The Annual National Operators’ Meeting for the International Education for Sustainable Development Programme LEAF (Learning About Forests) will this year be hosted locally by Nature Trust (Malta) with the support of the International NGO Foundation for Environmental Education.
21 delegates from seventeen countries will be attending this two day long meeting which will be held at the Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre. The aim of the meeting is to discuss issues related to the management of the International LEAF Programme and its implementation in schools and other educational facilities. Besides providing opportunities for networking, the meeting will also include presentations from delegates of various participating countries and discussion workshops.
LEAF is a sister programme to EkoSkola. In essence the LEAF programme seeks to help learners understand the key role forests play for sustainable life on our planet and whether that role is being compromised by the way of life we lead. The LEAF programme is thus an opportunity for schools to empower students to adopt an active role in environmental decision-making and action in their school community. The latest changes in the National Curriculum Framework which recognizes ESD(Educational for Sustainable Development) as one of the central cross curricular themes and the 17 UNESCO SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are definitely fertile ground for the LEAF programme. 
The Malta LEAF NOM is being supported by GreenR Cabs an innovative company which has successfully introduced zero-emissions cabs in Malta, with a brand new fleet of 100% electric vehicles and a 24/7 service. Fabien Courtellemont, Managing Director, said: “We are very proud to assist Nature Trust in their commitment to minimize their carbon footprint. We will provide Zero-Emission cabs for nearly all airport and local transfers, therefore significantly reducing the emission of CO2 in our environment.”
Other partners supporting this important event include: Marsaxlokk Local Council, PARKS Directorate through the LIFE Project: Saving Buskett and the Plant Health Directorate, both within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, HSBC Catch the Drop Campaign, EDIC Victoria Gozo office, EDIC Malta and WasteServ.
Nature Trust (Malta) will be hosting this meeting in the most sustainable way possible keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum including the use of sustainable products with the majority of food items being locally sourced. 
