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Primer Encuentro Mesoamericano sobre Derecho y Política Ambiental
El Primer Encuentro Mesoamericano sobre Derecho y Política Ambiental con Enfasis en Procesos de Integración Meso-americana tuvo lugar en la ciudad de Antigua, Guatemala, los días 23 a 27 de Febrero. Dicho evento, organizado por el Colegio de Abogados y Notario de Guatemala, el Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid, IDEADS (Instituto de Estudios Ambientales y Desarrollo Sustentable), E-Law, UICN y RODA, constituyó un foro de debate de gran importancia sobre los principales temas ambientales de la región desde una perspectiva legal. Hubieron diferentes exposiciones sobre áreas protegidas, la bioseguridad, el derecho administrativo ambiental, el derecho penal ambiental, los instrumentos económicos, el corredor biológico mesoamericano y la conservación de los recursos hídricos. Al final de cada exposición, tuvo lugar una ronda de preguntas y un foro para el debate. El Programa de Derecho Ambiental estuvo representado por Grethel Aguilar Rojas, Vicepresidente Regional de la CDA y por Alejandro Iza, legal officer del Centro de Derecho Ambiental, además de la participación de varios miembros de la CDA de la región mesoamericana y de España. Para mayor información sobre este evento rogamos dirigirse a: ideads@intelnet.net.gt
English version
Guide to Cartagena Protocol moves one step closer
The IUCN-Environmental Law Centre (ELC) and the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD) have co-hosted the third and final workshop in Bonn, Germany on the development of an 'Explanatory Guide to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety'. The Guide, which is being produced by a team from IUCN-ELC, FIELD and several other experts, is being developed to assist those who will have responsibility for implementing the Protocol at the national and international levels. Participants from over twenty nations and from many different backgrounds, but all of whom are veterans in the area of biosafety, joined the authors in reviewing the current draft to ensure that it answers all of the right questions and is readily understandable. "This is a great example of the value of working together in partnership to facilitate the implementation of a treaty and to help build capacity" said John Scanlon, Head of the IUCN-ELP. IUCN and FIELD thanked the Danish Government, the European Commission and the Norwegian Government for their generous support for the development of the Guide.
IUCN Environmental Law Programme progresses collaboration with UNEP
Professor Andrew Waite, Commission on Environmental Law Vice Chair for Western Europe and John Scanlon, Head, ELP have met with Frits Schlingemann, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Europe (and staff) to explore opportunities to progress collaboration between UNEP and IUCN-ELP in working with the judiciary, in particular in Europe. Meetings were also held with Stephen Stec, Senior Legal Specialist, Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) on progressing the joint initiative by UNEP, REC and IUCN-ELP to establish a joint environmental law service for Central and Eastern Europe. "The spirit of cooperation and desire to collaborate in building regional environmental law capacity bodes well for the future" said Scanlon.
Director General's visit caps off a week to remember for the ELP
The Environmental Law Programme has celebrated the first visit by the Director General to the Environmental Law Centre in Bonn by hosting a major Reception in his honour. The DG's visit to Bonn included meeting with the Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) Steering Committee to discuss the future directions of the IUCN and the ELP, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the IUCN's UN Observer Status. "Law provides the basis for transparency and accountability and the ELP is a vital component of IUCN thematic and regional programme work" said Steiner. CEL Chair, Professor Nicholas Robinson spoke for everyone in thanking the DG for making it to Bonn and for "his passionate leadership, clear and articulate sense of direction and for the enthusiasm he conveyed to the Steering Committee and Reception guests." Achim Steiner's presence in Bonn was the highlight of an exceptionally successful week for the ELP that, in addition to the DG's Reception, included the first CEL Steering Committee meeting for 2002, the launch of two new IUCN publications the unveiling of a new sign that will promote the IUCN presence in Bonn and the launch of the new ELP Website. A report on the Steering Committee Meeting will be posted over the next few weeks.
Director General praises ELP for early launch of new Website
IUCN Director General, Achim Steiner has praised Environmental Law Programme staff and volunteers for launching its new Website well ahead of time to coincide with his first visit to the Environmental Law Centre in Bonn. "It is a good reflection of the new sense of energy and direction that exists in the Programme" said Steiner. "The ability of ELC staff to work well together as a team, along with the generous assistance of staff at IUCN Headquarters and CEL volunteers, made an early launch possible" said ELP Head John Scanlon. Special thanks were extended to Anni Lukács, web mistress and Alexandra Fante, for their tireless efforts. The new ELP Website profiles all components of the Environmental Law Programme. It will be progressively developed to provide further helpful and timely information on recent developments and events and is poised to become a major international hub for information sharing in environment law. The ELP is the first IUCN programme to utilize the new website template developed by IUCN Headquarters for which the ELP is most grateful.
Arab Regional Centre for Environmental Law a first for Arabic speaking region
The Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) has hailed the cooperative launch by CEL and the Faculty of Law, Kuwait University of the Arab Regional Centre for Environmental Law (ARCEL), the first such center anywhere in the Arabic speaking region. This is "an excellent example of the kind of co-operation envisioned in Agenda 21" said Commission Chair Professor Nicholas Robinson when addressing the Deans of twenty six law schools drawn from the region and the Director General of the State of Kuwait Environment Public Authority at the formal launch on 14 November. Dr. Badria Al-Awadi, CEL Regional Vice-Chair for West Asia, in presenting ARCEL's first lecture on the origins and scope of work of ARCEL, invited the participation of legal experts throughout the Arab world in building the region's capacity in environmental law. She also emphasised the establishment at ARCEL of the first environmental law library in Arabic. The CEL Steering Committee is meeting in Bonn, Germany from 23-26 January 2002. Full story
Environmental Law Programme in senior talks in the US
James Connaughton, Chair of the US Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the most senior advisory position to President Bush on environment policy, met  with Commission on Environmental Law Chair, Professor Nicholas Robinson, and John Scanlon, Head of the Environmental Law Programme, during a series of December meetings with Senior US Officials from the Department of State, US EPA and CEQ, UN agencies and leading NGO's, including the Environmental Law Institute, Centre for International Environmental Law, World Environment Center and GLOBE.
"This was a wonderful opportunity to further promote the IUCN at a high level in the US and we received a very enthusiastic response" Scanlon said. The ELP will be following up on the strong interest expressed in participating in numerous ELP capacity building initiatives.
Norway seeks assistance from IUCN Environmental
Law Centre on biodiversity laws
 IUCN's
Environmental Law Centre in Bonn hosted the secretariat for an expert
panel established by the Norwegian government to review and find ways
of improving Norway's legislation for the conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity. The purpose of the November 2001 visit
included taking advantage of the Centre's offer to provide preliminary
research on existing legislation dealing with issues such as: access
to genetic resources; implementation of the Convention on Biological
Diversity; conservation of species and habitats; establishment of natural
reserves; regulation of alien species; and liability for damage to biodiversity.
Link
to the Ministry of Environment, Norway
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