Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - To mark the occasion of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress, 60 participants from 30 nations hiked to the top of two mountains in South Africa’s uKhalamba/Drakensberg Park World Heritage site, carrying their national flags. At the summits, the international climbers and mountain experts made a declaration on peace and the importance of transboundary protected areas in building peace, international solidarity, and heritage conservation. The climb was the second to be organized by IUCN in conjunction with the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), following the award-winning climb of Indian and Pakistani climbers in Switzerland last year. The climb was a cry for peace between the two countries and for protection of the famous Siachen Glacier, on the frontline of the ongoing conflict. (...)

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Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - Around 70 people from the conservation community, mining industry, governments, and indigenous peoples’ groups gathered at a Vth IUCN World Parks Congress meeting and took part in a lively discussion on extractive industries and protected areas. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the industries’ commitment to protected areas and biodiversity. Interim results were presented on the biodiversity assessment and management “best practice” guidelines being developed under the IUCN-International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Dialogue. These outline the principles and recommendations to be followed by mining operations that impact on protected areas. It was recognized that they need to be refined and strike a balance between environmental and socio-economic issues. Furthermore, application of the guidelines could be wider, especially to other extractive industries. (...)

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Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - Around 70 people from the conservation community, mining industry, governments, and indigenous peoples’ groups gathered at a Vth IUCN World Parks Congress meeting and took part in a lively discussion on extractive industries and protected areas. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the industries’ commitment to protected areas and biodiversity. Interim results were presented on the biodiversity assessment and management “best practice” guidelines being developed under the IUCN-International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Dialogue. These outline the principles and recommendations to be followed by mining operations that impact on protected areas. It was recognized that they need to be refined and strike a balance between environmental and socio-economic issues. Furthermore, application of the guidelines could be wider, especially to other extractive industries. (...)

Full Story // Press Release on Shell Commitment to Biodiversity // IUCN-ICMM Dialogue // Shell // UNESCO World Heritage Centre //
IUCN and World Heritage

Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - A panel of experts convened by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and Global Marine Programme opened lively discussions at the World Parks Congress over the urgent need for improved management of marine species. The session introduced a new, multi-year project being carried out by the SSC in collaboration with other partners, including The Ocean Conservancy, which aims to overturn the myth that marine species are less vulnerable to extinction than those on land and are therefore in less need of conservation action. This is widely recognized as a major obstacle to improvements in their management and in overall stewardship of marine resources and habitats. Experts outlined some of the myths about the invulnerability of marine species that are perpetuated around the world and presented an alarming picture of a new wave of critical endangerment of marine species. . (...)

Full Report // IUCN-SSG Shark Specialist Group // IUCN-SSC Species Survival Commission // IUCN Red List of Threatened Species // Birdlife International

Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - What does Strategic Communication actually mean? How does it work, and what are the obstacles professionals encounter? These were the main points discussed during the first workshop day in the building support stream. Case studies from the four corners of the world highlighted striking similarities in experiences and problems faced. Participants concluded that the starting point of strategic communication should be within organizations, with the institutionalization of communication being a part of management approaches. Moreover, it was felt that park managers are often unaware of the benefits of communication and subsequently do not know what to ask from communication professionals. The value-added of communication in achieving conservation management goals therefore needs to be highlighted. (...)

Full Report // Programme of Workshop Stream 1

Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - With 2500 plus delegates currently registered at the congress, there was no lack of participants in the 7 workshop streams and 3 cross-cutting themes that started yesterday and close at the end of tomorrow. Highlights from the World Heritage cross-cutting stream included the launch a new publication on the effectiveness of the World Heritage Convention. Other perks included discussions on sites inscribed in the “in Danger List” and on sites in regions of conflict. The “New Ways of Working Together” stream debated the significance of the word governance, and more specifically its translation into different languages; and had the spotlight on high seas, international governance mechanisms and how to better work with them, and engaging indigenous communities in formal and informal governance processes. (...)

Full Report // IISD Daily Report on the WPC // Workshop's section in this website

Durban, Sudáfrica, 12 de setiembre de 2003 (IUCN) - “La relación que las mujeres y hombres tienen con el medio ambiente y las áreas protegidas es crucial para la supervivencia de estos hábitat naturales” –dijo la Viceministra de Ambiente y Turismo de Sudáfrica, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, cuando presentó el miércoles un video titulado “El Género Cuenta” (Gender Matters), durante el V Congreso Mundial de Áreas Protegidas organizado por UICN en Durban, Sudáfrica, del 8 al 17 de este mes. El video, que fue producido por UICN y la Oficina de la Asesora Mundial del tema de Género de UICN, presenta, entre otras cosas, la experiencia de un proyecto ecoturístico en las zonas protegidas del norte de Guatemala. Dicho proyecto, que involucra a las comunidades indígenas locales, incluye un importante componente de género y ha ayudado a reducir significativamente la deforestación por siembra y la cacería de subsistencia. Además, en el video participaron varios otros especialistas en el tema alrededor del mundo.

Full Press Release // Programa de Género y Ambiente de la UICN

Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - IUCN’s Species Survival Commission is contributing to an assessment of gaps in the existing global protected area system – terrestrial, freshwater and marine - which must be filled to ensure coverage of as many species as possible, particularly those included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and their habitats. The Commission, through its 7,000 expert members, can help design protected areas using the best available science and is developing criteria and procedures to identify and select the most important sites for biodiversity conservation. Yesterday at the World Parks Congress, a press conference introduced the “Global Gap Analysis” and its preliminary results that reveal at least 223 bird, 140 mammal and 346 amphibian species threatened with extinction currently have no protection over any part of their ranges. Many existing protected areas are so small that that they are virtually ineffective in conserving species, placing another 943 and probably many more bird, mammal and amphibian species at risk.

Full Press Release // Conservation International

Durban, South Africa, 12 September 2003 (IUCN) - IUCN – The World Conservation Union and the Ramsar Convention Bureau today sign an agreement of cooperation to save wetland ecosystems. “The result of this agreement will be more effective international policy and local action to conserve some of the world’s most valuable and beautiful wetlands”, says Dr. Peter Bridgewater, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has 138 Member States. At its core is the List of Wetlands of International Importance – wetlands that have been declared protected areas for their unique biodiversity, cultural and economic values. Currently, 1308 wetlands covering a total area of 110 million hectares are protected. At the latest Conference of Parties (Valencia, 2002), the Member States approved a Strategic Plan for the Convention. The cooperation agreement outlines IUCN’s programme of work in support of the Convention. “Over the past 32 years, IUCN has played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Convention. Now, our contribution will be much more targeted to protect wetlands and link water resources management to ecosystem health and livelihoods”, says Achim Steiner, Director General of IUCN.


Full Press Release // Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Durban, Sudáfrica, 12 de setiembre de 2003 (IUCN) - En un esfuerzo conjunto entre las oficinas regionales para Sudamérica y Mesoamérica de UICN, en el marco del V Congreso Mundial de Parques, se realizó el lanzamiento de una nueva publicación titulada "Áreas Protegidas en Latinoamérica - de Caracas a Durban", un vistazo sobre su estado 1992-2003 y tendencias futuras. A través de este documento, ambas oficinas pretenden apoyar la divulgación del estado y las tendencias de las áreas protegidas en la región. Si bien no se trata de un informe oficial de diagnóstico exhaustivo, sí busca contribuir a mostrar, en especial, a actores extra-regionales y, mediante la información disponible y la referencia a algunos ejemplos seleccionados, el gran esfuerzo que la región ha hecho en materia de áreas protegidas; así como los enormes retos que permanecen pendientes y con los que la Unión está profundamente comprometida. Esta publicación resalta los esfuerzos realizados por cada uno de los países de la región para conservar estas zonas. Para ello, se presenta un análisis sobre la expansión de las áreas protegidas, el legado de Caracas (1992), los avances regionales revisados en Santa Marta (1997) y una síntesis de su estado. En una segunda parte, se detallan los asuntos clave hacia el futuro como: la visión regional de las áreas protegidas, su financiación, apoyo social, planificación y gestión, instituciones y goberanbilidad, biodiversidad y valor integral.


UICN en América del Sur // UICN en Mesoamérica