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The IUCN Congress in Jordan
By Hawa Irfan
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature held its second World Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan, 11 October.
It was the world's largest environmental gathering this year.
There were 2500 delegates from 143 countries making it the biggest environmental gathering ever to be held in the Middle East, and one of the worlds largest since 1992's Rio Earth Summit.
The IUCN was created in 1948 and is based in Switzerland.
The eight-day conference concluded that any loss of species is unacceptable.
Audiences heard that biological species are being lost at an alarming rate with at least 11 000 species threatened with extinction.
Patron of IUCN, Queen Noor of Jordan, said that the extinction crisis threatens human welfare. "We develop our beautiful planet in such a way that we brush aside the species, and we risk creating a wasteland where our aspirations will ultimately whither and die."
Every time we lose a species we break a life chain which has evolved over 3.5 billion years," said Jeff McNeely, chief scientist of IUCN.
A new IUCN Action Plan and Program to combat species loss and ecosystem integrity was drawn-up.
The plan includes more than 100 specific resolutions shaping IUCN's environment agenda for the future.
There are seven "Key Result Areas" spanning the ecosystem management, restoration, information management and better governance.
In brief they are as follows:
* To link climatic change to bio-diversity in order to ensure reforestation activities designed to prevent global warming.
* To initiate a Global Theme Program on Conservation and Management of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
IUCN members will cooperate with the UN's Convention to Combat Desertification.
* To develop a comprehensive approach to conserve marine ecosystems.
*To identify protection measures for specific ecosystems, such as mountains and forests; the Biological Corridor (the Central American isthmus); the Guyana Shield (a geologically ancient, and biologically rich territory covering northeast Brazil, French Guyana,
Venezuela, Columbia and the land stretching to the Andes).
* To identify protection measures for individual species such as black Rhinos, marine turtles, the Middle Eastern Houbara Bustard and the Saker Falcon.
*To address corruption, especially in the forestry sector, by promoting good governance, transparency, democratic process, human rights and environmental regeneration.
* To improve dissemination of environmental information through the use of new technology.
* The last day witnessed the Congress' adoption of a motion to secure the environment of the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Al Quds (Jerusalem) and the support for all peaceful efforts to bring the violence to an end.
In addition there are new initiatives.
4 October saw Maurice Strong launch the Earth Forum. Maurice Strong is the Chairman of Earth Council and joint Secretary General of the '92 Rio Earth Summit'.
Spain agreed to open an IUCN office for the Mediterranean in Malaga to support environment groups and governmental agencies with work in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East.
A US$30 million for the Water and Nature project was launched.
They will be concerned with restoration, protection and management of ecosystems that provide water and livelihood to communities.
The IUCN and Jordan will set-up the Jordan Thematic Centre on Water aiming to make water a source of peace and not a conflict through cooperation.
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