The NODE proposes innovative solutions on development, environment and social inclusion in Europe and the Mediterranean

Today, Europe and the Maghreb are facing intertwined threats. Climate change leads to ecosystem degradation and, combined with uneven growth, leads to migration. Meanwhile, social disparities and inequitable conditions can provoke social unrest. The NODE - Node for Opportunities, Development, and Environment - arose from the idea that these challengesare deeply interlinked and that we cannot successfully tackle them separately.

On November 16th, The NODE, together with members of the European Parliament, representatives from International Organizations, national authorities, academia, the private sector and civil society, proposed different and multidisciplinary perspectives showcasing how innovative forestry and environmental solutions can be in conveying social progress and business development.

Here you can find the dynamic video-summary of the event, a selection of quotesand pictures and the Powerpoint presentations.

During the event, Dina Ionesco, from the International Organization for Migration, explained that “At the NODE, together, we can do very concrete actions to link immigration and forests, such as integration through reforestation activities”.

Joachim Englert, the CEO of Social Forest, a partner of the NODE, highlighted how local authorities and communities can benefit economically, environmentally but also in terms of cultual dialogue and social inclusion by providing professional trainings in land and forestry management to unemployed youth and migrants: “We can have an environmental impact within cities, reuse abandoned spaces, create urban forests. We can do it together with the EU youth, unemployed and migrants. We can move away from “costs” and turn them into investment for all”.

Finally, the words of Miguel García-Herraiz, from the Union for Mediterranean, highlighted how important it is “to include the forestry sector in the agenda to face climate change” and MEP Santiago Fisas Ayxelá stressed that the NODE, with its multidisciplinary approach, is capable of driving innovative sustainable development solutions in the forestry, environmental and social sectors, and it is also a valuable vehicle to social, economic and human progress. 

Today, the NODE is ready to provide support to the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy and to the EU institutions and the Mediterranean partners countries in their common objectives and endeavours, in line with the COP 22 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the upcoming weeks, the NODE will also be launching a new FREE service: a Matchmaking Tool for the forestry and environmental sector. The tool will automatically match you with the partners/services that you maybe looking for, providing access to endless business opportunities and possibilities of development and cooperation.

Vision Communication is a founding partner of The Node, bringing its expertise on a wide range of communication, marketing, outreach, awareness and dissemination. At Vision, we foster the principles of social inclusion, human empowerment, cultural dialogue, and make them work for environment innovation and conservation through communication for action.

Let’s stay in touch!

Contact us at info@vision-communication.org

www.vision-communication.org - #comm4action / www.thenode.co