Over the past 3 years, Ibsar has secured partnerships with over 20 municipalities that have been cooperative and extremely proactive in fulfilling the basic objectives of rehabilitating and greening their public spaces with native trees we produced at AREC. But the buck doesn't stop there. 

   The Center is announcing an incentives-based strategy to promote biodiversity conservation and community involvement through a unique project that will put our partner municipalities to the test. Ibsar is initiating the Biodiversity Village Award (BVA), sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, is a competition designed to recognize the achievements of village communities, e.g.  municipalities, members of local NGOs, teachers and school administrators, individuals from the private sector, and other professionals - who are contributing to a sustainable natural environment in their community.

   Ibsar has assembles a BVA committee of AUB faculty members from different disciplines that will assess the developments of the villages at various stages throughout the year. The winning village will be announced in October, 2011, and will host the first 'Planting a Heritage' village festival (details will be provided in the next newsletter!).