Lights of Africa is an 8-month media expedition throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. Its purpose is to seek out, produce and disseminate inspiring and creative media stories about this compelling region.

Four major themes - Biodiversity Conservation, World Heritage sites, Desertification, and Sustainable Tourism - will drive the media stories sought out in the region. While many journalists focus on the economic, political and social challenges that plague the continent, the heart of this project is to uncover the many faces of light and hope which shine in Southern and Eastern Africa.

In 2010, hundreds of millions of people from all continents will focus their attention on the region as South Africa hosts one of the most popular international sporting events, the FIFA Football World Cup. This represents a unique opportunity to rework the mindset of the international media and public opinion, highlighting the positives changes that are already happening in the continent and showing examples of success.

Themes

While there are many facets of the life in Africa that reflect light and hope, none better than those which focus on the intrinsic relationship between its people and natural resources. Considering this perspective and the professional expertise of the team, four major themes were chosen:

Biodiversity and Conservation: Raise awareness for the International Year of Biodiversity 2010

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity - IYB2010. This region in Africa is a biodiversity critical area. Its huge deserts, dense tropical forests, and vast savannas are home to plants, mammals, and birds that cannot be found anywhere else in the planet. The Lights of Africa media expedition seeks to further the CBD's goals for IYB2010:

• Raise awareness of both the importance of biodiversity and accomplishments to save biodiversity
• Promote innovative conservation solutions found in the region
• Report on the steps being taken to reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity

World Heritage: Highlight key cultural and natural riches throughout Southern and Eastern Africa

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. In this region there are over fifty UNESCO World Heritage sites. In support of UNESCO's World Heritage mission, Lights of Africa seeks to:

• Raise awareness to help promote conservation to safeguard World Heritage sites
• Document and share stories of local population involvement in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage

Combating Desertification: Emphasize success stories of the fight against desertification

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is an international effort to mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies. It has been long recognized that desertification is a major economic, social and environmental problem of concern to many countries in all regions of the world, especially in Africa.  A major impact of desertification is biodiversity loss, migration of communities and loss of productive capacity. The Lights of Africa media expedition seeks to further UNCCD goals:

• Raise awareness about the major causes of desertification, such as overgrazing, over drafting of groundwater and diversion of water from rivers for human consumption and industrial use, all of these processes fundamentally driven by overpopulation.
• Promote success stories of local community mitigation of drought

Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: Focus on case studies of tourism development that enhance bio-cultural conservation

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Although there are significant differences in tourism development the various countries in this region, most nations in Southern and Eastern Africa have seen significant benefits from tourism. Sustainable tourism and ecotourism have been proven effective tools in community development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. Lights of Africa seeks to:

• Further research on positive trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism development
• Highlight successful and innovative multi-stakeholder approaches that are contributing to responsible tourism
• Shed light on the various challenges faced by communities, government agencies, conservation organizations and private sector operators and outfitters in developing sound ecotourism projects

More information:

http://lightsofafrica.com/

http://luzesdaafrica.com/