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Sustainable vision for LA28 Games

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08 Aug, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games has enlisted software multinational Autodesk as its ‘Official Design and Make Platform’. In this capacity, Autodesk, which specialises in software for designers, engineers and builders, will support LA28’s more than $1 billion temporary overlay and construction plan, incorporating sustainable design principles.

Central to the plan is the intention not to construct any new permanent venues. Instead, LA28 is committed to adapting existing or building temporary infrastructure.

“At Autodesk, we believe the most sustainable building is the one already built. That’s why we’re excited by LA28’s ambitious plan to retrofit existing structures to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of the LA28 Games venue plan,” said Amy Bunszel, Executive Vice President, Architecture, Engineering and Construction Solutions at Autodesk.

“Over the next four years, our software will help set a new standard for creating a sporting event that intentionally designs, builds, repurposes and reuses existing venues.”

Autodesk software will guide the retrofitting of the 40+ competition and major non-competition venues across Southern California that will make up the LA28 Games’ footprint — including the LA Memorial Coliseum. The company said its technology would help to shorten timelines, cut costs and incorporate sustainable design principles across the project.

Over the next four years, LA28 will use the software, including Autodesk Construction Cloud, as a central tool to facilitate better collaboration with thousands of critical stakeholders on the design, development and ultimate delivery of the venues.

“Autodesk’s software is a part of our LA28 story: the behind-the-scenes technology that brings our vision of the LA28 Games to life,” said Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairperson.

“Together, we will develop the right plan to support 12–15 million ticketed fans over such a short period of time. We are honoured to have Autodesk on board for the next four years as we embark on our shared commitment in innovative design that can serve as a precedent for many Games to come,” Wasserman said.

Beyond the construction itself, LA28 has committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the city and communities of Los Angeles, and it will use Autodesk’s cross-industry expertise and relationships to help achieve this aim.

In addition to the circular and low-carbon building design ethos, Autodesk will support LA28’s collaboration with key public transportation agencies over the next four years to keep LA residents, workers, businesses and more moving reliably throughout the region. This includes the use of Autodesk software to aid in the design of key Games-related transportation elements and traffic control plans.

Image caption: Still from Autodesk’s LA28 promotional video. Image courtesy of Autodesk.

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Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products

Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products

Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products
jschoshinski
Thu, 01/16/2025 – 18:32

In Zimbabwe, deforestation and habitat loss are not only threatening the country’s biodiversity and ability to mitigate climate change, but also threatening individuals’ livelihoods and their ability to adapt to climate change. Of the nearly 6,000 species of indigenous plants found in the country, some 900 of them are traditionally used as food, cosmetics, or medicine. These non-timber forest products (NTFPs) serve as supplemental sources of income for approximately 60 percent of rural households, providing an important source of income diversification as changes in rainfall—in part due to climate change—threaten traditional agricultural activities. By generating income for rural communities, Zimbabwe’s NTFPs offer a market-led approach to boosting climate resilience. 
The Economic Contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products in Zimbabwe 
In the landscapes where the USAID Resilience ANCHORS Activity works, one in six people, mostly women, rely on forests and wilderness areas for their livelihoods. Resilience ANCHORS supports community-led initiatives and locally prioritized interventions, including conserving forests and developing value chains for key NTFPs, such as Ximenia, mongongo nuts, wooden banana, marula, Kalahari melon seed, and rosella. Forest-based resources from remote, semi-arid regions can contribute up to 35 percent of rural incomes, while NTFP products like thatching grass, wild plant foods, mushrooms, honey, and mopane worms have an estimated annual subsistence value (i.e, the value associated with people using the products to support themselves rather than selling the products) of $294.3 million. Conserving these natural resources leads to strengthened livelihoods and healthier, more stable communities by supporting income diversification, which helps agricultural communities adapt to the impacts of climate change on crop yields.
Using Laws and Regulations to Strengthen Community Resilience
While NTFPs are vital resources for local communities, the lack of transparent laws and regulations has led to overexploitation and missed business opportunities. Limited awareness of the regulatory framework among stakeholders and community members exacerbates this issue. Resilience ANCHORS has supported the formation of NTFP collector groups that have developed formal governance structures, but the next objective is creating long-term sustainability through a robust legal framework that protects the environment and promotes community wellbeing. 
Sustainable harvesting remains critical for the long-term viability of Zimbabwe’s NTFPs, forests, and environment. Resilience ANCHORS, in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and the Environmental Management Agency, conducted workshops to build awareness of the legislative challenges and foster dialogue. This resulted in the drafting of NTFP Model Bylaw, which seeks to address three key goals:

Fill gaps in the legal framework: Outline benefit-sharing mechanisms to foster fair trade practices, as community ownership and management of NTFPs ensures equitable distribution among stakeholders. 
Promote sustainability: Develop permits to control harvesting, trade volumes, and fees to generate revenue for conservation efforts and capacity-building initiatives.
Provide clear guidelines for NTFP harvesting and benefit-sharing: Specify sustainable harvesting quantities and methods to prevent over-harvesting and safeguard resources for future generations. 

The NTFP Model Bylaw will result in:

Enhanced community resilience through sustainable NTFP management by promoting sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and social cohesion. 
Clarified benefit-sharing mechanisms to reduce exploitation and promote transparency, fairness, and community ownership. 
Informed climate-resilient natural resource management by promoting sustainable harvesting, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. 

Effective implementation of these regulations requires collaboration, capacity-building, and regular monitoring. If adopted and implemented successfully, these regulations could help grow NTFP activities in a way that increases livelihoods and builds community resilience to climate change in Zimbabwe.

Teaser Text
By generating income for rural communities, Zimbabwe’s NTFPs offer a market-led approach to boosting climate resilience.

Publish Date
Thu, 01/16/2025 – 12:00

Author(s)

Itayi Usaiwevhu

Hero Image
Rosella harvest (1).JPG

Blog Type
Blog Post

Strategic Objective

Adaptation

Region

Africa

Topic

Adaptation
Agriculture
Biodiversity Conservation
Deforestation and Commodity Production
Economic Growth
Forest/Forestry
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Natural Climate Solutions
Resilience
Rural

Country

Zimbabwe

Sectors

Adaptation
Agriculture and Food Systems

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