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 Vth
IUCN World Parks Congress
Durban, South Africa | 8-17 September 2003
Highlights
Monday,
8 September
The
Vth IUCN World Congress on Protected Areas, or World Parks Congress
(WPC), opened on Monday, 8 September and will continue until Wednesday,
17 September, in Durban, South Africa. IUCN - The World Conservation
Union organizes the Congress every ten years to take stock of protected
areas (PAs), appraise progress and setbacks, and chart the course
for PAs over the next decade. The theme of the 2003 WPC is "Benefits
beyond Boundaries." Participants will address: the role of PAs in
alleviating poverty; how PAs adapt and anticipate global change;
PAs' place as part of our sustainable future; and their contribution
to security.
Photo: Nelson
Mandela, Formet President of South Africa and IUCN Patron
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Welcoming
all participants and guests, Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General
and WPC Master of Ceremonies, highlighted the world's accomplishment
in designating at least 10% of the earth's surface as PAs.
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Thabo
Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, stressed the
need to protect natural ecosystems to preserve biodiversity and
ensure sustainable livelihoods. Drawing attention to the UN Millennium
Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, he expressed
the hope that globalization would become a positive force for
the equitable distribution of resources. Identifying poverty and
underdevelopment as major threats to nature conservation, he commended
the New Partnership for Africa's Development for combining environmental
and social goals.
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Queen Noor,
Jordan, and Patron of IUCN, with President Mbeki and Nelson Mandela
In her remarks,
HM Queen Noor of Jordan underlined the WPC's relevance to the goals
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. She highlighted
the role of ecosystems in sustaining livelihoods and of transboundary
PAs in promoting peace and security. Stressing the need for transboundary
PAs, she called for increased international cooperation.
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Nelson Mandela
and Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General (right)
Focusing on
challenges for conservation, Nelson Mandela stressed the need
to involve youth in PA management and to consider PAs' contribution
to poverty alleviation. Highlighting projects empowering people
and plans for transboundary PAs in southern Africa, he noted that
a sustainable future for PAs lies in developing partnerships.
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Klaus
Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, delivered a message from Kofi Annan,
UN Secretary General. Noting the vital services provided by ecosystems,
Töpfer highlighted the need to: address the isolation of PAs; ensure
adequate funding for protection; protect the rights of indigenous
people; and equitably share the benefits of biodiversity. Noting the
economic dependency on marine resources in coastal areas, he said
protection of the oceans had so far been neglected. |
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| Ian
Johnson, Vice President, World Bank,
read a statement on behalf of James Wolfensohn, World Bank President.
Regarding the management of PAs, he emphasized three challenges: ensuring
that protected areas are ecologically and socially sustainable; providing
adequate human and financial resources; and equitability sharing the
costs and benefits from PAs. Zhu Guangyao, Vice Minister of the
Environmental Protection Administration of China, said that PAs
cover over 15% of China, and outlined his country's efforts regarding
PAs, including the creation of plans and regulations for PAs' establishment
and management, international cooperation for transboundary areas,
and recognition of the relationship between PAs and the surrounding
communities. He said challenges include weak management, insufficient
funding, conflicts between stakeholders and the lack of a comprehensive
legal framework. Len Good, Chief Executive Officer, Global Environment
Facility (GEF), stressed that developing countries and the poor
depend on nature for their development. Highlighting that the GEF
is the largest financial contributor to PAs, he noted several GEF-funded
projects related to PAs worldwide, and expressed the GEF's commitment
to strengthening the global PA network. |
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Yolanda Kakabadse,
IUCN President, outlined challenges for managers of PAs regarding:
mobilizing resources; linking PAs to adjacent lands; involving interested
groups in decision making; supporting indigenous communities; and
distributing benefits to society. She said threats facing PAs include
climate change, armed conflicts and invasive alien species, and stressed
the need for solutions to cover the costs of establishing and managing
PAs and for gaining the support of urban people. |
| Aroha Te Pareake
Mead, indigenous community representative, stressed the significance
of PAs for indigenous peoples. Emphasizing the importance of cultural
diversity, equity and justice, she advocated the recognition of indigenous
rights and views with regard to the designation and management of
PAs. |
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| The African
Story Line: A theatrical performance presented to delegates |
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