On this page:
Course Information
Purpose
Content & Structure
Workshop Topics & Parallel Sessions
Participants & Requirements
Benefits
Cost
Accommodations
Brochure for 2009 course
Application Form in Word
Application Form in PDF
Sample course Schedule (2007)

"Words are just not enough to express my appreciation to the ELP. The program is
so powerful. It provides me with new perspectives on how humans and nature are interrelated: how small the earth to fulfill human
needs and how big the impact of human development on this small earth. The program should be shared and spread all over the world to bring more positive impact!"
— Rofi Alhanif, Ministry of Marine Affairs
and Fisheries, Indonesia, 2008.

"I am pleased to have been part of this great environmental leadershipre-think at no lesser a place than UC Berkeley. ELP helped me to evaluate the relationships within the business -environment-people mix. All sustainability-minded 'environment initiatives' should incorporate this mix into program design and management. It also helped me to better place the importance of environmental health within a framework of sustainability and livelihood security in rural communities. There is a great need for deeper collaboration"
—Torjia Sahr Karimu, Conservation Socieity of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone, 2008

As soon as I returned from Berkeley’s ELP, I came up with several ideas to put into
practice within my organization. Now I’m able to perform better in teamwork and apply leadership and communication skills. I was able to mobilize and encourage my colleagues to prepare our own environmental leadership course. I’ll carry an extraordinary network of environmentalists and peers who will be my reference persons for both Latin America and worldwide.
— Roberto Rivas, Insitituto de Investigación y
Desarrollo Nitlapan, Universidad Centeroamericana (UCA), Nicaragua, 2008

"Beahrs ELP was just what I needed. The curriculum was rich, with some of the best professors I have encountered in all my years as a student, professor and administrator. It was indeed a perspective-changing experience of a lifetime. I returned home a totally different person with a renewed belief that 'champions' can make a positive difference towards sustainable environmental management."
- Anthony Penaso - Central Mindanao University, Philippines, 2007.

"The ecxellent professors, practitioners and participants from around the world dealing with issues at global, regional, national and local levels have given me a comprehensive approach. Everthing I have learnt from ELP is very useful and significant for my current work, and for my career in the long term."
- Ta Dinh Thi - Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment, Vietnam, 2007.

"Working mostly in environmental science, I was excited to learn from fellow participants the importance of social issues such as health, gender, poverty alleviation and environmental education for sustainable development. I look forward to channeling the inspiration from each ELP participant into my own working environment."
- Lorren Haywood - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa, 2007

"This blending of diverse and knowledge-hungry participants and experienced faculty ensured a rich academic and social setting, excellent for building environmental leaders. I think this is the best form of education that exists anywhere in the world today where people living thousands of miles apart may work hand in hand. I personally appreciated that the program is meant for mid-career professionals who really deserve such a life affirming training."
- Stephen Wanyoike Wamiti - National Museums of Kenya, Dept. of Ornithology, Kenya, 2005

"The Beahrs ELP is a great program that covers the entire gamut of issues relating to environmental management and conservation, all in just 3 weeks! It has made a huge difference already in my professional outlook. The relationships developed during the ELP with resource people and with my co-participants are for life and I hope to use this network for ideas and support for my continued commitment in the areas I work on."
- Dhenuka Srinivasan - The Energy & Resources Inst. (TERI) Southern Regional Centre, India , 2005

COURSE INFORMATION
The Beahrs Environmental LeadershipProgram* (ELP) links state-of-the-art
environmental and natural resource science and policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and collaborative leadership skills-building, with environmental professionals and practitioners around the world. It is based at the Center for Sustainable Resource Development within the College
of Natural Resources and draws on faculty campus-wide. The core component of the ELP is an intensive summer certificate course in Sustainable Environmental Management. Since 2001, the ELP has graduated 306 environmental leaders from seventy-seven countries. Course participants continue their learning and peer relations through the Berkeley ELP Alumni
Network, and collaborative research and educational opportunities with UC Berkeley ELP faculty, staff and students. The website has detailed information on all aspects of the ELP, including a large audio and video library:
http://cnr.berkeley.edu/BeahrsELP. To extend access beyond Berkeley, the ELP
encourages and supports alumni and their institutions to offer courses and programs that address local priorities for leadership development and environmental problemsolving. The ELP also collaborates with the
international NGO, Ecoagriculture Partners, and local and regional partners, to offer courses in Leadership for Ecoagriculture in Africa and Central America.

* Established in August 2000 with seed funding from
UC Berkeley alumni Carolyn and Richard Beahrs.

PURPOSE
The Beahrs ELP at UC Berkeley is designed for mid-career professionals from nonprofit organizations, government, international agencies, and businesses around the world who are working cross-sectorally to solve complex environmental problems with sustainable and just solutions. The summer
training course provides participants with a unique opportunity to interact with UC Berkeley faculty and each other to learn valuable information and tools, share knowledge and practical experience, and develop the types of leadership skills that translate knowledge into effective action. Participants are continually challenged to meet environmental goals with collaborative solutionsthat also reduce poverty and social conflict. Summer course participants:

• learn to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and analyze trade-offs to solve environmental problems;
• explore a range of policies, technologies and institutions that promote sustainable livelihoods and environments;
• strengthen skills in collaborative multistakeholder processes, communication, and leadership; and
• experience cross-cultural and crosssectoral learning from peers around the world.

CONTENT & STRUCTURE
The 3+-week certificate course offers workshops on cross-cutting issues during the first two weeks, followed by parallel sessions during the third week with the option to select either “the urban environment ”or “rural communities and NRM.” In the application form applicants are asked to select the parallel session they would be most interested to attend. Workshops are facilitated by UC Berkeley faculty as well as non-academic experts from the greater Bay Area, combining theory and methods with participant-led case studies. Teaching methods include lectures, small group exercises, role play simulations,
debates, participant panels and presentations, and informal exchanges among
faculty, invited speakers and participants. The curriculum is enhanced by field trips where participants experience the ways and means that California is handling diverse agricultural, natural resource and urban socio-environmental challenges:

• Sacramento Valley (sustainable agriculture; river/mining restoration);
• Central Coast (intensive horticulture;coastal conservation);
• San Francisco Bay Area (urban planning, water and waste management; environmental and food justice);
• Botanical Garden (biodiversity and water quality monitoring).
  

Parallel Sessions (choose 1 of 2)

1. THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT. Review case studies and models for sustainable management of cities and urban populations. Topics include land use planning, water supply, air pollution, solid waste management, transportation, protection of green spaces, urban poverty and environmental justice issues.
   
2. RURAL COMMUNITIES & NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Explore current approaches and case studies to support rural livelihoods and conserve ecosystem services, including ecoagriculture, agroecology, community forestry, eco-regional NRM, and markets/payments for ecosystem services.

PARTICIPANTS & REQUIREMENTS
The ELP training in Sustainable Environmental Management will benefit:

• development practitioners involved in sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and human-environment interactions;
• environmental professionals working cross-sectorally;
• men and women seeking exposure to interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainable livelihoods and environments from contributing faculty and fellow participants.

Participants must fulfill the following requirements:

• good proficiency in English to allow full participation in course discussions;
• a resume that demonstrates strong professional experience and leadership potential;
• affiliation with an institution concerned with environmental management/sustainable development; and
• successful and timely completion of the application, including required attachments.

BENEFITS

• University of California certificate in Sustainable En vironmental Management
  
• Enhanced capacity to develop and apply policy solutions that balance environmental, efficiency and social equity objectives.
  
• Strengthened skills for communicating ideas, managing collaborative processes, and leading social change.
  
• Lifetime membership in the Beahrs ELP Berkeley Alumni Network , and continuing relationship with the University of California.
  

COST
The course fee is US$8,000. The fee covers the costs of instruction, housing, most meals, field trips, materials, certificate and travel insurance (if needed). In addition, participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and for covering an estimated US$375 in meals and incidentals. See the application form for details on financial information.

ACCOMMODATIONS
The Foothill Residence Hall, at the northeast corner of the UCB campus,
offers simple, modern, clean dormitory rooms surrounded by trees and
overlooking spectacular views of the Bay Area. Housing is single occupancy,
generally in two-bedroom suites. Bath and living rooms are shared with a participant of the same gender. A self-service computer center, dining facilities, and other amenities are on the site. UC campus classrooms, shops and restaurants are nearby.

BROCHURES & APPLICATIONS
Click here to see a downloadable brochure in PDF format
Click here for a downloadable application in Word format
Click here for a downloadable application in PDF format