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September 05,
2003
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAPS PROTECTED
AREAS IN LEAD UP TO CONGRESS
This
month's issue of National Geographic has a strong African flavour.
Amidst stunning pictures of zebras and breathtaking landscapes,
the September edition also recounts the story of Gabon's protected
areas and the efforts of biologist Mike Fay in persuading the
President, Omar Bongo, to set aside 11 percent of the country.
The new national parks of Gabon, one of the richest countries
in terms of biodiversity, join over 68,000 such areas recognized
by IUCN around the world. These areas make up 12% of the earth's
surface and will be the focus of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress,
starting on Monday. With some 2500 delegates currently flocking
into South Africa, Gabon's achievements could not come at a
better time, as the Congress aims to provide appropriate tools
to ensure sound management of parks and set a vision for the
next decade.
More information:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/
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September 04,
2003
A UNIQUE MEETING OF SCIENTISTS AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DISCUSS CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
An
event organized and funded by a coalition of private sector,
NGO, conservation and government structures: Greater St Lucia
Wetland Park Authority, Mafisa Research and Planning, IUCN-SA,
GTZ-Transform, MRC, NRF, EKZNW, SiyaQhuebeka, Wildlands Trust,
UNESCO and DEAT.
Scientists doing research in the Greater St Lucia Wetland
Park World will meet from the 5th-7th of September with the
leaders of communities who have land or rights in national parks
at a unique conference designed to discuss ways in which they
can co-operate to protect biodiversity while using nature for
sustainable forms of development. This "People and Parks"
event - aimed at bringing scientific research and the traditional
knowledge into line with each other - is being organized by
a coalition of conservation and development organizations. It
will be held in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park from 5th -
7th September and will conincide with the historic release of
cheetah into the Wetlands Park on the eve of the Worlds Park
Congress. The St Lucia Wetlands event will be opened by Dr David
Sheppard Secretary-General 2003 World Parks Congress. (...)
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September 04,
2003
HISTORIC "RETURN OF THE CHEETAH"
TO THE GREATER ST LUCIA WETLAND PARK AND WORLD PARKS CONGRESS
The
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority is hosting a VIP and
media gathering on the eve of the start of the congress - at
Cape Vidal on Sunday 7th September. This will coincide with
the historic release of a group of cheetah into the Wetlands
Park, as part of the ongoing programme to restock South Africa's
first World Heritage site with wildlife. In the words of Minister
Valli Moosa "Globally the St Lucia Wetlands Park is truly
unique - the World's oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and
the world's biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share
an ecosystem with the World's oldest fish (the coelacanth) and
the world's biggest marine mammal (the whale)." These will
soon be joined by the world's fastest land mammal the cheetah.
The aim is to celebrate the "Return of the Cheetahs"
and allow media and some of the key delegates and VIP's attending
the World Parks Congress to meet in advance and preview the
key issues that will be discussed in Durban in the days to come.
A number of community leaders from World Heritage Sites and
National Parks will also be present to present a "grassroots"
perspective on the issues. (...)
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September 01,
2003
CAUGHT ON CAMERA – ELUSIVE BAY
CAT REAPPEARS IN ASIAN TRANSBOUNDARY PARK
Many
have raved about the contribution of transboundary protected
areas to peace and cooperation but little has been said about
the skill of these areas in reviving seemingly extinct animals.
This summer, the Bentuang Karimun National Park shared by Indonesia
and Malaysia revealed one of its many jewels: the bay cat. No
ordinary cat, this feline was thought to be extinct in that
part of the region and was not known to live in the park. Thanks
to a well-placed camera, scientists supported by IUCN’s
Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group and the Sarawak
Biodiversity Centre Cat Action Treasury were able to capture
the animal on film. Pictures revealed a two-coloured species
with an extra long tail. With pale flash marks on the inside
of each eye and a faint dark-coloured stripe on the top of the
head and cheeks, the animal was a stunning sight. (...)
Full
feature story // IUCN
SSC Cat SG
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