On April 22, at 11:00AM (EST) The Global Policy Institute and Bay Atlantic University hosted a webinar titled:

How to Promote Sustainable Development – Case Studies from the Wigwam Network

From its early beginnings in Italy, Wigwam Network followed a “bottom up” approach aimed at engaging local communities interested in the preservation and rehabilitation of their unique ecological, social and cultural heritage in order to promote sustainable development. Interesting case studies illustrated this approach.

Full Video:

Speakers

Efrem Tassinato, Founder and President of the Wigwam Network

Efrem Tassinato is an Italian environmental journalist. He is Founder and President of the Wigwam Network, created in 1972.

He studied agriculture and forestry sciences. As a journalist, he serves as Head of the National Secretariat of UNAGA – the Italian National Union of Journalists’ Associations of Agriculture, Food, Environment, Territory, Forests, Fishing and Renewable Energy. He is a member of the National Council of the FNSI – National Federation of the Italian Press. He is Delegate on the Board of ENAJ – European Network Agricultural Journalists. He is Alternate Delegate in IFAJ – International Federation Agricultural Journalists. Since 1990 he has been the Chief Editor of “Wigwam News”, the magazine of the Wigwam Circuit.

Avelio Marini, Head of International Relations of the Wigwam Network

Avelio Marini has a long track record working on sustainable local development issues, beginning with the creation of protected natural areas, such as the establishment of the Sibillini Mountains National Park. As a local administrator, he sponsored important initiatives on the environment, tourism, culture, and rural development; with the goal of connecting many local communities via the creation of global networks. With focus on local producers, he promotes local quality products, both in Italy and abroad. He is part of the Wigwam Circuit where he serves as National Councilor and Delegate for International Relations and to FAO in the Mountain Partnership. He collaborates with Wigwam News with the Weekly Ten News, the latest product of the Wigwam Circuit magazine.

Massimo Ciarla, President and CEO of Tiber International Group Inc.,

Mr. Ciarla is a professional engineer with more than thirty years of experience in executive board and managerial positions.

He is presently the President and CEO of Tiber International Group Inc., a Strategy Advisory company, he co-founded in 2015 which focuses on Infrastructures and Energy, serving Clients in    the engineering, construction and industrial products in the areas of Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Infrastructure Development.

Mr. Ciarla is the Principal of MC5 Consulting Group Inc., a consulting company for Mining civil works and for improving Coastal Resilience to Climate Changes, he founded in 2015. (2015-present)

Mr. Ciarla is the North America Correspondent (2021) of the Wigwam Network that promotes the sustainable cultural, social, economic and environment development of Local Communities, with the emphasis on Coastal Communities.

Mr. Ciarla has worked in many countries such as Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Mexico and USA, and in different strategic management positions and responsibilities in the fields of highway design, soil erosion and sediment control, coastal erosion mitigation, geo-hazard protection, dewatering and sediment management, renewable energy and mining solutions. Mr. Ciarla has held positions as President (1995-2011) and Executive Chairman (2012-2015) of Maccaferri Inc., the American subsidiary of Officine Maccaferri, a worldwide leader in soil stabilization, soil erosion and sediment control, flooding protection works, soil retaining structures, coastal protection works, dewatering and sediment management and mining   solutions. He fostered and implemented strategic planning and nationwide intelligence operations to all five Company Business Units and operating Departments.

Mr. Ciarla is fluent in English, Italian and Spanish. Mr. Ciarla holds a MSCE PE Degree in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering earned from the Department of Engineering, “La Sapienza” University of Rome (Italy) in 1975.

Moderator

Paolo von Schirach, President Global Policy Institute and Chair Political Science and International Relations, Bay Atlantic University

About Wigwam Network

Wigwam Network is a non-profit organization, officially recognized in Italy by a decree of the Ministry of the Environment. Created in 1971, it is one of the very first ecological associations. It originated in Italy and then it spread to other 20 countries. Currently it consists of 142 Local Communities that interact with one other and support their efforts promoting ecological preservation and sustainability.

In April 2021, the Wigwam Network established its presence in the US, via the creation of a Local Community in Washington DC. This is the first chapter of North America’s future network of Wigwam Local Communities.