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Amman Congress 2000IUCN Second World Conservation Congress : Images and RealAudio for 9 October

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Briefing: Monday, 9 October
In the morning, a plenary panel briefed delegates on the results of the twelve interactive thematic sessions and their implications for the IUCN programme. In a Congress sitting, delegates considered a number of draft resolutions, witnessed the presentation of awards and learned the elections outcomes. In the afternoon, delegates convened for technical discussions on the independent external review of the IUCN programme, the programme and budget for the period between the 2nd and 3rd Congresses, and draft membership policy. Queen Noor presented Reuters Awards to ten journalists for excellence in reporting on environmental issues.

RESULTS OF THE INTERACTIVE THEMATIC SESSIONS: Representatives of the thematic sessions presented the outcomes of discussions:



ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY: Session participants discussed the IUCN Task Force on Environment and Security, which tackles: impacts of insecurity on conservation efforts; resource scarcity and conflicts; incompatible resource use; conservation and cooperation; and conservation as a tool for disaster vulnerability reduction. It suggested that IUCN could also: organize an international conference on environment and security; collect lessons from members; build regional awareness; engage new stakeholders; fund environment and security projects around world; and advocate for peace. Presenter: Mark Halle, IISD and IUCN Joint Task Force on Environment and Security.
RealAudio excerpts of Halle's presentation


SOWING THE SEEDS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, AGRICULTURE, BIODIVERSITY, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY: This session identified key issues including: the indirect and direct influence of agro-industry over farmers, especially in developing countries; the often negative effects of market liberalization on farmers; and the need to focus GMO research on risk assessment. The session recommended that IUCN develop methods of assessment for multifunctionality and guidelines for integration of the Biosafety Protocol. Presenter: Hardy Vogtmann, Bundesamt fur Naturschutz (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation), Germany
RealAudio excerpts of Vogtmann's presentation
LOCAL SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL EQUITY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY: This session concluded that integrating gender issues, indigenous people and local communities into decision making is the most cost-effective approach. It recommended, inter alia, building more capacity for participatory management and expanding IUCN's base of social scientists. Presenter: Ashish Kothari, IUCN-India
RealAudio excerpts of Kothari's conslusions
INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT: This session identified: what the practitioners want; what the scientists share; and the barriers to science and policy. It recommended that IUCN encourage interdisciplinary work and make information useful to policy makers. Presenter: Tim Sullivan, Chicago Zoological Society
ECOLOGICAL LIMITS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: Session participants highlighted the need for IUCN to: create links between climate change and IUCN's core actions; improve understanding of climate change effects on nature and society; strengthen climate change adaptation techniques; ensure equitable solutions that support biodiversity; and build IUCN's capacity to tackle climate change and effectively participate in decisions. Presenter: Brett Orlando, IUCN Climate change Programme Officer
RealAudio excerpts of Orlando's presentation
In closing, Jeff McNeely, IUCN Senior Scientist, called for: allocation of resources to environmental monitoring, impact assessment and natural disasters response; sustainable forestry and water conservation; greater investments for biological security; and improved management of human behavior for sustainability.
RealAudio of McNeely's conclusions:
part one  part two

TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS
DISCUSSION OF INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THE IUCN PROGRAMME:
Richard Sandbrook, IUCN Regional Councillor for Western Europe, overviewed the outcomes of the independent external review (CGR/2/2000/3). He noted that the external review reflected a need for IUCN to move from a list of activities to developing a strategic shape and analyzed, inter alia: IUCN's distinctive competencies; knowledge management areas; instability of financing; integrating socioeconomic science and gender; monitoring and evaluation; and regional issues. He underscored IUCN's reorganization including a move to results-driven management based on the key areas of knowledge, empowerment, governance and operations.
RealAudio excerpts of Sandbrooke's presentation:
part one  part two

IUCN Awards

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Honorary membership was granted to four individuals for outstanding service in the field of conservation: Parvez Hassan (Pakistan, above left), Commission of Environmental Law (CEL) Chair from 1990-1996 and former IUCN Legal Advisor; Sir Martin Holdgate (United Kingdom, above right), Former IUCN Director General; George Rabb (United States), Species Survival Committee (SSC) Chair from 1990-1996; and Elizabeth Mann-Borgese, International Ocean Institute Chair since 1972. IUCN Director General Maritta Koch-Weser presented the awards.

 
 
Wolfgang Burhenne Award: This honor for Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) service, offered for the first time (and shown here on the left in the hands of Nick Robinson, Chair of CEL), was granted to the late Cyrille de Klemm (France, right). Amalia Thaler, his widow, announced the establishement of The Cyrille de Klemm Memorial Fund to promote research in the field of environmental law.

Sir Peter Scott Award: This honor for Species Survival Commission (SSC) service was presented to Peter Jackson (United Kingdom); Marshall Murphee (Zimbabwe, shown here on the right); and William Conway (United States). David Brackett, Chair of the SCC, presented the awards (shown here on the left)
 
 
Fred Packard Award: This award for WCPA service was presented to: the late Nancy Foster (United States); Marija Zupanicic-Vicar (Slovenia, right); and Adrian Phillips (United Kingdom, on the left). In 2001, a Packard Award for Valour will be awarded to WCPA staff from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WCPA proposes that the funding associated with the award be placed in a fund to support the families of those who have lost their lives.

Reuters Awards

Her Majesty Queen Noor returned to the Congress this afternoon to preside over the awarding of the Reuters Awards, given for excellence in environmental reporting (IUCN Awards site). Here she is shown giving the Global Award to Alana Mitchelle (Canada), of the Globe and Mail.

Below: Queen Noor with all the regional award recipients.

Plaques with traditional mosaics, each hand-crafted by a Jordanian artist, were presented to each award winner.

Miscellaneous photos
Delegates enjoying the afternoon sun outside the Sports City's Cultural Palace, site of the Congress' plenary sessions.

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