LYM Session - 30 August 2009

30 August 2009

Our meeting started with Dr. Salah Soliman welcoming the attendees and introducing our unique guests participating in the National Campaign to increase youth awareness about climate change.

The first presentation was entitled “Biodiversity and the Effect of Climate Change“ by Dr. Hamad Allah Zeidan. He defined biodiversity and its different levels, its characteristics, its significant economic value and the reason behind its deterioration. Then, he talked about biodiversity in Egypt and its different forms; in seas, rivers and deserts. Then, he displayed the earnings related to tourism and job opportunities, associated with water biodiversity as an example of how biodiversity contributes to the economic life. Also, he tackled the expected effects of climate change, its current signs and the efforts made to face it. After that, we had an open discussion about the role of the faculty of Agriculture and the environmental organizations in preserving biodiversity in Egypt. Then, Dr. Zeidan elaborated the biodiversity agreement that was signed in the earth summit.

Then, we had a presentation about the same topic prepared by Mohamed Wahby and Athar Moustafa. Wahby briefly defined biodiversity and its value, elaborated its hotspots worldwide and the impacts of climate change on it.

Finally, Ahmed Abdel Salam announced the launch of a new social network that functions as facebook but restricted to the LYM members and he invited the attendees to visit its website and join the LYM network.