Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used

ICSF proposes to organize a two-day workshop with the following objectives:
• To discuss the findings of case studies and of other experiences of MPA implementation in India, from a fishing community perspective;
• To provide a forum to discuss legal, institutional and other relevant aspects of MPA implementation in India; and
• To put forward proposals for achieving livelihood-sensitive conservation and management of coastal and fisheries resources.

The workshop is designed to bring together MPA managers from 10-15 sites around the world, representing a range of biogeographic, social, political and economic settings, to share the experience of developing a management framework for their sites. The purpose of the training workshop is to test a draft version of the “How is Your MPA Managed?” guidebook, both in terms of the planning framework and pedagogical soundness. The training workshop would also provide an opportunity for an internationally-diverse set of MPA staff to share experience and knowledge with one another before attending the Congress. With the knowledge of how to use the draft guidebook, managers would return home with a work plan (implementation contract) to test the draft guidebook and develop an MPA management plan for each of their sites.

The Latin American sub-region will focus on the implementation of the programme of work on protected areas

Wetlands belong to the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, as clearly demonstrated by the tremendous deterioration and loss of small and medium-sized wetlands all over the globe. At the first glance, large wetlands seem to be better protected against human impact by their large extension, and, certainly, they have a greater buffer capacity against many human activities that threaten small wetlands.

Efficient protection requires complex, long term management plans not only for the wetlands but for the entire catchment areas. The elaboration of such management strategies often require agreements between states or countries. These agreements should include not only a wide range of activities that may affect the wetlands directly and indirectly, such as the use of water and soils, the development of industries and infrastructure, waste treatment and disposal, but also harmonization of environmental legislation for an efficient protection of the biota.

The 8th INTECOL Congress in Cuiabá is a proper forum to call, among other aspects of wetland ecology, special attention to these problems, because the Pantanal and its catchment are shared by three countries (Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay) while two countries (Uruguay and Argentina) participate downstream on the middle and low er Parana/Paraguay River, thus to be affected by any major modifications within the Pantanal upstream.

Every four years the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) convenes as a major scientific conference to provide the latest knowledge about coral reefs worldwide. Natural scientists, resource managers and users, conservationists, economists, and educators meet together to advance coral reef science, management, and conservation. Stakeholders, including reef scientists, managers, conservationists, fishers, and divers, will find an opportunity at the 11th ICRS in 2008 to assimilate the most recent and best scientific information available about these precious and irreplaceable natural resources. The Symposium’s goal is better understanding of coral reef ecosystems and consequently effective conservation and management strategies. The Symposium will promote the dissemination of knowledge about reef sustainability and resilience, particularly important to many nations who depend upon coral reefs for their economy and food supply.

COP 9 while considering issues like Ecosystem approach among others in depth, issues like protected areas, and marine and coastal biodiveristy will be considered as strategic issues for evaluating progress

The conference will focus on three major themes related to achieving ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management at national and regional levels, and in areas beyond national jurisdiction, namely Achieving Ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management by 2010; Climate, Oceans, and Security: Addressing Impacts in Vulnerable Ecosystems and in Vulnerable Coastal Communities; and Addressing the Governance of Marine Ecosystems and Uses in Areas Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction. The intent of the conference is to bring carefully crafted analyses, high-level perspectives, and perspectives from all ocean sectors and areas of the world to focus on tangible next steps in advancing ecosystem management by 2010 and examine the current trends in integrated coastal and ocean management.

Substantive Issues that would be covered in the meeting include

Substantive issues:

Review of implementation of the programme of work: Assessment of progress made in implementation; Obstacles encountered during the implementation of the programme of work on protected areas and ways and means to overcome them; Progress report by the Secretariat on refinement and consolidation of scientific criteria for the identification of marine areas in need of protection and on compilation of biogeographical and other ecological classification system;

Exploration options for mobilizing, as a matter of urgency, through different mechanisms adequate and timely financial resources for the implementation of the programme of work: Consideration of financial needs assessments; Options on innovative financing mechanisms; Options on innovative mechanisms to develop public/private partnerships; Coordination of technical and financial support to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

After IUCN hosted the Fifth World Parks Congress in Durban in 2003, and based on the recommendation of the Caracas Congress, REDPARQUES and WCPA requested collaboration from the IUCN secretariat, FAO and UNEP to organize the II Latin American Parks Congress. This event will take place in Argentina, in the first week of October 2007. The host of the event is the National Parks Agency of Argentina, and they selected the scenic environment of Bariloche, in Northern Patagonia, as the congress site. The region includes the largest and oldest Argentinean National Park (Nahuel Huapi) and home for the major indigenous population of the Southern Andes (Mapuche).

A robust programme has been developed, based on the four thematic areas of WCPA. Within these, and after a region wide consultation, sixteen priority themes were identified. Three cross cutting themes (climate chance, indigenous peoples and marine areas) will form a red line through the entire congress programme.

The regional workshop will review the implementation of the CBD programme of work on Protected Areas in the region.