Mark Shepard Competitors

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is an international network of sustainable communities and initiatives on every inhabitable continent. GEN serves as umbrella organization for ecovillages, intentional communities, transition towns and ecologically-minded, community-driven individuals worldwide. People and communities meet and share their ideas, exchange technologies, develop cultural and educational exchanges, directories and newsletters, and are dedicated to restoring the land and living a cooperative sustainable lifestyle. Network members include large networks like Sarvodaya (2,000 active sustainable villages in Sri Lanka); the Federation of Damanhur in Italy and Nimbin in Australia; small rural ecovillages like Gaia Asociación in Argentina and Huehuecoyotl, Mexico; urban rejuvenation projects like Los Angeles EcoVillage and Christiania in Copenhagen; permaculture design sites such as Crystal Waters, Australia, Cochabamba, Bolivia and Barus, Brazil; and educational centres such as Findhorn in Scotland, Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, Earthlands in Massachusetts, and many more.

Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) is a nonprofit with over 27 years of experience in sustainable farming. SHI has partnered with low-income farming families in rural communities across Central America since 1997. Using organic vegetable gardens, wood-conserving stoves, seed saving, and many other sustainable farming methods, SHI's local field trainers work with individuals and communities to preserve tropical forests and improve livelihoods. During our program, farmers learn how to provide nutritious, healthy food for their families, create and maintain an agribusiness, and reforest their surrounding environment. Our holistic approach to solving the agricultural, ecological and economic problems of Central America is innovative, hands-on and long-term. Our program improves food security, ecosystem restoration, and local economies.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - North America Inc. is a rapidly growing not-for-profit industry association working to promote the industry throughout North America. In 2004, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities became a formal industry association registered as a not-for-profit 501(c)(6). It is managed under contract to the Cardinal Group Inc., the firm that originally established the organization, and run by an independent board. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development and celebrations of excellence. We are striving to facilitate changes that will bring green roof and wall technologies to the forefront of high-performance restorative green building design, implementation, and maintenance. The development of the green roof and wall market requires that we: • Research the public and private building and community-wide benefits of green roofs and walls in various cities and climate zones across North America. • Develop and provide value-added products and services to our membership base. • Engage a wide variety of stakeholders and educate the general public on the many social, economic and environmental benefits of green infrastructure. • Establish cost-effective public policies to recognize the public benefits and fund the widespread implementation of green infrastructure thereby helping to reduce the higher upfront capital costs associated with green roof and wall technologies. • Develop professional training and accreditation courses to facilitate excellence in green roof and wall design, implementation, and maintenance. • Facilitate the international exchange of information on policies, products, science, and research.