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Next World Conservation Congress to be in Barcelona The world’s conservation community will come together in Barcelona in October 2008 with Spain selected today as the host country for the next IUCN World Conservation Congress. 24 May 2006 The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Council today voted for Spain as the host country of the fourth World Conservation Congress in 2008. The Congress will be held in Barcelona in October 2008. The IUCN Council, the principal governing body of the World Conservation Union, assessed two final proposals from potential host countries: Ethiopia and Spain. Eleven countries had originally expressed interest in hosting the Congress. The 2008 Congress will be hosted by the Spanish government in close cooperation with the Catalan regional government, and the province and city governments of Barcelona. President Valli Moosa and the IUCN Council expressed their profound appreciation to the governments in both Ethiopia and Spain for their exceptional commitment and work in preparing the proposals. The World Conservation Congress, held every four years, is one of the world’s largest and most diverse events devoted to improving how we manage our natural environment - together with human, social and economic development. The last Congress, held in Bangkok in November 2004, brought together more than 5,000 people, from all sectors and corners of the world, to discuss and decide on environmental and development issues. The Congress is part forum, part assembly of IUCN Members. The Forum, a grand bazaar of the world’s conservation community, brings together governments, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, companies, politicians, scientists, social leaders, trade unions, entrepreneurs, journalists, indigenous groups, artists and musicians to discuss, share and learn. The Assembly, the main governance body of the Union, brings together IUCN’s more than 1,000 member organizations to debate and vote on policy, approve the Union’s programme of work for the following four years, elect the next Council, and manage the business affairs of the Union. The six IUCN Commissions, representing 10,000 of the world’s leading conservation scientists and experts, will also meet at the Congress. The 2008 Congress will be held at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB), on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and minutes from the city centre. The Convention Centre played host to the Universal Forum of Cultures in 2004. The IUCN Council today also established the Congress Preparatory Committee that will guide development and planning of the event. The committee will be chaired by Purifcació Canals, member of the IUCN Council and a Catalonia native. The dates of the Congress, which are still to be finalized, are likely to be from 6-16 October. For more information
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