Publications

This book was published as part of the WWF Mediterranean Cork Oak Landscape Programme. I participated and supervised the publication as Head of the WWF capacity building and education programme. The main objective of the publication is to provide concrete examples on what options exist in cork oak landscapes for developing a diversified economic system well balanced with nature conservation goals, being socially relevant and providing equitable and fair benefits for securing local livelihoods. Each chapter of the book has been prepared by one or more specialist in the subject.

There is a close link between technologies; research and development in Africa. The analysis of this link must be based on a prior analysis of the situation in Europe since colonialism also entails the hegemony of the European scientific paradigm in Africa. Consequently, African technology and scientific development have been closely linked to the Western tradition, to the detriment of potential autonomous African development. Having analyzed the role of basic science and the place occupied by new technologies such as the Internet in Africa’s development process, the article asks whether Africa’s separation from the world market could make an autonomous development possible in the long term. (Article in Català)

Urban Development in Africa and Latin America was the subject of an international seminar which I was in charge to organize in Barcelona (Spain) from 18-20/03/1999. The world of developing countries is moving from a rural landscape to one of cities and urban conurbations. In 1960, less than 22% of the population of low and intermediate income countries lived in urban areas; by 1990 about 34% and by 2025 we expect 75% of urban populations in the mentioned countries. After the seminar, I compiled and edited the articles for this book. A part of the different articles the book contains a transcription of the seminar sessions, the workshop conclusions and a research bibliography.

I published this article in 1995 when I collaborated with the Arbeitsgruppe Frankreich of the University of Potsdam. The article compares the development of the French and German ecology movement by focusing on the philosophical background: Edgar Morin, Michel Serres, Luc Ferry as well as Hans Jonas and Günther Anders. What means responsibility and ethics in the context of the massive destruction of ecosystems and the enormous threats for our planet and humanity?

From 14-17/04/2008 I participated in the international workshop: Adapting to Climate Change in Mediterranean Forest Conservation and Management in Greece. My main contribution focused on capacity building adaptation needs in the context of Mediterranean Forests. Capacity building enables the social system, especially institutions, to create adequate frameworks and to develop actions aimed at adapting to climate change. The main objective is to improve the institutional framework through actions taken to increase the knowledge, the skills and the motivation of relevant target groups to implement and monitor successfully climate change adaptation measures.