2004
Protected Areas make grand entrance at the CBD
Protected Areas take centre stage at CBD COP-7
IUCN delivers statement at the CBD Opening Plenary

2003

Mainstreaming Climate Change and Biodiversity
Unfinished yet a promising task - Protected Areas and the Convention
Governments support CBD Workplan on protected areas
Durban Outputs make their way unto UNGA

News At COP-7

PROTECTED AREAS MAKE GRAND ENTRANCE AT THE CBD
February 23, 2004
IUCN today salutes the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for the adoption of a bold and visionary Programme of Work (PoW) on Protected Areas. IUCN Director General Achim Steiner heralded the PoW as one of the most significant documents adopted by the CBD. It sets clear targets including the establishment of a global network of comprehensive, representative and effectively managed protected area systems. Emphasis is also placed on strengthening the management of protected areas and ensuring that the costs and benefits of protected areas are equitably shared. The PoW builds on and reinforces the results of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) held in Durban, South Africa, in September 2003. Achim Steiner noted that the achievement of the targets set in the PoW will be challenging but that IUCN will stand ready to assist countries in meeting these goals. IUCN organized a plethora of side events aimed at building the capacity of protected area managers in implementing the PoW and facilitating its understanding.
full document

PROTECTED AREAS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE CBD COP7

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IUCN DELIVERS STATEMENT AT THE CBD OPENING PLENARY

February 10, 2004
“IUCN sees the endorsement by the World Summit on Sustainable Development of the target adopted by COP6 to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss as a great success for the Convention and a recognition of its leading role in addressing the biodiversity components of sustainable development,” said Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Head of the IUCN Delegation, addressing the opening plenary of the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP7). “COP7 is now challenged to put in place an ambitious and decisive action agenda to live up to this commitment.” IUCN is a knowledge provider across a whole range of the proposed goals and targets, and stands ready to assist Parties to the CBD in measuring progress in achieving the 2010 target.
Full statement

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MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY
November 17, 2003
The IUCN Regional Biodiversity Programme, Asia in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) organised a side event on "Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Climate Change" on 13th November 2003 during the Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Montreal. The meeting was opened by Mr. Andrew Deutz, IUCN Canada office, and had presentations from Ms. Rocio Lichette of the Secretariat of the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mr. Manuel Guartiguata of the CBD Secretariat, and Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati of the IUCN Regional Biodiversity Programme Asia followed by lively discussions from the 40 plus participants that included several donor agencies, country delegates and NGOs. press release

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UNFINISHED YET A PROMISING TASK - PROTECTED AREAS AND THE CONVENTION
November 17, 2003
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) attending the 9th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) in Montreal showed strong support for a comprehensive and ambitious Programme of Work (PoW) on Protected Areas to be considered at the CBD Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP) in Kuala Lumpur in February 2004. Parties welcomed the outcomes of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) to the CBD and, following the recommendation of the WPC Message to the CBD, added an element on governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing in the proposed PoW. Other elements include direct actions for planning, selecting, establishing, strengthening and managing protected area systems; enabling activities; and standards, assessment and monitoring.
press release

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GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT CBD WORKPLAN ON PROTECTED AREAS
November 12, 2003
Governments meeting at the Subsidiary Body for Scientific Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SBSTTA - CBD) today voiced strong support to the proposed Programme of Work (PoW) on protected areas. Delegates also welcomed the outputs of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC), especially the WPC message to the CBD, as very useful tools to help countries implement the PoW as it aims to achieve the establishment of comprehensive and representative systems of protected areas. The PoW was elaborated in collaboration with an expert group on protected areas (AHTEG), in which IUCN actively participated, and presented to the Parties to the CBD by the CBD Secretariat.
Full story // IUCN Statement // IUCN Recommendations // Joint NGO Statement

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DURBAN OUTPUTS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO UNGA
October 17, 2003
Delegates at the 2nd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), currently taking place in New York, received copies of the Durban Accord, Action Plan and Message to the Convention on Biological Diversity. These three documents are the fruits of the recent Vth IUCN World Parks Congress. During today’s session on environment and development, IUCN’s permanent observer to the UN Ambassador Bhagwat Singh addressed the Assembly, stressing the importance of the World Parks Congress outcomes and inviting delegates to take a closer look at them. As the 2nd Committee is this year focusing on the likes of international trade and development, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ambassador Bhagwat Singh’s intervention was all the more pertinent.statement