Dr Hillary M. Masundire, Chair of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM)

Applying the Ecosystem Approach to post-disaster reconstruction

“CEM’s work currently is very focused on the application of the Ecosystem Approach to post-disaster reconstruction and restoration. We held a very successful workshop in Sri Lanka about this issue in July this year, with representatives from CARE, UNEP, Oxfam (The Netherlands), presenting examples like the Tsunami and the Hurricane Mitch. Well managed ecosystems are the best protection against natural disasters – that was very clearly shown by a presentation from Bangladesh - with healthy mangroves, coral reefs, sand dunes, forests or other natural features making ecosystems resilient to the impact of floods, droughts, or other natural disasters.

“There are two main outputs of the meeting: Firstly, we developed a concept for a project which will lead IUCN in applying the ecosystem approach in disaster impact minimization and restoration. The project has now been put forward for funding. Secondly, this project will engage with all five themes of CEM: Ecosystem Approach, Ecosystem Restoration, Indicators of Ecosystem Status, Ecosystem Management Tools and Ecosystem Services – so it will really be the dominant theme of the Commission on Ecosystem Management.

For more information, please contact Hillary M. Masundire at cemchairiucn.org

Keith Wheeler, Deputy Chair of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC)

The World Conservation Learning Network taking shape

“The World Conservation Learning Network (WCLN) is the main area of CEC's present work. Led by the commission, it is a capacity building initiative bringing together conservation NGOs and universities around the world working on education for environmental sustainability.

“We just held our first regional WCLN meeting in Mesoamerica, bringing together 40 universities from the region, several NGOs and IUCN Regional Offices to talk about regional priorities and capacity building needs. As a result of the workshop, a new regional network of universities has been set up, which will develop online learning courses for conservation practitioners with a special focus on biodiversity and water issues, as well as social participation in these.

“A couple of the universities agreed to get to work on course development right away: Eduard Mueller - WCPA Regional Chair and Rector of the University of International Cooperation - will work with IUCN and the University of Guadalajara to develop a course on the Ecosystem Approach for protected area managers in Latin America. Also, in preparation for the next Conference of the Parties of the CBD in Brazil, March 2006, IUCN, Conservation International and others will work together to develop a communication and relationship management course for biodiversity conservation professionals.

“The next regional WCLN meeting is already being planned. It will be held in southern Africa in May 2006, organized in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch".

For more information on WCLN: www.wcln.org or contact Keith Wheeler at
keithconcord.org

Mr Nikita Lopoukhine, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

Providing expertise to transboundary conservation

“The World Commission on Protected Areas has been extremely active on transboundary protected areas issues. As countries all over the world are working together to establish these areas – like the former iron curtain area between Russia and Finland – the governance of these areas is becoming a big issue. The WCPA Transboundary Task Force is therefore responding to the need of guidelines on how to set up and manage transboundary protected areas – we are now contributing to five technical publications on the issue! One of these, “Transboundary conservation: A new vision for protected areas”, a result of a partnership with Conservation International and CEMEX will be launched at the upcoming World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage, Alaska at the beginning of October.

“There are complex legal questions involved with transboundary conservation, including property rights, restrictions, authority over certain areas and natural resources and the involvement of indigenous and local communities. We are therefore working together with the Commission on Environmental Law on legal and tenure questions and with the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy on governance and community involvement.

“Transboundary protected areas are very exciting to work on, as the focus is on cooperation regarding management of natural resources rather than the conflict over them. WCPA is keen to contribute to this growing movement.”

For more information, please contact Nik Lopoukhine at nik.lopoukhinepc.gc.ca

Ms. Sheila Abed de Zavala, Chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law (CEL)

Creating a more dynamic commission

“Since the Bangkok World Conservation Congress, our focus has been on organizing the commission in a different way. A new Steering Committee has been appointed, new by-laws adopted and newly organized specialist groups have been set up.

“In order to build bridges and stimulate cooperation between the commission and the Union we have set up inter-commission specialist groups. Also, a new communication strategy has been designed for all different levels of our work: internally within the Specialist Groups, between the Specialist Groups, the Steering Committee and the whole commission and externally between the commission and IUCN. By keeping a steady information flow at all these different levels, we want to mobilize our network CEL volunteers.

“Another new feature of the CEC is our new young professionals category. Young lawyers under 30 can now apply for CEL membership and will enter in a sort of mentoring programme providing some training and knowledge to them by more experienced members of the commission.

For more information, please contact Sheila Abed de Zavala at sheila.abedidea.org.py

Dr. Holly T. Dublin, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

Long term conservation strategy for the Asian elephant

SSC, with the help of partners, is taking a lead role in developing a long term conservation strategy for the Asian elephant which is found in 14 countries across South and Southeast Asia, from Nepal to Indonesia. Faced with numerous challenges, the range States are keen to work towards a regional consensus to secure a future for this emblematic species. The Range States Dialogue, to be held in Malaysia next year, will hopefully result in a concrete conservation action plan. This is just one example of how governments approach SSC for its independent advice and expertise in brokering solutions to prevailing conservation problems.

For more information, please contact Holly Dublin at holly.dublinssc.iucn.org

Dr Taghi Farvar, Chair of the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP)

Rebuilding customary tribal institutions for natural resource use with mobile and indigenous peoples

“Mobile and indigenous peoples and the sustainable use of natural resources – that is one of the main areas CEESP has been focusing on. Building on resolutions from the Durban World Parks Congress and the Bangkok World Conservation Congress on indigenous and mobile indigenous peoples, CEESP has been working with local groups, IUCN members and the newly established World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) to develop a strategy on the conservation of natural resources and assuring sustainable livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

“To achieve that goal, CEESP’s local partners found that the highest priority of the populations concerned was to rehabilitate the customary tribal institutions – like the council of elders for example – that traditionally dealt with sustainable natural resource management issues. Especially mobile indigenous peoples like pastoralists, mobile fishers or hunters and gatherers live in very fragile ecosystems, following seasonal migration patterns in order not to overuse the limited natural resources in a certain area. The customary institutions our members and partners are trying to reconstitute used to be the custody of the indigenous knowledge about biodiversity and natural resource use, but many of them had been weakened or suspended.

“In order not to lose this valuable indigenous knowledge, CEESP partners including IUCN members have been working with indigenous tribes like the Qashqai in southern Iran and the Shahseven in Azerbaijan to rebuild their customary institutions. As a result, they have been re-established, with statutes set up by them and they have been recognized at the national level. A whole range of international institutions is supporting this work, like WAMIP, the International Insititute for Environment and Development, UNDP’s Dryland Development Centre, CENESTA – Center for Sustainable Development, and the World Institute for Sustainable Pastoralism – and we look forward to continue this work with them and the indigenous peoples.

For more information, please contact Taghi Farvar at taghicenesta.org