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IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group

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IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
The Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group will promote and support, where possible, transboundary conservation and establishment of transboundary initiatives for improvement of conservation and ...
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The Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group will promote and support, where possible, transboundary conservation and establishment of transboundary initiatives for improvement of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, cultural values, as well as strengthened forms of international collaboration and co-management of specific sites.

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Group leadership

Mr Piet THERON

Chair
Piet Theron (B Landscape Architecture, MPhil Environmental Science) is a Landscape Architect working in the environmental planning and management field. Piet has more than 27 years’ experience…
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Piet Theron (B Landscape Architecture, MPhil Environmental Science) is a Landscape Architect working in the environmental planning and management field. Piet has more than 27 years’ experience working on a wide range of natural resource management and social development projects in southern Africa. His key skills and expertise are focused on planning, managing, and implementing large, landscape-level and complex multi-national, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder, integrated conservation and rural development projects. These often involve setting up effective partnerships between governments, the private sector, NGOs and local communities. Piet also has for the past 17 years been involved in the implementation of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas Programme. He has therefore been closely involved in the planning, development, management and implementation of five transfrontier conservation area (TFCAs) projects in southern Africa. These require the setting up of collaborative networks and forums between a variety of diverse sectors, including the safety and security cluster, tourism sector, conservation agencies, and rural communities.
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Mrs Stefania PETROSILLO

Co-Chair
Senior expert in: - Natural Protected Areas - international and cross-border cooperation on protection of nature and culture heritage and sustainable development - community participatory…
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Senior expert in: - Natural Protected Areas - international and cross-border cooperation on protection of nature and culture heritage and sustainable development - community participatory management of natural and cultural resources - sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and community-based tourism - human rights and environment Member of the IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group. Member of the IUCN WCPA, Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist. Experiences: Work with local communities and local actors, facilitation of participatory processes; Liaison and policy officer with EU and other international organizations and donors; Project management, monitoring and evaluation; Organization of events, workshops, seminars; Teaching, training and tutoring. Excellent capability to work for and with different entities and stakeholders: international organizations, national public bodies, consultants, NGOs, associations, local communities. Excellent skills in team working and team leading. Accustomed to international work environments. Flexible and very adaptable to act in new contexts. Excellent networking skills. Work experiences in: Europe; Latin America; Middle East; Africa. Working Languages: Italian (mother tongue), English, French, and Spanish. Knowledge of German. Currently studying Dutch. Currently: EUROPARC Federation Policy Officer (liaison with the European Union and Council of Europe) ; Person in charge of EUROPARC Transboundary Parks Programme

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Our mission is "to promote and encourage transboundary conservation for the conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values while promoting peace and co-operation among nations, through enhancing knowledge and capacity for effective planning and management of transboundary conservation areas, in fulfillment of the Durban Action Plan and CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas."

What is transboundary conservation?

Ecosystems across the globe are divided by political boundaries. So they are exposed to many different policies, legal and institutional structures, management and governance regimes; they are affected by various social, cultural and economic contexts and systems, and they are sometimes impacted by complex relations between countries. Transboundary conservation has emerged as a practical way to overcome these differences and is considered as a process of cooperation to achieve conservation goals across one or more international boundaries.  

WCPA promotes three types and one special designation of Transboundary Conservation Areas:

Type 1: A Transboundary Protected Area: a clearly defined geographical space that consists of protected areas that are ecologically connected across one or more international boundaries and involves some form of cooperation.

Type 2: A Transboundary Conservation Landscape and/or Seascape: an ecologically connected area that sustains ecological processes and crosses one or more international boundaries, and which includes both protected areas and multiple resource use areas, and involves some form of cooperation.

Type 3: Transboundary Migration Conservation Areas: wildlife habitats in two or more countries that are necessary to sustain populations of migratory species and involve some form of cooperation.

Special designation: A Park for Peace is a special designation that may be applied to any of the three types of Transboundary Conservation Areas, and is dedicated to the promotion, celebration and/or commemoration of peace and cooperation.

Today, there are more than 200 examples of transboundary conservation initiatives in which cooperation ranges from informal agreements to government-to government treaties. The value of transboundary conservation includes ecological benefits alongside enhanced socio-economic resilience and strengthened political relations.

At a glance

Official name:
IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group
Associated Commissions:
World Commission on Protected Areas
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