Vth World Parks Congress, 8-17 September 2003, Durban, South Africa

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Day by Day 8-17 September 2003

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November 26, 2003
PROTECTED AREAS AS AN ENGINE FOR LIFE QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Málaga, 28 de noviembre de 2003 (UICN) –
Over two weeks, more than 20 experts on protected areas from twelve Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Mauritania and Montenegro) will participate in a Mediterranean seminar organized by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation at Málaga. This event aims to promote mechanisms to enable representation and participation of all protected area stakeholders at regional and local levels process and raise awareness of the value of protected areas and the benefits they provide to society and enhance general commitments to support protected areas.

Full Story // IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation

November 26, 2003
IMPLEMENTING THE OUTCOMES OF THE VTH IUCN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS

In the wake of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC), experts from the IUCN Secretariat and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) are meeting today to review the main outcomes of the Congress. The objectives of the retreat are to identify the 10 key issues which arose from the WPC, draw up a priority list and an implementation strategy defining activities to be developed to ensure these issues are effectively addressed. Implications for the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas and WCPA 2005-2008 Quadrennial Programme will also be identified. The WPC ended on September 17 delivering the Durban Accord and Action Plan, a set of 32 specific recommendations, and a message to next year’s meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

November 17, 2003
SOCIAL CONCERNS TO BECOME A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE CBD PROGRAMME OF WORK ON PROTECTED AREAS

"Member of the IUCN delegation making a presentation at the SBSTTA9"

"Member of the IUCN delegation making a presentation at the SBSTTA9"

Although the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) ended in Montreal with no consensus on all elements of the programme of work on protected areas, it nevertheless achieved important results with regard to a cluster of concerns comprising “governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing”. This cluster became a new element of the work programme, with goals directed at promoting equity and benefit sharing, and at enhancing and securing involvement of all stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities. IUCN actively supported this new element, which also received the backing of many government delegations, representatives of indigenous peoples’ organizations, and NGOs attending the meeting.

Full story // News on IUCN side event // CBD // IISD Linkages report

November 17, 2003
UNFINISHED YET A PROMISING TASK - PROTECTED AREAS AND THE CONVENTION

"IUCN Jeff McNeely addressing SBSTTA delegates"

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) attending the 9th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) in Montreal showed strong support for a comprehensive and ambitious Programme of Work (PoW) on Protected Areas to be considered at the CBD Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP) in Kuala Lumpur in February 2004. Parties welcomed the outcomes of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) to the CBD and, following the recommendation of the WPC Message to the CBD, added an element on governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing in the proposed PoW. Other elements include direct actions for planning, selecting, establishing, strengthening and managing protected area systems; enabling activities; and standards, assessment and monitoring.

Full story

November 14, 2003
IUCN EXPLORES CONSERVATION LEARNING NETWORK

"The CEC and IUCN programme team that worked on the e-learning network"

Denise Hamu, Chair of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), and CEC North American Chair, Keith Wheeler, drew together an exciting team at IUCN headquarters this week to discuss the potential development of a conservation e-learning network. The group worked with IUCN Programme Director, Bill Jackson, Global Communications Head, Corli Pretorius, and others to explore the concept and develop a draft business plan. The e-network would add value to IUCN programmes and initiatives like the IUCN Protected Areas Learning Network (PALNet), Species Information System (SIS), "Ecolex" law information service, and the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, and make IUCN materials more accessible to government training institutes, NGOs and universities. E-learning would magnify access to IUCN knowledge in the broader realm of mid-career professionals and practitioners in the conservation field.

IUCN CEC // PALNet // SIS // Ecolex // Law Academy

November 12, 2003
GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT CBD WORKPLAN ON PROTECTED AREAS

Governments meeting at the Subsidiary Body for Scientific Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SBSTTA - CBD) today voiced strong support to the proposed Programme of Work (PoW) on protected areas. Delegates also welcomed the outputs of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC), especially the WPC message to the CBD, as very useful tools to help countries implement the PoW as it aims to achieve the establishment of comprehensive and representative systems of protected areas. The PoW was elaborated in collaboration with an expert group on protected areas (AHTEG), in which IUCN actively participated, and presented to the Parties to the CBD by the CBD Secretariat.

Full story // IUCN Statement // IUCN Recommendations // Joint NGO Statement // WPC outputs // CBD // IISD Linkages report

November 06, 2003
MANAGING CHINA’S PROTECTED AREAS

"National park Erdaohai near Songpan, China"

“IUCN stands ready to assist the Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA),” Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General, told Vice Minister Zhu Guangyao during a lunch hosted by SEPA, at the second annual general meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) - Phase III, late last month. During the meeting, SEPA’s Vice Minister explained how the Government has already implemented some protected area management changes in response to discussions at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress held in Durban, South Africa, in September. He requested that IUCN helps SEPA to further strengthen protected area management in the country.

Full story // IUCN in Asia

October 27, 2003
NEW GUIDELINES SET VISION FOR PROTECTED AREAS WORLDWIDE

"Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas - the cover of the new publication"

"Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas - the cover of the new publication"

What do the Peruvian Huascarán World Heritage Site, the Australian Fitzgerald River National Park, and the Ugandan Bwindi Impenetrable Forest have in common? They are all protected areas, for one. Yet they are also protected areas for which long-term management plans have been prepared. In all cases these have been developed collaboratively, with local communities and key stakeholders actively contributing to the decision-making. Many methods can be used to reach out to the community while planning a protected area, from formal consultations to newspaper ads. In some places, poor levels of literacy or the use of indigenous languages requires less conventional techniques: there are ‘village drama’, school plays and ‘road shows’ – whatever it takes to get people on board.

Full story // IUCN Programme on Protected Areas // Purchase the publication

October 23, 2003
KIBAAR DANS LES PARCS

"Rift Valley Lake Reserve in Kenya - photo IUCN"

Le huitième numéro du bulletin trimestriel d’information de l'UICN, Afrique de l'Ouest., «Kibaar» vient de paraître. Consacré entièrement aux aires protégées, ce numéro retrace les grands moments du dernier Congrès Mondial des Parcs de l’UICN qui a eu lieu au mois de septembre, à Durban, en Afrique du Sud; avec un accent particulier sur les implications pour la sous région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Les délégués de la région, présents au Congrès, y expriment leur opinion sur le déroulement de l’évènement et sur son efficacité au niveau global. Au fil des pages, l’historique du Congrès sera disséquée, de la première rencontre à Seattle en 1962, jusqu’à la réunion de cette année. Enfin, Kibaar propose également le point de vue d’une spécialiste sur l’approche juridique des aires protégées dites transfrontalières.

Kibaar // Bureau régional de l'UICN pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest

October 22, 2003
A FEW INSIGNIFICANT SANDY ISLANDS OR A HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - THE WADDEN SEA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

"Wadden Sea in Friesland a 25 years ago – photo credit: Huub Hiemstra"

"Wadden Sea in Friesland a 25 years ago – photo credit: Huub Hiemstra"

Many will look blank when asked to describe the Wadden Sea, yet it is the world’s second largest Ramsar site and is today celebrating 25 years of tri-lateral cooperation. The responsible ministries of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have been working together on the protection and conservation of the Sea, covering management, monitoring and research, as well as political matters, since 1978. Today, dignitaries will gather in Germany for the jubilee anniversary of this successful intergovernmental cooperation model that has achieved the protection of the largest unbroken stretch of tidal flats on earth. Peter Bridgewater, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, will also present the “Durban Link” which consists of ten targets areas for action in the next decade. The document results from the Linkages in the Land and Seascape stream of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress.

The Durban Link // Peter Bridgewater's speech // Tri-lateral Wadden Sea Cooperation

October 17, 2003
DURBAN OUTPUTS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO UNGA

""United Nations General Assembly"

Delegates at the 2nd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), currently taking place in New York, received copies of the Durban Accord, Action Plan and Message to the Convention on Biological Diversity. These three documents are the fruits of the recent Vth IUCN World Parks Congress. During today’s session on environment and development, IUCN’s permanent observer to the UN Ambassador Bhagwat Singh addressed the Assembly, stressing the importance of the World Parks Congress outcomes and inviting delegates to take a closer look at them. As the 2nd Committee is this year focusing on the likes of international trade and development, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ambassador Bhagwat Singh’s intervention was all the more pertinent.

Full statement // / UNGA

October 14, 2003
HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS TO BENEFIT FROM DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

"Himalayan Mountains - photo IUCN Nikhat Sattar"

IUCN, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and two Italian organizations have come together to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for the Himalayan Mountains. Generally referring to information systems that support decision making, in this instance, the DSS relates to a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will be housed in ICIMOD in Katmandu, Nepal and draw on information available in the Centre. This innovative project, set to start before the end of the year, will be run by IUCN. IUCN will be responsible for the biodiversity and natural resources management aspects of the DSS, whilst the Italian partners will carry out academic research and take the lead in developing field activities in China, Nepal and Pakistan. The project management arrangements were discussed during the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress and finalized at the Merano Mountains workshop that convened in Italy earlier this month.

More information: Hans Friederich or Nikhat Sattar // IUCN in Asia

October 14, 2003
EATING WORMS AND PROTECTING PARKS
By Emmanuel Koro for WRI

"Kenton Miller (Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Vice President for Conservation at the World Resources Institute) at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress"

"Kenton Miller (Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Vice President for Conservation at the World Resources Institute) at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress"

The mopane worm -- Imbrassia belina to entomologists -- is a large caterpillar that feeds on the leaves of the mopane tree in southern Africa. It is also high in fat and protein, has a gritty texture and a slightly meaty taste when fried, and is considered a delicacy by many people in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The worm is a traditional source of cheap protein. It is an important part of the market for edible insects in the region, which is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The future of the caterpillar is tied into a larger tug-of-war between community rights and conservation over how to best manage resources. In some forests it is becoming difficult to find these once-abundant caterpillars due to over-harvesting. Meanwhile, the mopane worm is flourishing in some parks and nature preserves where harvesting is not permitted.

Full story // World Resources Institute

October 09, 2003
IUCN AT UN: NEED FOR GREATER RECOGNITION OF CONSERVATION ROLE IN POVERTY ERADICATION

Professor Robinson and Mr Hajost at the 2nd Committee of hte UN General Assembly in New York"

Professor Robinson and Mr Hajost at the 2nd Committee of hte UN General Assembly in New York"

Professor Nicholas Robinson, Chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, represented IUCN before the 2nd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, during its opening session in New York. The 2nd Committee is responsible for addressing economic and social issues before the General Assembly, including the implementation of the Rio Earth Summit and Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development recommendations. This year the 2nd Committee is looking into international trade and development, women in development, energy, desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, climate change, mountains, Agenda 21 implementation, implementation of the UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, and the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, amongst other topics.

Full story // Full IUCN Statement // 2nd Committe of the UN General Assembly

October 08, 2003
HOLLYWOOD MEETS IUCN IN THE PARK

"Hayden Panettiere and her entourage in Weenen Reserve, South Africa"

The newest Ambassador for the IUCN Red List Collection, Hayden Panettiere, currently in Africa filming her new movie “Racing Stripes”, visited Weenen Reserve to view first-hand the work of conservationists to protect species in their natural environment. Hayden and her guests, including Frederik DuChau and Broderick Johnson, director and producer of “Racing Stripes”, saw many threatened species, amongst which was the endangered rhino. They joined senior IUCN managers from around the world, together with one of IUCN’s major conservation partners, The Smithsonian Institution, and also the Coordinator for the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok in 2004.

Full story // Hayden Panettiere's website // The Smithsonian Institute // III IUCN World Conservation Congress

October 08, 2003
TWELVE JOURNALISTS ATTEND REUTERS-IUCN TRAINING COURSE IN DURBAN

"Participants in the Reuters-IUCN Training Course in Durban, South Africa, during the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress"

"Participants in the Reuters-IUCN Training Course in Durban, South Africa, during the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress"

Twelve journalists from twelve countries across the globe participated in a training course on environmental reporting held at the recent Vth IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa. The participants – from Brazil, Croatia, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, Uganda, and Zambia – spent six days in Durban from September 12 to 18, at a workshop sponsored by Reuters Foundation, IUCN – The World Conservation Union, the organiser of the Congress held every 10 years, and the German-based Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development. While in South Africa, participants took time out to visit a cultural centre inside a nature reserve run entirely by the local Zulu community. The field trip was aimed at illustrating how local communities can be involved in the operation of game parks and other protected areas, and provided most of the course material for the workshop.

Full story

October 07, 2003
A NEW AMBASSADOR FOR THE IUCN RED LIST COLLECTION

"Hayden Panettiere and Miguel Araujo, IUCN Director Corporate Strategy, Partnerships and Communication"

"Hayden Panettiere and Miguel Araujo, IUCN Director Corporate Strategy, Partnerships and Communication"

IUCN is delighted to welcome its latest Ambassador, Hollywood teen actress Hayden Panettiere, to support efforts to protect the world’s threatened species. Hayden is mostly known for her roles in the movies Joe Somebody, Remember the Titans and in the TV series Ally McBeal. She joins our other distinguished Ambassadors including Her Majesty Queen Noor, IUCN’s patron; world tennis champions Roger Federer and Martina Hingis; and musical stars pop singer Nena and opera singer Galileo. The Ambassadors are committed to help IUCN reach a broader audience to support conservation work.

Full story // Hayden Panettiere's website

October 03, 2003
HER MAJESTY QUEEN NOOR LAUNCHES THE IUCN RED LIST COLLECTION /C2B

"From the left to right: Queen Noor, Yolanda Kakabadse, IUCN President and the SSC Chair David Brackett. Photo: IUCN"

"From the left to right: Queen Noor, Yolanda Kakabadse, IUCN President and the SSC Chair David Brackett. Photo: IUCN"

Her Majesty Queen Noor launched a new IUCN venture during the World Parks Congress which reaches out to young people and encourages them to help fight species extinction. Queen Noor, Patron of IUCN, has been a long-time supporter of IUCN and its work. In her new role as Ambassador to the IUCN Red List Collection, she hopes to help raise awareness and communicate the challenges of the extinction crisis to the broader public and, in particular, young people.

Full story // Address by IUCN Patron and Patron of the Vth World Parks Congress H. M. Queen Noor at the IUCN Red List Collection Launch, World Parks Congress, Durban, September 10, 2003 // IUCN-SSC Red List // IUCN Species Survival Commission

October 02, 2003
THE INDIGENOUS PROTECTED AREAS OF AUSTRALIA: SHOWING A PATH TO RECONCILE PROTECTED AREA OBJECTIVES AND ABORIGINAL PEOPLES’ INTERESTS

"Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Protected Area: rock holes are water deposits fundamental for wildlife survival in these arid lands. Photo courtesy Ngaanyatjarra Community"

"Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Protected Area: rock holes are water deposits fundamental for wildlife survival in these arid lands. Photo courtesy Ngaanyatjarra Community"

Australia harbours a growing body of formal experiences in co-management of protected areas and indigenous protected areas, as well as a growing recognition of histories of customary aboriginal land management regimes. Indigenous Protected Areas, a specific protected area category created in the country to accommodate conservation efforts of aboriginal communities, have been a particularly exciting development both at policy and field levels, in terms of bridging the gap between protected area systems and the aboriginal conservation values and practices. The Australian government defines Indigenous Protected Areas as “areas of land in relation to which Traditional Aboriginal Owners have entered into a voluntary agreement for the purposes of promoting biodiversity and cultural resource conservation”.
Full story

September 29, 2003
MOBILE PEOPLES ATTEND FOR THE FIRST TIME A WORLD PARKS CONGRESS

Management of wetlands and grasslands by nomadic pastoralists in Central Asia

Management of wetlands and grasslands by nomadic pastoralists in Central Asia

On a hazy wintry seaside of Durban, huddled onto traditional floormats of a large bright hotel room, some 30 representatives of mobile indigenous peoples in turbans to kangas come together to express their unique contributions to conservation and their special needs that have all too often been ignored. This is the Mobile Indigenous Peoples’ preparatory meeting to define their formal recommendations and inputs to the Vth World Parks Congress of the IUCN. Nomads, pastoralists, shifting agriculturalists and hunter-gatherers all find that they share similar pressures in common, posing serious threats to their cultural identity and lifestyles: reduced land area interrupting their travel routes, attempts at forced settlement and sedentarisation, pressure to “develop” and “civilise” them, and even persecution and violence, are among a mosaic of problems they have each written and pasted onto yellow and blue pastel cards on the wall in front of them.
Full story