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Respecting our Planet

To be truly effective, environmental conservation must take into account the development needs of the community. Sustainable use means people earning a living in ways that protect and preserve the natural resources they rely on.

 

 

To promote sustainable use, Oikocredit is working together with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program. The UNESCO approach recognizes 531 sites in 105 countries as “biosphere reserves”. These are living laboratories where new ways of managing nature and human activity can be tested and demonstrated. In a biosphere reserve, fully protected areas are combined with sustainable development zones.

 

But development cannot be environmentally sustainable if it is not financially sustainable. That’s where Oikocredit comes in. With the support of UNESCO, we’re piloting a project in Latin America to provide credit and technical support for business ideas promoting sustainable use within recognized biosphere reserves. Another example is the Barefoot Power in Australia, a business that assists rural communities manage their energy resources.

 

Learn more:     

• Microfinance
• Empowering women
• Fair trade
• Our strategic partners