Vth World Parks Congress, 8-17 September 2003, Durban, South Africa

News

March 30, 2003
“WE NEED TO THINK, WORK AND ACT AT MEDITERRANEAN WIDE LEVEL”

Banc d'Arguin The Mediterranean region is a single ecoregion although it holds different territorial realities and necessities. During four days, 120 experts from 22 Mediterranean countries explored a vairety of initiatives, opportunities and constraints, and presented different experiences to set the stage for defining a clear profile of Mediterranean specificities. The results of the forum that took place in Murcia, Spain, including the case studies and technical base documents that were presented, will enable the development of future trends and orientations for the region, to be fed into the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress that will be held in Durban, South Africa, this September. The Murcia conference was divided into four workshops tackling key issues, including the linkages between protected areas and surrounding landuses, gaps in the system, sustainable financing, training, and governance.

More information
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation

Marzo 28, 2003
DE MURCIA A DURBAN: CONGRESO MUNDIAL DE PARQUES

Primera conferencia mediterránea sobre áreas protegidas
Murcia (España), 26-30 Marzo 2003.- Durante cuatro días 120 expertos de 22 países de la cuenca mediterránea participan en la Conferencia de Áreas Protegidas (APs) en el Mediterráneo que se celebraba en el CEMACAM (Murcia). Esta conferencia es posible gracias al compromiso de colaboración entre la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza (UICN), la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia y la Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. El Centro de Cooperación del Mediterráneo de la UICN está trabajando en el proceso hacia el V Congreso Mundial de Parques, “Beneficios más allá de las Fronteras” que se celebrará en Durban, Sudáfrica, 8-17 Septiembre del 2003 (CMP 2003). Para llegar a Durban, el Centro ha organizado cuatro talleres de trabajo durante los pasados meses, centrándose principalmente en la principales prioridades de la región: conectividad, gobernabilidad, formación y vacíos en el sistema. La Conferencia de Murcia es el referente de los encuentros y actividades realizadas hasta ahora entre expertos que trabajan en áreas protegidas a ambos lados del Mediterráneo con el fin de promover que los insumos de la región alimenten el Congreso Mundial de Parques.

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UICN Centro de Cooperación del Mediterráneo

Samoa, 19 March 2003
MARINE CONSERVATION STAMPS LAUNCHED

SamoaTel has launched a special Samoa Marine Protected Areas Stamp Issue on 19 March 2003.

SamoaTel has launched a special Samoa Marine Protected Areas Stamp Issue on 19 March 2003. The stamps feature the logos of two Marine Protected Areas of Samoa, the Safata and Aleipata Marine Protected Areas. The logo designs were the product of district-wide school art competitions with winning children's images about their marine protected areas forming the basis of each logo.

The Samoa Marine Protected Areas programme involves the establishment of multi-use, community-based, marine protected areas (MPAs). Extensive coral reefs, diverse lagoons, offshore islands and critical mangrove habitats are found in Aleipata and Safata. Importantly, these marine areas have sustained many generations and are seen as a critical part of culture and livelihoods in Samoa. The people of Safata and Aleipata Districts have been developing their marine protected areas for the past three years. Both have agreed Management Plans which cover issues important to local people including; fisheries and coastal area management, tourism development, cultural heritage, aquaculture and no-take zones. The MPAs are firmly grounded in the Samoan way of life and decisions taken for the MPA are by local people. To achieve their MPA goals the people of Aleipata and Safata are working in partnership with the Government of Samoa, The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the World Bank.

The new stamps will help raise awareness and support locally, nationally and internationally for Samoa's Marine Protected Areas and are earning funds for the Samoa Marine Protected Areas Trust Funds. Marine Protected Areas will also be highlighted as a Cross Cutting Theme at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa form this September.

For more information, please contact Sue Miller, Samoa Marine Protected Area Project Manager, at sue.miller@samoampa.com.

More information: http://www.samoatel.ws/postal_philatelic_collection.asp

Marzo 14, 2003
ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS AYUDAN A REDUCIR LA POBREZA

Las áreas protegidas ayudan a reducir la pobreza Managua, Nicaragua, 14 de marzo del 2003 – Agua, energía, leña, plantas medicinales, ecoturismo, carne, agroforestería y carbón son parte de los servicios vinculados a las áreas protegidas y sus zonas aledañas, y de los cuales subsisten las comunidades que viven en estas zonas. Se estima que el 70% de las áreas protegidas de Centroamérica están ubicadas en zonas sometidas al uso y extracción de recursos, por lo que han jugado un papel fundamental para sostener a las poblaciones humanas directamente vinculadas a estas áreas. Así fue destacado por Eduardo Mata, Coordinador del Simposio “Contribución de las Áreas Protegidas al Alivio de la Pobreza en Mesoamérica”, que tuvo lugar durante el Primer Congreso Mesoamericano de Áreas Protegidas, realizado del 10 al 14 de marzo en Managua, Nicaragua. Este fue uno de los cuatro simposios que se realizaron el jueves 13 de marzo, en el marco del Congreso, y en cuya organización participó directamente la Oficina Regional en Mesoamérica de la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza (UICN-Mesoamérica).

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March 13, 2003
COMUNIDADES MANEJAN LAS AREAS PROTEGIDAS

Managua, Nicaragua, 13 de marzo del 2003 – Las comunidades indígenas, campesinas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil en general están participando cada vez con más fuerza en el manejo de áreas protegidas y sus zonas de influencia, según quedó demostrado en el Simposio sobre Participación Social y Equidad en las Áreas Protegidas que se está realizando esta semana en Managua como parte del Primer Congreso Mesoamericano de Áreas Protegidas. “En Mesoamérica la mayoría de las Áreas Protegidas tienen poblaciones en su interior y es fundamental que estas comunidades participen e incluso tomen las riendas del manejo de estas áreas”, expresó Guiselle Rodríguez de la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza (UICN-Mesoamérica), organización que fue una de las impulsoras para que el tema de la participación social se analice a fondo en el Congreso. La UICN y ACICAFOC son las entidades organizadoras del Simposio sobre Participación Social y Equidad en las Áreas Protegidas.

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UICN-ORMA Oficina Regional de la UICN para Mesoamérica

12 March 2003, Gland, Switzerland
Vth IUCN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS: 2,500 DELEGATES TO CONVENE IN SEPTEMBER IN SOUTH AFRICA
Source: IUCN-the World Conservation Union

Media Invited to Attend Global Forum on Protected Areas (Durban, South Africa, 8-17 September 2003)
With more than 2,500 participants from some 170 countries expected to attend, the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress will be the largest conservation event in the wake of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and a major global forum for protected areas held for the first time in Africa. The IUCN World Parks Congress is a unique once-in-a-decade event which provides the major global forum for setting the agenda for protected areas. Previous Congresses have had a tremendous impact in assisting national governments to create new protected areas, and direct more resources towards biodiversity conservation. Both Patrons of the Congress, former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr Nelson Mandela and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan strongly endorse the theme of the Congress, "Benefits Beyond Boundaries".

Press release - English version - PDF 146KB
Communiqué de Presse - version française - Document PDF - 136KB
Comunicado de prensa - versión española - Documento PDF - 155KB
Media Accreditation Form - PDF Document - 71KB

March 12, 2003
AUMENTAN LAS ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS EN CENTROAMÉRICA

Los Ministros de Ambiente de Centroamérica y los representantes ministeriales de El Salvador y México, firmaron el viernes la Declaración de Managua sobre Áreas Protegidas Se inició en Nicaragua el Primer Congreso Mesoamericano de Áreas Protegidas, preparatorio para el Congreso Mundial de Áreas Protegidas que se realizará a final de año en Sudáfrica
Más de 500 áreas silvestres protegidas en los siete países centroamericanos y otras 200 áreas propuestas son la muestra clara del aumento en el interés por proteger los recursos naturales de esta región, declaró ayer el panameño Ricardo Rivera, al presentar el informe de Centroamérica durante la sesión inicial del Primer Congreso Mesoamericano de Áreas Protegidas que se celebra esta semana en Managua, Nicaragua. El 25% del territorio centroamericano se encuentra resguardado actualmente bajo áreas protegidas declaradas, las cuales suman casi 130 mil kilómetros cuadrados, según el informe presentado. En los últimos 30 años el crecimiento ha sido constante y el número de áreas protegidas pasó de 25 en 1969 a 554 en el 2002; esto sin contar las 200 áreas más que se encuentran bajo propuesta.

Más información
UICN-ORMA Oficina Regional de la UICN para Mesoamérica

March 12, 2003
A NEW ERA FOR PROTECTED AREAS

"The concepts and structures that guided the development of protected areas in the 20th century are inadequate for the challenges of the 21st. Constituencies and purposes are rapidly changing, and if such areas are to have a significant place in Southern Africa's future politico-economic map these changes must be addressed,” stressed participants at a recent workshop on communities, equity and protected areas. The Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) to be held in Durban, South Africa, this September, aims to do just that: take stock of protected areas; provide an honest appraisal of progress and setbacks; and chart the course for protected areas over the next decade and beyond. Drawing on Southern Africa's extensive experience in community-based natural resource management, the workshop endorsed adding a governance dimension to the IUCN system of protected area categories.

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March 10, 2003
HOW TO PARTICIPATE AT THE WORLD PARKS CONGRESS

Participants at all previous World Parks Congresses have been selected to attend by IUCN based on their credentials and capacity to influence outcomes. Places at the Congress are offered to individuals rather than organizational delegations. For the Durban WPC an open nomination process has been conducted since mid 2002 allowing anyone to express interest in attending the WPC. The nomination process has also allowed IUCN to balance the regional, gender and age participation for the event and in addition to reach out to new groups and potential partners.
2,500 places will be offered at the Durban Congress. First round offers of places at the Congress will be made in March 2003 to those nominations already received. Full Registration details will be provided as well as advice on how to apply for sponsored support to attend. The Registration Brochure will set out all the details regarding the Congress including programme information, accommodation and travel.

Full story

March 10, 2003
SPAIN SUPPORTS THE VTH IUCN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS

Miguel Araujo, IUCN and Carmen Martorell Former President OAPN, Photo: IUCN Madrid, 10 March 2003 - One of the first countries on the continent to declare a national park, Spain now hosts a whole network of protected areas. Spain’s interest in such areas is continuing – as reflected by the support pledged to the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC). In a recent meeting with Mr Araujo, IUCN Head of Corporate Strategy, Partnerships and Communication, Ms Martorell, President of the Autonomous Organization for National Parks of Spain, announced the provision of funding for the WPC, to be allocated primarily to ensure the presence of Iberoamerican protected area managers at the congress and the availability of key documents in Spanish. The WPC that will take place this September in Durban, South Africa, is the world’s major forum for setting the global agenda for protected areas, and will also serve as a building block for further collaboration between the Government of Spain and IUCN.

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de España

5 March 2003, Gland, Switzerland and Yokohama, Japan
PRESS RELEASE: TRANSBOUNDARY PARKS LAUDED FOR PEACE, CONSERVATION BENEFITS
Source: IUCN/ITTO

Patham National Park in the border of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam Expanding the global network of transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs) should be a priority for conservationists and governments, according to a group of experts that met last week in Ubon Rachatani, Thailand. TBCAs are designed to protect ecosystems and wildlife regardless of political borders. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that TBCAs do much more than improve biodiversity conservation: they help promote reconciliation in border conflicts, re-unite families and ethnic groups divided by political boundaries, and provide social benefits – such as secure land tenure – to people living in the area. Recognising the potential benefits of TBCAs, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), IUCN – The World Conservation Union, and the Government of Thailand hosted a workshop to examine ways of improving the effectiveness and expanding the coverage of TBCAs. The workshop brought together about 90 transboundary conservation professionals and decision-makers from 26 countries.

Full Press release - PDF Document - 30KB

March 4, 2003
PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEMS NEED CAPACITY

“There is a crisis in capacity development for protected area management,” said Mike Appleton from the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Training. How to address this capacity gap and overcome obstacles to ensure the protection of the world’s natural heritage for the benefit of people today and in the future was the subject of discussion by a group of capacity development experts at a meeting in Costa Rica last week. The planning session led by Julia Carabias of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas resulted in recommendations that will be discussed at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress workshop on capacity development. The recommendations were identified by people involved in protected areas from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Full story

Events

26-30 March 2003, Murcia, Spain
FROM MURCIA TO DURBAN - 26-30 March 2003 Murcia, Spain
IUCN Center for Mediterraean Cooperation

Murcia, Spain - Durban, South Africa, two towns far apart yet brought together by protected areas. Thanks to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation and its work with regional authorities responsible for the management of protected areas, several initiatives around the Mediterranean deal with the management and wise-use of natural resources. Action plans have been written and implemented, partnerships created and initiatives reinforced to counter the effects of rapid urbanization; the modification of coastal landscapes; the increasing conflicts in the use of land, water and other natural resources; the increasing loss of soil due to erosion; and the impacts of water scarcity - all high on the list of region's problems.

In the lead up to the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) to be held in Durban, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation has focused on protected area issues via a series of four workshops (www.iucn.org/places/medoffice/wpcEN.htm) on: connectivity, governance, training and skill development, and gaps in the system. The final one, to take place in Murcia, from 26 to 30 March 2003, will distill the results of the previous four to enable the development of trends for the Mediterranean region. Participants will consolidate the region's position with case studies to feed into the WPC workshop streams.

from Lourdes Lazaro, IUCN Malaga Office

FROM MURCIA TO DURBAN (II)

Le banc d'Arguin, in France, a Marine Protected Area. The Mediterranean region is a single ecoregion although it holds different territorial realities and necessities. From 26-30 March, 120 experts from 22 Mediterranean countries explored a variety of initiatives, opportunities and constraints, and presented different experiences to set the stage for defining a clear profile of Mediterranean specificities. The results of the forum that took place in Murcia, Spain, including the case studies and technical base documents that were presented, will enable the development of future trends and orientations for the region, to be fed into the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress that will be held in Durban, South Africa, this September. The Murcia conference was divided into four workshops tackling key issues, including the linkages between protected areas (PAs) and surrounding landuses, gaps in the system, sustainable financing, training, and governance.

Participants at Murcia:

Strongly supported the approach to ensure that the Mediterranean reality is adequately reflected in the IUCN World Parks Congress and anticipated that the Mediterranean experience will contribute innovative thinking to the global effort for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use;
Noted the need to substantially reinforce north-south, east-west support for effective PA management at the regional level through dialogues and partnerships if the significant biodiversity of the region is to be adequately protected for future generations;
Encouraged all PA managers and administrations to strengthen relations with local communities and, where appropriate, to ensure that PAs are seen as an opportunity for maintaining livelihoods and promoting sustainable local development, not as a barrier, promoting increased awareness and information dissemination;
Requested IUCN to ensure that the conclusions and orientations from the workshop streams discussed (Governance, Connectivity, Capacity Building, Sustainable Financing and Gaps in the PA system) are promoted in Durban through the Congress secretariat and the workshop stream leaders; and
Requested IUCN to work with appropriate regional partners to ensure that the conclusions from the IUCN World Parks Congress will be assessed for their relevance to the Mediterranean, widely circulated and effectively implemented in the region.

Although the workshop deliberations did not set a specific priority action plan, orientations and recommendations were outlined as to ensure the Murcia conclusions are given a high profile in the Mediterranean and underpin steps that would have to be undertaken beyond the IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban. The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of IUCN will synthesize these recommendations and convey them to the Secretariat of the Barcelona Convention -the only binding pan-Mediterranean convention- in order to strengthen support and positive involvement between states from both sides of the Mediterranean, as well as work on prioritizing the recommendations and identifying the lead actors in the region.

Click here for the full release
For more information, visit: http://www.uicnmed.org

First Central American Congress on Protected Areas, 10-14 March 2003, Nicaragua.
MORE SUPPORT FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

The protected area systems of all the countries in the region and the Central American System of Protected Areas will be strengthened with a big support from their governments. This was agreed upon by the Ministers of the Environment of Central America on the last day of the First Central American Congress on Protected Areas, which was held from 10-14 March in Nicaragua.

In the "Declaration of Managua", the ministers committed to push for a Central American participative policy and strategy for protected areas, and then insisted on the importance of terrestrial and marine protected areas as one of the principal forms of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation in the region.

In general, the Ministers of Environment endorsed the recommendations and conclusions given by the participants of the Congress, which had over 700 representatives from Central America and Mexico, including scientists, government officials, indigenous and rural people, NGOs and International Organisations, which work in the area of Protected Areas and natural resources. This event was part of the preparatory process for the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress, which will be held in Durban, South Africa in September.

Giving the right value to the environmental services that protected areas offer and recognizing the relation and necessary participation of people for the existence and management of these areas are other points that were highlighted in the "Declaration of Managua". One of the commitments taken by the Ministers is to promote the effective participation of the indigenous people, the afro-descendants, the rural communities, the private initiative and the local governments in the management and equitable distribution of the protected areas benefits. The aim being of building an inclusive society in which local people and their traditional knowledge would be respected. They also wish to promote the establishment of private, communal and municipal reserves, to fortify the National Systems of Protected Areas. The Ministerial declaration also proposed to improve financing, qualification and exchange between countries in regard to protected areas.

The Congress had four symposiums on the themes of "contribution of protected areas to alleviating poverty in Central America", "vulnerability of protected areas", "ethnic vision of protected areas management" and "biological corridors and regional integration".

Declaration of Managua in Spanish
UICN-ORMA Oficina Regional de la UICN para Mesoamérica

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