"Promoting Sustainable Urban Development through Urban Agriculture and Tourism" is the theme of the 2012 World Cities Scientific Development Forum (WCSDF). "Promoting Sustainable Urban Development through Urban Agriculture and Tourism" is the theme of the 2012 World Cities Scientific Development Forum (WCSDF).
2012 World Cities Scientific Development Forum will be held on Dec. 12-13, 2012. (PRNewsFoto/World Cities Scientific Development Alliance)
The World Cities Scientific Development Alliance (WCSDA) organizes WCSDFs every year along with its partners. This year, the UNESCAP, WCSDA, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Sister Cities International, and the People's Government of Shaanxi Province are partnering in the WCSDF program.
NGOs, CBOs, academic institutions, international organizations, private sector organizations, research and training institutions, and national and local government policy makers are to take part in the WCSDF. They will be discussing crucial urban development issues from various perspectives, good practices, investment and opportunities for cooperation between cities and partners.
More than 7 billion of the world's population, which accounts for over 50%, presently dwells in cities. The increasing urbanization is pressurizing cities to address the requirements of the people. Cities can be affected by man-made and natural disasters. They have more number of people under poverty and demonstrate huge ecological footprints.
Sustainable urban development is essential to achieve economic growth in an environmentally sustainable manner, and also address the basic requirements of the urban dwellers.
Urban agriculture holds potential to reduce food insecurity and urban poverty. It can aid in local economic development and help improve urban environmental management. It can contribute to heat reduction, water storage, waste management and urban greening.
Urban tourism may help increase the economic vitality of cities. Development of cultural tourism and eco-tourism help improve the uniqueness of a city. Sustainable tourism helps maintain the environmental and cultural integrity of communities, preserves the natural heritage, and protects ecologically sensitive areas.
The WCSDF is set to take place 12 – 14, December 2012 in Xi'an, China.
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