Cyrene Declaration, Libya, Architect, Image, Design, Building, Architecture, Photos

Cyrene Declaration Project : Sustainable Development Libya

Libyan Sustainable Development in North Africa – design by Foster + Partners, Architects

6 Apr 2008

Cyrene Declaration Libya

Date: 2007-

Design: Foster + Partners, London, UK

10 Sep 2007

Images: Foster + Partners

Canyon Hotel swimming pool:

World’s largest sustainable regional development announced in Libya

“At an historic ceremony amongst the archaeological treasures of Cyrene in the Green Mountain region of Eastern Libya, Saif al-Islam Gadafi, signed the Cyrene Declaration witnessed by an invited audience of journalists, VIP’s and people’s representatives from Libya and abroad.

Canyon resort swimming pool:

The launch of the Cyrene Declaration marks the inception of the world’s first regional-scale conservation and development project dedicated to responding to the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in The Green Mountain region covering some 5,500 sq kilometres. Foster + Partners are helping to develop the vision set out in the Cyrene Declaration.

Mouth of Canyon ; General Balbo Canyon

This area is one of outstanding natural beauty and bio-diversity. It is described by the World Wildlife Fund as “…one of the 10 last paradises of the Mediterranean”. Its coastal region has the potential to become one of the world’s most desirable tourist destinations. Its allure to visitors however depends on the effective protection of the natural environment and controlled development, free of urban sprawl.”

The most urgent challenge is to tackle climate change by developing a new model of socio-economic development that minimises the release of greenhouse gases, diversifies sources of economic growth such as tourism and reduces its reliance on fossil fuels, moving towards C02 neutrality on a regional scale. With its emphasis on renewable energy and integrated regional planning Cyrene Declaration will also be of relevance to other countries.

Cyrene ; Kouf National Park

The region is rich with prehistoric, Greek, Roman and Islamic antiquity. Of equal urgency is the protection of the local archaeological and natural treasures of The Green Mountain including one of the world’s most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Cyrene. This is central to the regional plan, creating commercial opportunities leading to thousands of new jobs for local communities.

The vision not only addresses the environmental impact of development but also concerns the people involved. The final challenge is to improve the economic and social fortunes of the inhabitants of The Green Mountain who are disproportionately young and lacking in employment. The creation of sustainable, compact, mixed use settlements as well as the modernisation of schools and public amenities and intelligent infrastructure, all play a vital role in enabling a vibrant economy for the indigenous population.

The Green Mountain Conservation and Development Authority (GMCDA) has been established to oversee the creation, development and management of a National Park, archaeological conservation areas, mixed use areas for commerce and cultural and environmental tourism, sustainable infrastructure, renewable power generation and a range of facilities for the local population.

Canyon Green Mountain ; Roman Cyrene

Foster + Partners have been appointed to develop three sustainable pilot projects to facilitate cultural and eco-tourism and these are already under way in The Green Mountain and the Guiding Principles of the Cyrene Declaration are also being applied to other development projects elsewhere in Libya.

Lord Foster said:
“This is one of the most beautiful and little known landscapes on Earth. We’ve been given a unique challenge: to establish a sustainable blueprint for future development which will be sensitive to the history of the Green Mountain and to its conservation.”

Roman Statue, Cyrene