Dear Participants of Lars2007,
Lars2007 was a big success: more than 100 scholars and professionals from 10 countries participated in the symposium, which was held at Arba Minch University, a young but fast growing University in the South of Ethiopia.

All of us enjoyed the beautiful place in the Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley, the hospitability of our hosts, the almost perfect organisation. We were honoured by the presence of four Ethiopian parliamentarians and two senior ministers of the Federal Government, by several representatives of the Regional Government as well as the Chairman of the University Board and members of the City Government of Arba Minch. The Rector and Vice-rector of the long standing partner Universität Siegen paid their tribute, and senior GTZ personnel representing the donor for a project that lasted for almost 18 years highlighted the success and impacts of the German contribution to AMU’s development.

Besides listening to the many high quality presentations and discussions, which are going to be revised for the final publication of the proceedings by December 2007, the participants enjoyed networking between partners and projects from various countries. Joint research is not any more just a dream it is already taking place in East Africa at various places. This is a good basis for meeting the challenges of the future which must be taken up in facing the impacts of world wide climate change. Changing rain fall pattern put an even larger threat on the many rural people fighting for survival and sustenance.

The final motto of Lars2007 was drafted as “moving from modelling to action”, a demand for all those maintaining their ivory tower of science to changing attitudes and joining the many fighting for developing stable and sustaining resources basis for our people.

The growing network of East African universities and scholars is a good basis to continue with research, knowledge transfer and application, that is actual change. Let us work together for organising Lars2010 at an equally beautiful location in Eastern Africa with as many active scholars and professionals as possible.

Gerd Förch
May 2007
Lars2007 Organising and Scientific Committee