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News of the Congress
Wednesday 10 September 2003
WPC
News Story
September 10,
2003
SCIENTIFIC PROTOCOL FOR THE GSLWP TO GO FORWARD
TO THE WORLD PARKS CONGRESS FROM SCIENTISTS |
 ‘People
and Parks’ Scientific conference - Cape Vidal,
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, 5-7 September 2003
- With the global increase in the
number and extent of protected areas globally, we
recognise the need for new forms of governance -
new institutional arrangements to manage these areas
sustainably. These new arrangements require a sound
knowledge base of both scientific and indigenous
knowledge as a basis for decision making. Furthermore,
with the shift to the paradigm of emphasising conservation
for economic and social development, the development
of this knowledge base needs to take place in a way
that is inclusive of all participants, and serves
their needs. (...)
Full
Statement |
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Session
Report
September 10,
2003
MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOUR IN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS
CUISINE |
 Durban,
South Africa, 10 September 2003 - During
the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) currently
taking place in Durban, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean
Cooperation organized a session specifically targeted
at Mediterranean participants to focus on regional
issues relating to protected areas. Over 100 dignitaries,
government officials, NGO representatives, and conservationists
discussed contributions to the broad spectrum of
issues tackled during the ten-day Congress, and ways
to further efforts to conserve and sustainably use
the region’s resources. Representatives
of the Spanish Ministry of Environment, Regional
Government of Murcia and the Regional Government
of Andalucia launched two new publications: ‘Connectivity
in the Mediterranean region’ and ‘Management
of Mediterranean Protected Areas’, and one
CD containing the key documents from the Murcia Conference.
The coordinators of the Murcia Conference, which
took place last March and was the main forum for
the region, presented outcomes related to governance,
linkages, sustainable finance, gaps in the system
and training in the region, and their links to the
draft Durban Action Plan.
Full
Report // http://www.uicnmed.org/ |
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WPC
TNC/WWF/IUCN Press Release
September 10,
2003
GLOBAL FIRE PARTNERSHIP ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT
ESCALATING FOREST FIRES ISSUES |
 Durban,
South Africa, 10 September 2003 - IUCN – The
World Conservation Union, The Nature Conservancy
and WWF International today announced that they are
joining efforts to establish a Global Fire Partnership
that will help prevent the kind of destructive forest
fires currently raging throughout North America,
Europe and other parts of the world. The
Partnership was launched at the World Parks Congress,
highlighting the three organizations’ commitment
to finding solutions to unwanted wildfires which
impact human lives, degrade the environment and threaten
the success of conservation activities worldwide.
The announcement comes at a time when incidences
of destructive fire throughout the world appear to
be on the rise. A preliminary evaluation suggests
that the year 2000 alone saw 92 million hectares
of forest burned worldwide, an area the size of France
and Spain combined and equal to about 2.4% of global
forest cover. In the year 2003 again, large tracts
of forests are burning.
Full
Press Release |
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Session
Report
September 10,
2003
CELEBRATION OF THE SACRED AND NON-MATERIAL
VALUES OF PROTECTED AREAS |
 Durban,
South Africa, 9 September 2003 - The
Vth IUCN World Parks Congress last night paid tribute
to the importance of spiritual values in securing
the future of protected areas. The ceremony was a
call for global action to support their recognition
in protected area policies and management. Spiritual
values reflect the close interrelationships and interdependency
of cultures and environments. They are of fundamental
importance for building peace, seeking reconciliation
and encouraging caring of and communion with nature.
Some are of direct conservation value, as exemplified
through the many sacred groves, mountains and forests
found across all continents providing breeding ground
for endangered species or habitat preservation in
fragmented landscapes. At a more general level, and
of equal conservation importance, spiritual values
and sacred sites illustrate the intimate cultural
connection between communities and their surrounding
ecosystems, through cultural landscapes and other
forms of customary use.
Full
Report |
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Session
Report
September 10,
2003
MOVING TOWARDS INCREASED SOCIAL EQUITY AND
BENEFITS TO PEOPLE IN PROTECTED AREAS |
 Durban,
South Africa, 9 September 2003 - The
Vth IUCN World Parks Congress last night paid tribute
to the importance of spiritual values in securing
the future of protected areas. The ceremony was a
call for global action to support their recognition
in protected area policies and management. Spiritual
values reflect the close interrelationships and interdependency
of cultures and environments. They are of fundamental
importance for building peace, seeking reconciliation
and encouraging caring of and communion with nature.
Some are of direct conservation value, as exemplified
through the many sacred groves, mountains and forests
found across all continents providing breeding ground
for endangered species or habitat preservation in
fragmented landscapes. At a more general level, and
of equal conservation importance, spiritual values
and sacred sites illustrate the intimate cultural
connection between communities and their surrounding
ecosystems, through cultural landscapes and other
forms of customary use.
Full
Report |
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Session
Report
September 10,
2003
FIREWORKS OF SPEAKERS AND THEATRE |
 Durban,
South Africa, 8 September 2003 - A
dazzling ceremony marked the opening of the Vth IUCN
World Parks Congress being held in Durban, South
Africa, until the 17th. With most of the 2500 plus
delegates present in the Plenary hall, the speeches
were greeted with a roar of applause. Master of Ceremonies
and IUCN Director General, Achim Steiner went on
to introduce a wealth of guests including President
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki of South Africa, HM Queen Noor,
former president Nelson Mandela, UNEP’s Dr
Klaus Toepfer, a young ranger representatives, IUCN
President Yolanda Kakabadse, and many more. The addresses
were backed by Theatre Africa who stunned the public
with awesome imitations of wild animals. The ceremony
was followed by an opening reception in the adjacent
Durban Exhibition Centre.
Full
Report by IISD-ENB // Her
Majesty Queen Noor's Speech |
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WPC
News Story
September 10,
2003
THE CAPE VIDAL MEMORANDUM STATEMENT TO THE
5TH WORLD PARKS CONGRESS |
 Cape
Vidal, Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, 5-7 September
2003 - As South African communities
who were removed or threatened with removals from
protected areas to make way for wildlife, this statement
represents our vision for the World Parks Congress.
At a joint meeting of communities and social and
natural scientists on the eve of the WPC, community
representatives discussed issues related to the restitution
of their land in protected areas. For each community
represented here, the lack of clarity around land
ownership and rights has or continues to fuel the
conflict between communities and conservation agencies.
Representatives from the following communities attended
the meeting and will be present at the World Parks
Congress: Richtersveld, Khomani San, Riemvasmaak,
Makuleke and communities in St Lucia (Mbila, Nibela,
Mnqobokazi, KwaJobe, Bhangazi, Sokhulu, Mabibi, Mabaso).
We all agree that our land can be managed for conservation
in perpetuity, provided that we are actively involved
in this process. (...)
Full
Statement |
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WPC
News Story
September 10,
2003
PAKISTAN'S PROTECTED AREAS CARVE OUT A NICHE
IN CYBER SPACE |
 Karachi,
Pakistan, September 10, 2003 - To
mark the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC), the
Education, Communication and Knowledge Management
Team of IUCN Pakistan has developed a website on
Protected Areas of Pakistan. It was formally launched
in Pakistan to synchronize it with the inauguration
of WPC, and could be accessed at: www.protectedareas.iucnp.org
Pakistan currently has three categories of protected areas: national parks,
wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves. A unique feature of this website
is a database about protected areas of Pakistan, searchable by project
area, province and classification. IUCN's categories and their respective
definitions of protected areas, downloadable online resources and related
links are also available on this information-rich site. To reach out to
a broad Pakistani audience it also features a section in Urdu containing
the introduction and essential information about protected areas in the
country. In addition, website provides details about the programme, news
and links about the ongoing Congress and the four previous WPCs
http://ww.protectedareas.iucnp.org |
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