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Green economies, a bulwark against COVID 19 for Lake Chad communities

COVID 19 is causing a shockwave around the world and is now the number one concern of the international community It is fundamental and legitimate to focus on the present of the pandemic But we must not forget the root causes It is also essential to think now about the postcrisis the reconstruction phase which should be about not only health economic and social issues but also the environment

Multi-parameter probe for water quality monitoring in the Lake Chad Basin

UNESCO is proud to improve knowledge of the hydrology of the Lake Chad Basin which is an important source of freshwater with great potential in terms of biodiversity that supports over 45 million people

Spirulina, a miracle ingredient in Lake Chad

Spirulina or dihe is an algae rich in protein 60 to 70 of dry matter in other words 15g of spirulina contain as much protein as 100g of beef It is used in both human and animal nutrition and even in cosmetics In Chad this foodstuff which is particularly interesting for combating malnutrition is produced in the natron ponds of the Lake Chad basin

Economic, Social and Environmental Reconstruction in the Lake Chad Basin with UNESCO

UNESCOs BIOPALT Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad project is strengthening the capacities of the Lake Chad basins stakeholders in ecological restoration during a workshop chaired by the Director General of the Ministry of Environment Water and Fisheries Mr Mahamat Alifa Moussa

UNESCO and sustainable development in the Lake Chad Basin

UNESCOs BIOPALT Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad project is implementing a development and management plan for the Lake Chad cultural landscape A great support for the protection of remarkable ecosystems and the definition of sustainable development models to reduce poverty and promote peace

Equipments to strengthen the capacities of BIOPALT's implementing partners

On 2 July 2020 UNESCO officially handed over equipments to the Directions of the Ministry of Environment Water and Fisheries of Chad and to the Department of Biology of the University of NDjamena in the context of the BIOPALT Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad project The ceremony took place in the UNESCO antenna in NDjamena in the presence of Mr Adoum Abdelkerim Bahar Secretary General of the Chadian National Commission to UNESCO

As COVID-19 threatens Living Heritage around Lake Chad, women respond

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an indigenous woman from the Mbororo pastoralist community in Chad As nomadic cattle herders residing in the far west of the country near Lake Chad her community have developed an array of traditional practices and weather forecasting knowledge based on their interactions over generations with their living environment During periods of drought or unexpected weather events the Mbororo turn to such knowledge of changing seasonal patterns to adapt often travelling vast distances over the semiarid Sahel in search of water and pastures Today Ibrahim works to empower indigenous peoples voices and ensure their inclusion on international platforms She is President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad AFPAT and is currently serving as a Member of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues and UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate She collaborated with UNESCO to conduct a 3D participatory mapping of Chads Sahel desert region where some 250000 Mbororos make their living from herding and subsistence farming She is also a member of the technical and scientific committee of the BIOPALTUNESCO project She recently spoke with the Living Heritage Team in UNESCOs Culture Sector about how her community is coping with the COVID19 pandemic and its impact on their way of life as well as their knowledge and cultural practices related to the natural environment and climate change

Chao Thi Yen: an inspiring ethnic minority young woman from Lao Cai Province (Dao Community)

It is not easy to escape from poverty and pursue dreams But it is even more difficult if you are a girl and from a remote ethnic minority group This was the case of Chao Thi Yen a young woman from Dao Tuyển ethnic minority community located in Nậm Chạc Village Lào Cai Province Viet Nam After finishing secondary school Chao Yen wanted to continue studying at the university but due to cultural reasons traditions and family pressures it was not simple on the contrary it was very challenging In my hometown if you were able to write your name it was enough All the members of my community tried to convince my parents to not allow me to go to university remembers Chao Yen But her expectations and dreams were very strong and luckily she had incredible support from her teacher who went every day to her house over the period of three years to persuade her parents Finally both Chao Yens determination and the teachers perseverance proved the difference

Journalism in a pandemic: reinstating the paramount importance of facts

How can journalists debunk misinformation around COVID19 How does widely circulated false information such as memes proclaiming miracle cures and misleading statistics harm societies and threaten public health How can journalists stay safe while reporting on the unprecedented pandemic

North-East Tobago declared as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

October 29, 2020

Q&A with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education

December 7, 2020

UN agencies empowering children and young people in the face of COVID-19

On World Oceans Day, UNESCO reinforces the importance of preserving the largest ecosystem on the planet