IN THIS ISSUE
The Foundation Announces Awards
This issue of Fundamentals presents a
comprehensive update on ENVIRON
Foundation grants awarded to October
2008 and April 2009 grant applicants.
NEWS FROM THE ENVIRON FOUNDATION FALL 2009 • Rwanda ceramic water filter
factory project
Rwanda ceramic water filter factory project • Reducing the impact of agro-chemicals
on subsistence farmers and the
environment in the Volta District
world, while expanding employment oppor- of Ghana
tunities for local potters.
• Clean Tech Open
Potters appealed to the ENVIRON Foundation
• Nashua River Watershed project
for a CWF factory to be constructed in
Central Rwanda in an established brick- • OK International combats silicosis
making community. The ultimate objectives
• Rural association support programme
of the Rwanda Ceramic Water Filter Factory
Project are to meet the urgent demand for • Replacing medicinal chemicals
safe water in this rural and marginalized extracted from wild plants in Albania
community and to provide employment for
• The Bren School
local workers. Potters will leverage their
efforts by working through local partner-
ships, using local resources, to create a
About the ENVIRON Foundation
sustainable marketing and manufacturing
In recognition of ENVIRON’s
operation that generates income while
longstanding heritage, The ENVIRON
maintaining low costs.
Foundation provides financial assistance
The technology of the ceramic water filter has to endeavors that promote protection
been awarded the World Bank Marketplace of human health and a sustainable
Potters for Peace (Potters) is a US-based and Europe, to be effective in removing Grant on two occasions, in Cambodia and global environment, particularly related
501(c)(3) organization that has worked in 99.88% of water-borne micro-bacteria and Ghana. The filter technology has been to the impact of chemicals and the use
Nicaragua since 1986, providing marketing protozoa, as well as turbidity. demonstrated at both the Kyoto and Mexico of the Earth’s resources. The Foundation
and technical support to rural potters. In World Water Forums and other WHO funds relevant education, training,
Every year there are 1.7 million deaths,
1998, they established the Ceramic Water events. Potters has a 10-year track record of applied research, and direct initiatives
mainly of children under the age of five,
Filter Program in response to the devastation building sustainable factories worldwide in by not-for-profit organizations. The
due to unsafe water. The UN’s Millennium
of Hurricane Mitch in El Salvador, Honduras developing, rural locations that employ local Foundation encourages efforts that result
Development Goal is to halve the number
and Nicaragua. Since then, Potters has been know-how, with all the benefits accruing to in governmental and business decision
of people without access to safe drinking
promoting the worldwide production of a the community and region. making that is informed by scientific
water by the year 2015. The mission of the
low-tech, low-cost, colloidal silver-enhanced principles and by public engagement.
Ceramic Water Filter Program is to meet Please visit the Potters for Peace website at
ceramic water filter (CWF). This technology In this issue we present information
this urgent demand for safe water in rural www.pottersforpeace.org.
has been proven, through more than 40 about these opportunities, as well as
and marginalized communities around the
studies carried out by universities in the US application procedures.
FUNDAMENTALS 2
Clean Tech Open the NRWA’s Smart Growth Circuit Rider, is
the principal project manager responsible
The ENVIRON Foundation has awarded a for developing all related programs and
grant for a third consecutive year to the Clean work products. The project will benefit from
Tech Open (CTO, previously the California his expertise in stormwater management
Clean Tech Open) for their work devel- and low-impact development, as well as in
oping clean technologies that foster a healthy the relationship between energy issues, land
natural environment, providing environ- use and environmental protection.
mental benefits in the areas of renewable
energy, energy efficiency, pollution reduction, For the past four years, the NRWA has
resource protection and conservation. worked on an EPA-funded project entitled
“Protecting Today’s Water for Tomorrow,
The ENVIRON Foundation and the CTO have Combating Threats to Source Water in
enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership the Squannacook-Nissitissit Sub-basin of
based on the Foundation’s past support. The the Nashua River in Massachusetts and
initial funding enabled the CTO to attract a New Hampshire.” The Smart Growth Policy
stellar class of entrepreneurs for the 2007 component has entailed working one-on-one
competition. ENVIRON professionals also with each of the nine involved communities to
played key roles in other CTO programs. improve by-laws that impact natural resource
Reducing the impact repacking and adulterating agro-chemicals George Linkletter and Joe Hower shared protection. It has devised a structure to help
is leading to the wrong pesticides being their expertise as panelists at CTO events.
of agro-chemicals on used in incorrect doses, impacting worker Allan DeLorme presented the Air, Water &
the towns work together, moving forward.
The draft Memorandum of Understanding
subsistence farmers and the and consumer health, as well as causing Waste Category Prize at the 2007 Awards (MOU) between the states of Massachusetts
environment in the Volta potential pest resistance. Ceremony in October. Stan Hayes attended and New Hampshire, the NRWA and the
a VIP networking session for sponsors. Nearly
District of Ghana The goal of NETRICE is to reduce the high
two dozen associates and managers attended
nine towns of the sub-basin area provides a
rate of injury and death associated with framework for such increased communication
Powerful Information is a UK-based chari- either the Southern California Innovator’s and policy coordination. With this project
the use of agro-chemicals amongst rice
table organization who’s mission is to aid Symposium (hosted at Lexus Headquarters
farmers in the Hohoe Region of Ghana
individuals and communities in low income in July) or the Awards Ceremony in San
and to promote safer, more ecologically
countries, to combat extreme poverty and Francisco in October of 2007.
sustainable agricultural practices. They plan
reduce their environmental impact. Currently,
to conduct training for 200 of their members For more information on CTO and their
they are exploring ways to partner with
on Integrated Pest Management and ecolog- project with the ENVIRON Foundation, click
the Network of Rice Farming Associations
ically sustainable agricultural practices with www.CaCleanTech.com.
(NETRICE), enlisting the help of the ENVIRON
the aim of minimizing the use of pesti-
Foundation, to reduce the impact of agro-
cides and fungicides and raising public
chemicals on farmers and the environment
in the Volta District of Ghana.
awareness of the dangers associated with Nashua River Watershed
modern agro-chemicals among farmers in project
The use of highly toxic and biologically the region. Powerful Information will use its
The Nashua River Watershed Association
active agro-chemicals in poor countries skills and experience in implementing similar
(NRWA) has enlisted the help of the ENVIRON
can have devastating consequences on programs internationally to guide NETRICE
Foundation on their most recent project,
human health and the environment. Many in its development and implementation of its
“Crossing Boundaries & Barriers,” which will
subsistence farmers have little or no under- ambitious program.
benefit the Squannacook-Nissitissit Sub-basin
standing of the power of modern pesti-
For more on Powerful Information, click here. of the Nashua River in Massachusetts and
cides, and little or no training in their use.
New Hampshire. Mark Archambault, AICP,
In addition, the widespread practice of
FUNDAMENTALS 3
Occupational Knowledge International (OK a common program to raise the profile of
International) is working with small-scale stone- this respiratory epidemic and encourage the
crushing companies in India to encourage the adoption of water misting technology. With
adoption of pollution control technologies in these measures, their goal is to reduce the
order to reduce the risk of silicosis, cancer and incidents of pulmonary disease among the
TB among exposed workers. Already, they’ve hundreds of thousands of exposed Indian
successfully completed a pilot project in the stone-crushing workers.
Khurda District of Orissa demonstrating that
For more information on OK International,
simple water misting can reduce respirable
click here.
silica exposures by over 80% in this industry.
An ENVIRON Foundation grant is enabling
OK International to enhance this project on a Replacing medicinal
national scale over the next two years, with chemicals extracted from
additional pilot programs, outreach to major
purchasers (including road transport agencies
wild plants in Albania
and construction companies) and new policy The Rural Association Support Programme
finished, and EPA funding at an end, the • Townsend may one day propose a new, (RASP) has developed a project aimed
initiatives. Although water misting has been
ENVIRON Foundation has granted its support densely developed commercial zoning at reducing the environmental impact
shown to be an effective means of reducing
to the newly minted “Crossing Boundaries district along the Route 119 corridor associated with the production of a wide
airborne dust from stone-crushing mills in the
& Barriers,” which addresses issues in that is adjacent to the Squannacook range of chemicals, derived from aromatic
US, the technique is not yet widely used in
the Nashua River Watershed, including River. How should the Planning Boards and other wild plants (of which Albania is a
India, where technical expertise in its use
the following. of downstream communities Groton and major world supplier), used in the pharma-
is lacking. OK International has developed
Shirley work with Townsend to ensure
• There are currently no official mechanisms
that standards of the new zoning district
in place for interstate communication
protect this regional water resource?
on regional water resource issues.
How should the downstream towns of
Townsend, Brookline and Pepperell OK International
in Massachusetts communicate with
Mason, New Hampshire, when a large combats silicosis
subdivision is proposed along Walker Silicosis is one of the oldest occupational
Brook, which poses a threat to the brook diseases known to man; the primary cause
and the Nissitissit River because Mason of infection is exposure to silica dust from
currently does not require any setbacks crushed stone. Airborne silica, generated
for development adjacent to wetlands? from stone-crushing mills, is perpetuating
an epidemic of silicosis (as well as cancer,
• How should the West Groton Water
tuberculosis (TB) and other lung disease)
Department work with Townsend
in India. Currently, India has more than
officials if it were to suspect that heavy
12,000 stone-crushing facilities, employing
application of road salt is possibly
approximately 500,000 people, and a
resulting in excess chloride contamination
recent study of workers in these facilities
of the West Groton public water supply
concluded that 48% suffer from TB or TB in
wells that are recharged from the nearby
combination with silicosis.
Squannacook River?
FUNDAMENTALS 4
a year, which should yield a sustainable ating the efficiency and validity of existing
crop of around 3,000 kg when the plants water quality sampling protocols, providing
reach maturity. recommendations for repair and devel-
oping environmental education for the
The anticipated outcome, at the very least, is
Loreto community.
an improved level of information available
to farmers and Albanian authority figures Patagonia’s water footprint. Patagonia, a
on environmental issues and a greater major US outdoor apparel company, is
understanding of the serious environmental looking to conduct internal water footprint
problems facing the region. evaluations using six of their current products
and establish a methodology for future
For more information on RASP, click here.
water footprinting efforts. The Bren School’s
objective regarding this project is to calculate
the water used in the manufacturing of each
The Bren School garment; compare the water impact of each
The ENVIRON Foundation has awarded garment; run a risk analysis for Patagonia;
the Bren School of Environmental Science & and run an analysis of environmental and
Management at the University of California social impacts, providing recommendations
(the Bren School) a grant to support up to for mitigation.
seven of its Master’s program projects. The
school’s mission—to play a leading role Environmental risk and emerging regulation
researching environmental issues, training in the nanomaterials sector: a 2009 inventory
scientists and environmental management and survey of industry perceptions and
professionals and identifying and solving practices. With this project, the Bren School
ceutical industry in North America and RASP plans: to establish four demonstration environmental problems around the world—is is evaluating the measures that nanoma-
Western Europe. RASP anticipates demon- plots to produce medicinal plants and ideally aligned with that of the ENVIRON terials firms [i.e. industrial producers and
strating that cultivation can provide a viable aromatic herb seedlings for cultivation by Foundation. Highlights of projects completed users of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs)]
alternative to wild collection as a source of local farmers in the Kukes region; provide previously under the Bren School program and research labs are taking to ensure the
medicinal chemicals and that, coupled with training for 125 local farmers in how appear below. safety of their workers, customers, the public
an effective public information programme, it to cultivate medicinal and aromatic herbs and the environment from potential risks
can reduce the threat to Albania’s mountain and increase their income; produce an Enhancing business operations and associated with ENMs.
ecosystems and biodiversity. educational video about herb cultivation scientific capacity of Loreto Baykeeper.
in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Loreto, Optimal design and management of a
and the problems caused by wild collection
Albania is one of the world’s main producers a small town near Baja, California, has commercial fishing cooperative for the San
(and to show this on local television and to
of medicinal herbs used in the pharma- experienced an economical shift, wherein Miguel Island abalone fishery. The California
local farmers, students and teachers in the
ceutical industry. Unfortunately, much of the local economy has gone from primarily Fish and Game Commission is consid-
region); and conduct research on techniques
the country’s output is from unregulated reliant on artisanal fisheries to becoming ering opening a commercial red abalone
for cultivating endangered aromatic plants.
and illegal wild harvesting, which causes a major tourist destination. The town has fishery at San Miguel Island, California,
RASP intends to develop a self-sustaining
serious damage to Albania’s rich biological limited water treatment capacity, and most which could become a global model for
system of cultivation, providing seedlings
heritage and to the fragile mountain of its sewage is untreated and discharged innovative fisheries management. The Bren
free of charge to farmers who have attended
environment in which many of these plants into Loreto Bay. The Bren School’s program School’s aim for the project is to ensure the
the training program and have promised
grow. In fact, a number of the country’s is aimed at strengthening and enhancing long-term sustainability of the San Miguel
not to engage in illegal wild collection, in
plant (and animal) species are now listed the operation and activities of the Loreto Island abalone population. In addition, the
exchange for a share in the resulting crop.
in the Red Book as endangered. Albania’s Baykeeper program by identifying the California Abalone Association will use the
In addition, local specialists will provide free
current practice for harvesting medicinal main threats to Loreto’s watershed, evalu- Bren School’s findings in their management
advice and extension services for farmers.
herbs is unsustainable. of the fishery.
RASP’s goal is to produce 70,000 seedlings
FUNDAMENTALS 5
Synergistic commercial and industrial Development of conceptual models and planning, water resources management and
IN TOUCH
energy and water conservation strat- ecological baselines to support monitoring environmental economics.
egies. This project addresses how the and adaptive management of Tejon Ranch, The ENVIRON Foundation is currently
Integrating urban green space into evaluating applications submitted
synergies of science, technology and California. Tejon Ranch is the largest
downtown Los Angeles. Green spaces in in October 2009 and will again be
policy can be leveraged to manage water contiguous, privately owned property in
urban environments can create environ- accepting applications for funding
and energy resources more effectively. California. Its 270,000 acres host a wide
mentally healthy and aesthetically pleasing during the first week of April 2010.
Traditionally, energy and water planning variety of plant and animal species. In June
cities. The Bren School is working with the Please get the word out that The
have existed independently of one another, 2008, the Tejon Ranch Company signed
city of Los Angeles to identify downtown Foundation is ready to fund projects and
with no integrated approach. The Bren the Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use
areas where the implementation of green programs that align with its articulated
School recently evaluated the potential for Agreement, dedicating 178,000 acres to
residential use of joint energy and water permanent conservation, 30,000 to future mission. Thank you for your help.
conservation units, and aims to evaluate development and leaving the remaining
their utility for commercial and industrial 62,000 acres open for purchasing. The Please contact a member of the
properties. The ultimate goals of the project Tejon Ranch Conservancy was created to Foundation Committee with any
are to determine the implications of water preserve what is considered by many to questions or recommendations you
and energy synergy technology and to be a diverse evolutionary “hot spot.” The may have:
develop a strategy for promoting the best, conservancy sought out the Bren School
most feasible approaches. for research assistance in conservation George Linkletter, Chairperson
+1 949 798 3601
glinkletter@environcorp.com
Nicky Eury
+44 1249 700 105
neury@uk.environcorp.com
Carolee Laffoon
+1 225 408 2692
claffoon@environcorp.com
space is practical and most beneficial to
residents and workers; to research methods Linda Cohen
to quantify, analyze and compare the +1 413 256 3556
benefits of green space scenarios; and to lcohen@environcorp.com
organize this data into a presentation for Los Luca Sacilotto
Angeles Business Improvement Districts. The +39 (0)6 4521 440
information ultimately will be incorporated lsacilotto@environcorp.com
into the Downtown LA Sustainability Toolkit.
Jay Vandeven
To find out more about the Bren School, visit +1 703 516 2403
www.bren.ucsb.edu. jvandeven@environcorp.com
John Wojciak
+1 713 217 5926
jwojciak@environcorp.com
www.en vi ron fou n dati on .org