IUCN’s Programme on Protected Areas is hosting an e-discussion forum to obtain input for the upcoming Summit on the IUCN Protected Areas Management Categories, which will be held in Almería, Spain, 7-11 May 2007.  This Summit is part of a broader consultation process leading to revised guidelines for the IUCN Category System.

Participation at the Summit is, unfortunately, limited and by invitation only.  We are, therefore, inviting all IUCN Members, Councillors, Commissions, worldwide staff, as well as all those interested to provide their feedback through the e-discussion forum.

The online forum will be hosted between 12 March and 6 April.  You are invited to make general comments on the Categories System or provide feedback on specific working papers.  The e-forum will be moderated in English, but comments will be accepted in IUCN’s three official languages (English, Spanish and French).

Please participate and have your say by visiting: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/theme/categories/summit/summitpapers.html

For more information on the Categories Summit, please visit: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/theme/categories/summit/summit.html

We would be very grateful if you could circulate this information through your networks.

With best wishes,

David Sheppard
Head, IUCN Programme on Protected Areas

Nik Lopoukhine
Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas