'IPC' stands for International Permaculture Convergence. It is a gathering of permaculture practitioners from around the world and people who are working with nature to design a better world. The International Permaculture Convergence has been active since 1985. It brings together some of the most inspiring and experienced practitioners from around the world to deliver diverse and engaging programmes.
The main aim of this event is to bring together Permaculture practitioners from around the world to share their experiences and to strategize about the future of the Permaculture movement. The IPC happens in 2 parts. The first part is the Conference which is attended by the members of the public, policy makers & representatives of the Permaculture community. The second part is the Convergence, which is attended by people who have completed their Permaculture Design Course.
At the 11th IPC held in Cuba, Aranya Agricultural Alternatives was chosen to host the 13th IPC in India. The IPC is happening in Asia after a gap of 15 years.
Aranya Agricultural Alternatives is an environmental and developmental organization working in the field of Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Agriculture since 1999. The organization has been empowering farming communities across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with Permaculture practices that create sustainable livelihoods.
The main theme of the IPC India 2017 is "Towards Healthy Societies" which is supported by 6 specific strands of activity:
The two invigorating days of conference will be packed with presentations, demonstrations, and insights on permaculture design philosophy, regeneration of soils, and water harvesting & management and its importance in the current scenarios of water crisis, climate change mitigation and sustainable living practices.
The convergence is an opportunity for the permaculture practitioners and ecological-conscious individuals to collaborate, learn, and share ways to fortify the permaculture movement in India and all over the world. The Convergence this year will be unique, since it is being held on an actual farm. The convergence village is currently being developed from scratch, and we are building the land systems as per permaculture principles. There will also be a special focus on demonstrating Indian agricultural and cultural practices.
To be considered as a future IPC host you need to fill in an application form and send it to the International Permaculture Convergence Council. (This application form with all the further information will be available soon at this website.) After IPC India 2017 the next IPC will be in Argentina in 2020. Whilst there is no hard and fast formula, the intention is that IPCs move between countries in the global north and global south.
IPCs started back in 1984 in Australia, and are the key global meeting point for the international permaculture network. It is fully self-financed, so donations and sponsorships are greatly appreciated!
For the international Permaculture community, IPCs are very important and have served since their inception in 1984 in Australia as a place to have discussions in person about strategy, educational standards, research, and regional and global permaculture developments, as well as to build connections which were leading to great projects. They have also been a way to highlight best practice in specific environments, and to celebrate and promote permaculture in the host country and region of the world the IPC is held. Projects and actual working designs are shared at IPC's from the smallest villages to the largest cities.
As each International Permaculture Convergence is sponsored and convened by a different host country and permaculture organization each time, it was determined in 2005 at the 7th International Permaculture Convergence in Croatia that an IPC Support Group would be beneficial. In 2013 (IPC-Cuba) the IPC Support Group was evolved into two parallel, but distinct organizations: "Friends of IPC" (FIPC), non-profit based in USA with 3 board members and the beginnings of the International Permaculture Convergence Council (IPCC) with members from different continents/world regions.
At the 12th International Permaculture Convergence IPC-UK 2015, FIPC and IPCC were formally approved as the international bodies of the IPC with approval to choose the next hosts.
FIPC and IPCC are working together to support the development of the International Permaculture Convergences as well as to support the hosts.
The Friends of the International Permaculture Convergence (FIPC) (nonprofit 501 (3) under the umbrella of Inquiring Systems International) is an organization working in conjunction with the International Permaculture Convergence Council (IPCC) to support the conveners of the individual International Permaculture Convergence (IPC) event held around the globe every two years and develop and maintain an IPC website to hold the records of previous events.
FIPC's specific mission is to augment the funds needed for convening the bi-annual IPC event, with a special focus on scholarship funding for delegates traveling from all parts of the world to attend.
To make donation to FIPC http://www.inquiringsystems.org/portfolio/friends-international-permaculture-convergence/
President: Mugove Walter Nyika (Zambia), Secretary: Marcia Amidon (USA), Treasurer: Wesley Roe (USA), Advisory Board Members: Margie Bushman (USA), Tedrowe Bonner (USA)
The International Permaculture Convergence Council, with representatives by design from all corners of the world including two Coordinators, helps advise the IPC hosts, manage the process of choosing the next IPC convener, and oversees the scholarship selection. For more information about IPCC please click here: http://internationalpermacultureconvergence.org
The members and supporters of the IPCC:
Ayouba M Kamara (Liberia), John Nzira (Coordinator, South Africa), Nicole Caran (Austria), Keri Chiveralls (Australia), Margarethe Holzer (Coordinator, Austria), Monica Ibacache (USA), Pavlo Ardanov (Ukraine), Maria Prieto (Spain), Rodolfo Sandoval (Venezuela), Supriya Gaddam (India), Tierra Martinez (Argentina), Wesley Rowe (USA), Xavier Bruzaud-Grille (Thailand).
Former IPC-host directors and Rosemary Morrow are acting as advisors in several cases.
Contact IPCC: council@internationalpermacultureconvergence.org
1984 - IPC1 Rowlands, New South Wales, Australia
1986 - IPC2 Breitenbush Hot Springs & Olympia in the NW of the USA
1988 - IPC3 Christchurch, New Zealand
1991 - IPC4 Nepal
1996 - IPC6 Perth, Australia
2005 - IPC7 Croatia organized in cooperation with Danish Association/European Permaculture Institute
2007 - IPC8 Brasil, Permacultura America Latina
2009 - IPC9 Malawi
2011 - IPC10 Jordan
2013 - IPC11 Cuba
2015 - IPC12 UK
2017 - IPC13 India
2020 - IPC14 Argentina
Aranya Agricultural Alternatives