Cyrene Declaration, Libya
2007-
Foster + Partners
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
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.”
General Balbo Canyon
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
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.
Kouf National Park
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
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.
Roman Cyrene
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
Temple of Zeus Cyrene
Cyrene Declaration
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Cyrene Declaration Libya
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