Noticias

News Story
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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News Story
Septiembre 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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Feature Story
Septiembre 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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Feature Story
Septiembre 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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Septiembre 2003 - Argentina
BOLETIN GUARDAPARQUES N° 20 - Septiembre

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