Brochure
An international NGOworkingfor climate change mitigation and adaptation
Green Asia Network
Mission: To bring people together to lead sustainable livesin harmony with nature
Vision: An Asia safe from climate change
Core values
– Harmony: We live and work in balance with the environment.
– Responsibility: We have responsibility for protecting nature and the planet.
– Innovation: We continually strive to find new methods and approaches to our work.
– Solidarity: We bring local communities and stakeholders together in our work.
– Partnership: We are partners with a variety of actors – both international and national.
1. Afforestation
“Asian Forest of Hope” combats climate change, desertification and yellow dust: 450,000 trees planted in 450ha
– Empowering locals by training them inafforestation and agriculture practices
-Creating jobs and developing a self-reliant community model
Green Asia Network carries out afforestation projects in Mongolia, specifically targeting areas damaged by climate change and desertification. As indigenous trees, including fruit trees, are adapted to dry climates, we’ve created a sustainable community development model through the cultivation of fruit trees and cash crops with help from various Mongolian and Korean partners. Along with these forestry projects, we have also built eco-villages, conducted sustainable land management training and launched an environmental campaign.
*Project models
1) Baganuur (Since 2002) – City model
Achievements: Forestation(100,000 trees), creation of an urban park, environmental education and cultural exchange programs
2) Bayannuur (Since 2007) – Steppe model
Achievements: Forestation(150,000 trees), lake and water resource restoration, self-reliance model development, operation of a tree nursery, establishment of a cooperative association, construction of a Ger library
3) Dondgovi (Since 2009) – Barren land model
Achievements: Forestation(60,000 trees), part of the “Mongolian National Greenbelt Project”, development of citizen-government cooperation model
4) Erden (Since 2010) – Steppe(Publicity) Model
Achievements: Forestation(50,000 trees), migration of eco-refugees, establishment of “sky village”
2. Building an Eco-Village with Eco refugees
– Build a sustainable development model with the three pillars of environmental, economic and social development
– Pursue self-reliance through local residents’ participation and capacity building
– Reorganize the local task group into a cooperative association
– Innovate technically and economically on the cultivation of fruit trees and cash crops
– Build a long-term infrastructure for the community fund for local self-reliance
Climate change and desertification in Mongolia have been exacerbated not only by the reduction of grassland but also by severe winters called dzud. In 2002, nearly ten millionherd animals died leaving twelve thousand herders in poverty. In 2009~2010, thedzudkilled approximately eight million herd animals(one fifth of the entire herd population in Mongolia) and produced twenty thousand eco refugees. Sixty percent of the herders who lost their homes and livelihood were forced to live below the national poverty line with no electricity or water in urban ghettos.
From the lessons learned, Green Asia Network has implemented a plan since 2000 to improve the living conditions of areas affected by climate change.This plan is to be embedded in any anti-desertification plans and has been called ‘Making a sustainable Eco-village.’ It entails, in terms of addressing economic self-reliance, the creation of 150 jobs in afforestation, fruit tree planting, and cash crop production. In order to achieve greater social development, Green Asia Network continues to operate an agro-forestry training school, develop a producers’ cooperative and ensure that local sales shopsare operated by members of the cooperative
3. Be Green Eco-tour: volunteering
Eco-tour participants recognize the seriousness and damage brought on by climate change and desertification. They dig wells and plant and manage trees as part of anexperienceto feel a new sense of nature and culture. During the program, attendants think about the causes of the environmental crisis and try to find alternatives. They also study the global challenges and achievements of visiting international organizations.
Green Asia Network’s Eco-tour has two principles; ‘Labor is a pleasant education’ and ‘Sharing’. Through the Eco-tour program participants learn to respect their global village neighbors and to become global citizens.
4. Policy Research & Environmental Education
– Propose vision for sustainable development and consultation for combating climate change
– Analyze internal and external climate change policy trends and agenda
– ESD(Education for Sustainable Development) implementation
– Develop manual and framework for climate change adaptation and mitigation
-Develop educational program, such as ‘Children’s Participatory Environmental Play’
5. Activities for climate change response with local residents of Myanmar
Using its accumulated experience in climate mitigation and adaptation, Green Asia Network promotes projectsthat encourage ‘Community participation in forestry and builds eco-villages’.
Half of Myanmar’s population (30 million) is affected by environmental crisis, such as climate change and desertification. In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed over 138,000 people, and conditions only worsened from the drought and desertification in the Central Dry Zone (Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway which occupies 12.8% of Myanmar and equals 87,200㎢ out of 670,000㎢), which continues to expand rapidly.
We focus on climate change response and the development of local people’s self-reliance to address both the environmental crisis and poverty. In March 2013, we dispatched our staff to conduct research, including a field survey and a feasibility test for future projects in the area. After this initial preparation, we establishedGreen Asia Network Myanmar in Yangon. We also formed relationships with the Myanmar government, regional governments, experts from various sectors, activists, and residents for future collaboration and cooperation.
Through these activities and our projects, such as community forestry and eco-villages in Myanmar, we are closer to realizing our vision of creating an Asia safe from climate change.
History
Jan 1998 Korea Human Network is established
May 2002 Korean Human Network changes its name to the Citizens’ Information Centre (CIC)
Oct 2006 The Citizens Information Centre is accredited tothe Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Jan 2007 Green Asia Network Mongolia established and agreement made with several other countries on the “Mongolian Green Belt Project”
Jan 2008 CIC changes its name to Green Asia Network
(previously called Citizens’ Information Centre and Korea Human Network)
2008 The Mongolian government awards Green Asia Network with the ‘Environmental Leader Award’
2008 Green Asia Network receives a Korean Presidential Citation
Dec 2009 Green Asia Network receives a Korean Forest Service Commendation
Feb 2010 Green Asia Network is accredited to the UN Economic Social Council (ECOSOC)
May 2010 Green Asia Network is accredited to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Oct 2011 Green Asia Network is accredited to the UN Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD)
July 2013 Green Asia Network Myanmar established
May 2014 Green Asia Network Myanmar registered in Myanmar as international NGO
Jun 2014 Green Asia Network wins first place prize in UNCCD “Land for Life” Award
Achievements
Feb 1998 – Held a conference for nonprofit organizations in Japan and Korea on “Overcoming National Crises” (February 1998)
Dec 1999 – Hosted the “1st International Symposium on the Future of East Asia”
Jul 2007~Mar 2008– Produced two reports, “Research on the Conditions of Yellow Dust and Response Strategies in Mongolia” and “Research on the Development of Alternative Models for Combating Desertification and Yellow Dust Mitigation”
Jan 2010 – Produced translated work, “Renewable Energy Market”
Aug 2010 – Published “Global Warming Guidebook”
2009- 2013 – Green Youth Leader program ‘Green Asia Keepers’
Jan 2011 – Served as convention advisor and civil society organization network representative for the10th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD “Sustainable Regional Development: A Model of Sustainable Land Management”
Oct 2011 – Presented at the WSFA(World Summit for Forest Actions) conference in Tokyo
May 2012 – Presented on “Green Technologies as Engines for Growth” (May 2012)
Nov 2012 – Presented at theGreen Climate Fund (GCF) international forum (November 2012)
Feb 28, 2013 – Hosted a National Assembly seminar to discuss the meaning ofthe induction ofGCF in Korea and the activation plan
Sep 26, 2013 – Hosted a National Assembly seminar to discuss the progress and direction of Korean international development cooperationfor Myanmar
Mar 2014 – Nov 2014 – Conducted survey on plantations to combat desertification in Mongolia
Aug 2014 – Published Green Asia Network’s 5 Year Strategy Report
Sep 2014 – Served as an advisor to assist in economic revitalization and to combat desertification around the Irrawaddy River (Dry Zone)
Nov 2014 –Served on the Korean Organizing Committee for Asian Civil Society Conference on Climate Change and Ecology
Nov 2014 – Seoul Eco Mileage members joined the Convention to Combat Desertification business
Cooperation organizations
An-yang World Human Bridge, Cass Town (Mongolian company), Citizen’s solidarity for lake and water resource restoration in Bayannuur, Galilee Church, Goyang City, HOTEL SKYPARK, Human Mongolia Association, Incheon Green Environmental Center, Incheon Metropolitan City, KOICA, Korean Air, Korea Forest Service, Korea Hope Foundation, Oriental Brewery Company, Seodoo Industry, South Gyeongsang Province, Suwon city, Maumdonghaeng
International NGO practices – Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Green Asia Network
Green Asia Network was established in 1998 with the vision of making Asia safe from climate change. Over the past 16 years, Green Asia has beenresponding to climate change through climate mitigation and adaption initiatives and poverty reduction activities in those areas hit hardest by environmental devastation. Since 2000, Green Asia Network has been engaged in developing sustainable villages to address local land degradation in Mongolia and Northeast Asia. These projects include combating desertification through afforestation projects and ecosystem conservation, promoting economic development and social integration, building ecological villages and sustainable communities, providing environmental education, conducting policy research and advocacy, and sharing knowledge and practices.
In 2013, Green Asia Network opened an office in Myanmar to respond to the intensifying threat of natural disasters and desertificationin the region. This is a natural progression in Green Asia Network’s grand vision of bringing together the civil societies of South Korea and Asia to create “TerrAsia”, an international platform for public and private entities, international organizations and other various stakeholders to share, cooperate and collaborate on addressing climate change.
Vision: An Asia safe from climate change.
Mission: To bring people together to lead sustainable lives in harmony with nature
Core value:
Harmony –We live and work in balance with the environment.
Responsibility – We have responsibility for protecting nature and the planet.
Innovation – We continually strive to find new methods and approaches to our work.
Solidarity – We bring local communities and stakeholders together in our work.
Partnership – We are partners with a variety of actors – both international and national.
Activities
Forestry Business
Green Asia Network is currently working in Mongolia and Myanmar, specifically targeting areas affected by climate change and desertification
- Established“Forest of Hope” to prevent desertification, fine dust, Asian dust – 580K trees planted in 580ha
- Empowered forestry movement to integrate climate change mitigation and adaptationpractices in Myanmar’s central dryland –150K trees planted in 240 ha
- Provided agricultural education and training to professionalize local residents
- Created jobs for residents, as well as a self-reliance model, and established community organizations, such as the Benevolent Society