January 20, 2006: The President of the World Conservation (IUCN), Mr. Valli Moosa, arrives in Pakistan for a visit on January 24-26, 2006. He would be here, primarily, to discuss the post-earthquake situation and IUCN's role in rehabilitation efforts. He would visit the earthquake affected areas in AJK, and possibly, in NWFP; meet the Acting President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of AJK, the Federal Minister and the Minister of State for Environment and other high ranking officials of the Governments of Pakistan and AJK. He would also meet key representatives of the civil society, especially the member organizations of IUCN in the country.

During the course of his meetings and discussions, he would highlight the significance of sound environmental management in mitigating the impacts of natural calamities and express the need to consider environmental aspects of relief and rehabilitation efforts. He would also offer IUCN's expertise to address the environmental damages and needs in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake.

Mr. Valli Moosa belongs to South Africa and had held the position of Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of South Africa from 1999 - 2004. He is an environmental leader who is passionate about democracy, sustainable development and freedom. An anti-apartheid activist, he became Minister of Constitutional Affairs in 1994 and was Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism from 1999-2004. Mr. Moosa was one of the key negotiators of the African National Congress during the drafting of South Africa’s new constitution and the country’s transition to a new democratic order.

Mr. Moosa has won acclaim both in South Africa and abroad as a competent and insightful mediator, especially during the preparation process leading to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg in 2002 and the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban in September 2003; both events were held in South Africa largely due to his initiative and effort.

For more information contact:

Hasan Rizvi, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Pakistan.
Tel: (021) 537 4072/73/74, e-mail: hasan.rizvi@iucnp.org.

 

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