Hanson to Link Environment, Development

Dr. Arthur J. Hanson, a former Dalhousie University professor and leading authority on sustainable development, will deliver the opening and closing statements at the International Conference on Sustainable Development being held in Halifax from Sept. 10 to Sept. 12.

Dr. Hanson is the former president and chief executive officer of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From 1978 to 1991, he was professor of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. He was also director of Dalhousie's School for Resource and Environmental Studies for a decade.

Over the past 25 years, Dr. Hanson has initiated a number of major programs in environment and development, especially in Southeast Asia and North America. He is currently a member of Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, a member of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and distinguished fellow and senior scientist at the institute for sustainable development.

Dr. Hanson will survey progress and prospects facing sustainable development this coming decade.

"We are seeing an unprecedented combination of environmental and economic crises in many parts of the world. The result is a setback to sustainable development progress affecting all countries," said Dr. Hanson, adding that "innovation, not business as usual, is the only route to sustainability."

The conference -- whose theme is Model Forests and Eco-tourism:
Keys to Sustainable Community Development -- is an initiative of the Nova Scotia Francophonie Project. It is sponsored by the Office of Acadian Affairs, with further support from the community economic development division of the provincial Department of Economic Development, and from the federal departments of Canadian Heritage and Human Resource Development Canada.

In addition to presentations and speakers, there will be poster sessions that incorporate several themes, including community development through eco-tourism and forestry, and a trade fair that will highlight the Canadian and International Model Forest Networks, as well as sustainable development products and services. Conference delegates will be encouraged to tour Acadian regions, seeing the links between history, ecology and tourism.

Further details are also available at the conference website:
http://www.ccfne.ns.ca/lanterne .

AU CHEF DES NOUVELLES: Ce communiqué est également disponible en français; appeler 902-424-4492 ou c. élec. [email protected] .