algerian/main/ramsar/1-30-168%5E19606_4000_0__

Cape Peninsula, South Africa, gives an excellent example on “sustainable tourism” with the well-preserved nature of its bays, parks, mountain, beach and sea animals, Ostrich farms, recreation activities, open sea views, well-managed roads, shanty towns and most important high environmental standards. It has one of the most beautiful coastal mountain formations architected by historical evolution and successive carving of sea-level variations alternated by coastal depositions. The amazing action of nature and the strict rules of natural conservation and environmental protection policies sustained its biological hot-spots and made it home for diverse and rare animal, plant and bird (including penguin) and fish species though the harsh and delicate environments. Including the so-called Fynbos “fine bush” because of its many fine leafed plants, adapted to the extreme wet/dry climate and nutrient poor sandy soils. With the city of Cape Town, Table Mountains provide striking visual images of world famous flat top and steep falls. The geological diversity is enormous with most scenic oceanscapes in the world. At the southernmost point, Cape Agulhas, the two current from the Atlatic and Indian Oceans meets, where the warm-water Agulhas current meets the cold water Benguela current and turns back on itself.

http://www.sustainabilitylabs.org/page/sustainability-five-core-principles

The importance of rural communities and their engagement in promoting sustainable socio-economic developments is gaining an increasing attention. Improving the quality of life in rural regions and integrating them in the ongoing urbanization is imperative for achieving sustainability goals on the global scale. Initiatives similar to “World Bank Helps Communities Adapt to Climate Change Risks” (see the given link) can be taken in other region that suffer high risks for severe impacts from climate and environmental changes.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/10/04/world-bank-helps-communities-adapt-to-climate-change-risks#!

Achieving sustainable socio-economic developments world-over depends on our understanding of the “Water-Energy nexus”, I call it WE-nexus. This is by no means the most important nexus for promoting golbal sustainability with considerable saving of WE-resources in terms of quality and quatity. How to use this nexus to get the magic-mix for best “quality and quantity” savings has no universal solution, it is dependent on how such resources can be managed through different levels of cooperation and shared responsibilty, e.g. on local, national, regional and global levels. Also, through adapting appropriate practices with consideration the geo-climatic conditions.

http://www.fmlink.com/article.cgi?type=Magazine&pub=AFE&id=30077&mode=source

SHAI OSTER in his article “China: New Dam Builder for the World” says: “African and Asian delegations visiting China are taken each year to see the Three Gorges Dam as a model project even though it has been dogged by problems ranging from spiraling costs and unrest caused by forced relocation of more than a million citizens to rapid land erosion and increased pollution. Criticism of the dam — which is the largest in the world by many measures — has become so persistent that the Chinese government has recently begun to acknowledge the issues. But environmentalists and human-rights activists fret that China will repeat many of the same mistakes it has made with dams at home as it leads a dam revival abroad.”

Follow the story and join the discussion on how to improve achieving sustainable socio-economic developments around the world, in particular in the developing countries with very limited knowledge on environmental and climatic impacts and the how the ongoing manipulations in major transboundary water-bodies may mean for future generations.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119880902773554655.html

This world most powerful hydro-electric dam on our planet has faced several challenges and difficulties before and during its construction. However, when completed it remains to be among the most successful trabsboundary projects with minimum negative consequence on all involved partners.

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Middle East Rail is a huge rail exhibition and conference. It’s designed to help operators build and operate brand new rail infrastructure, as well as upgrading legacy networks.

The event brings together rail developers, transport operators, government, contractors and suppliers to talk strategy, technology and innovation.

http://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/middle-east-rail/index.stm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzah_5y65AU#t=13. Further information on this topic will provided later on.

Wildlife documentary. A tale of life on the Zambezi River, set against the epic backdrop of Victoria Falls. The story is told from the point of view of a local fisherman, Mr White, who has fished these waters for 69 years, and whose riverside companions are elephants, baboons, hippos and kingfishers. Follow the fortunes of these animals through his eyes, and learn how their lives are ruled by the moods of the river and the rains.
Buy “Ondiek” on

Troughout history, and since the ancient Egyptian civilization, architecture in the MENA region has been under major development both on the landscape scale and individual buildings. The limited space and arid conditions in the Gluf countries have inspired new innovative solutions to integrate the sea to land and to turn the burning desert to green land. http://www.constructiondigital.com/architectural_design/first-middle-east-and-north-africa-construction-expo-kicks-off-this-week

IKEA, world famous for its economic and practical furniture and household products, has introduced solar panels among its furniture and household products. Through cooperation with the Hong Kong Chinese based Hanergy, IKEA will be actively engaged in the ongoing global transformation to the sustainable use and production of renewable energy sources.

http://www.4-traders.com/news/IKEA-to-sell-solar-panels-from-all-UK-stores–17306513/

Would the Great Millennium Dam of Ethiopia yield mutual benefits with the reperian countries?

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