Biodiversity loss and climate change at the core of IUCN North Africa Forum

                                  
Monastir, 21st June 2019 (IUCN-Med).- As challenges related to climate change and biodiversity loss continue to become more urgent, the North African conservation community will gather in Monastir (Tunisia) for its quadrennial meeting  designed to foster exchange of ideas and solutions. The IUCN Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) is a key opportunity for North African Members and Partners of IUCN to identify key biodiversity issues and priorities in the region, with an aim to influence the next IUCN Programme (2021-2024) and the post-2020 process.

The Forum will bring together more than 60 participants from IUCN Member organizations in North Africa, including ministries, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations. Participants will collaborate to ensure that regional matters are adequately taken into account during the IUCN Congress and the IUCN General Assembly in 2020 in Marseille.

IUCN World Conservation Congress

IUCN´s biggest event, the World Conservation Congress will be celebrated in June 2020 in Marseille. During the event, regional committees will submit their proposals and contributions for the development of the organization’s Programme for the next period. Participants to the North African Regional Conservation Forum will nominate candidates for the IUCN Council members’ elections and understand the different ways in which members can actively participate.

Part of the Forum will also be dedicated to discuss the links between IUCN’s programme and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Key biodiversity issues and priorities for North African members will be identified, taking into consideration the feedback from the 4th Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held last year in Egypt.

One of the greatest highlights of this event will be the signature of a Cooperation Agreement between the Tunisian Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment and IUCN. Furthermore, the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication Award will be announced during the Forum. The event will share also the latest Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas achievements in the Mediterranean and present an overview on conservation efforts across civil society in Libya.

Lastly, there will be an update on the Secretariat work related to species conservation actions in North African countries and an overview on the progress towards Protected Areas Aichi Target 11. Parallel events and discussion on nature-based solutions, on marine conservation and on ecotourism in protected areas are also among the agenda of the Forum.

The Regional Conservation Forum in Monastir is organised by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment, Association Notre Grand Bleu and the Tunisian National Committee of IUCN, with the financial support of MAVA Foundation.
 
For more details, please view the attached agenda.
 
For more information, photographs and interviews, please contact Lourdes Lázaro lourdes.lazaro@iucn.org