December 2012

The Mediterranean at the World Conservation Congress 2012

More than 10,000 people participated in the 2012 Congress on Jeju Island, including over 5,000 conservation experts from 153 countries and more than 550 events. More than 180 motions were proposed to the Members’ Assembly, IUCN’s unique global environmental parliament bringing together governments and non-governmental organizations to debate and vote.


The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) was in attendance with different events for Members, institutions and individuals interested in Mediterranean conservation issues such as a presentation of the most recent IUCN-Med publications on marine and species issues or a workshop with decision makers from northern and southern Mediterranean countries to discuss the main challenges and opportunities for biodiversity and natural resources, current governance patterns and how to improve long term partnerships. The North Africa Members had their own space to discuss the new programme of work 2013-2016 for the region with the support of IUCN-Med.


The Member’s Assembly - the highest decision-making body of IUCN - approved resolutions on a wide range of issues including action to avert extinctions of rare dolphin species; shutting down illegal bear farms; scaling back offshore drilling in French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana; and providing better payment channels for ecosystem services in poor countries. The resolutions and recomendations approved focusing on the Mediterranean region were the following:


- WCC-2012-RES-029-EN - Combating the illegal or unsustainable capture, trade or killing of migratory birds in the Mediterranean.
- WCC-2012-Res-032-EN - Action to recover the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) population in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.


- WCC-2012-Res-050-EN - Protection of Mediterranean submarine canyons.


- WCC-2012-Rec-174-EN - Offshore oil drilling in the Mediterranean.


The IUCN’s work programme for the coming four years was also approved. As the Congress drew to a close, Zhang Xinsheng of China was elected as the new President of IUCN for the coming four years. Zhang is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Eco-Forum Global, and a devoted advocate for environmental protection and sustainable development.


Press Conference of Moroccan NGO


A press conference was held on October 10 at the headquarters of the Association Ribat Al Fath Rabat, to present the results of the participation of Moroccan NGO members of IUCN at the World Congress of Nature. Statements of IUCN Members in Morocco are available on the link above.


 



More info: Antonio.troya@iucn.org

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