Presidents of ECO Science Foundation and EvK2CNR agree to collaborate in Mountain Research

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ISLAMABAD (31 Jan 2014): EvK2CNR Foundation President Mr. Agostino Da Polenza , their Scientific Adviser Dr. Ashiq Ahmad Khan along with their team called upon the President of ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro in Islamabad the other day to discuss collaboration between the two organizations, in continuation of an earlier meeting of Mr. Khan with Prof. Soomro. The President ECOSF, Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro warmly welcomed the EvK2CNR team and shared the aims and objectives of ECOSF and about member states of ECO. He also shared with the visitors that ECOSF is working closely with some important institutions including; IPBES Bonn-Germany, ISTIC-UNESCO Malaysia, the ECO Educational Institute Ankara-Turkey as well as ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ECO-IEST) in Tehran-Iran.

The Ev-K2-CNR Committee is an autonomous, non-profit association, which promotes scientific and technological research in mountain areas. Particular emphasis is placed on the Hindu Kush – Karakorum – Himalaya region and work in the countries of Nepal, Pakistan, China (Tibetan Autonomous Region) and India. The visiting team led by President of EvK2CNR Mr. Agostino proposed to collaborate with ECO Science Foundation in high mountain areas of the ECO region.

After though discussion, the two sides in principle agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the following areas in focus:

• Promotion of Field-based scientific research on environment, biodiversity and socio-ecological linkages
• Promotion of Trans-boundary collaboration for conservation, sustainable development and generation of knowledge
• Promotion of education and awareness, using Inquiry based learning approaches, seminars and workshops
• Capacity building of stakeholders, both individuals and institutions, on subjects related to management of ecologically important sites with focus on National Parks and Biosphere Reserves with particular reference to deliverables of "Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), of which the ECOSF is an observer member/stakeholder [www.ipbes.net].

It was decided that a formal MoU will be drafted soon for consideration of relevant forums of the two organizations and subsequently signed. It was further agreed that the two sides will prepare joint projects for funding by international donors.