WORLD PARKS CONGRESS 2003
Parks congress achievements
19 September 2003
The fifth World Parks Congress in Durban saw the announcement of a host of new protected areas covering over 200 000 square kilometres, and the pledgeing of over US$35-million for conservation both on land and sea. Here's a quick roundup of the top congress outcomes.
Major boost to Malagasy protected areas
Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana committed to increasing the total area protected from 1 700 000 to 6 000 000 hectares over the next five years, by
strengthening the existing system while creating numerous new sites.
Additions will include marine protected areas and wetlands that are currently under-represented in the Malagasy protected areas system, and will bring the total area under protection to 10% in 2008.
Tax exemption for South African protected areas, five new National Parks
The South African government announced a new property rates bill that will
exempt all formally protected areas from land taxes known as "rates". The government is also teaming up with private land-owners to bring private conservation land under government protection. This will bring the amount of conservation land in South Africa from the current 6.6% to over 10%.
In April this year, South African National Parks (SANParks) proposed to establish five new national parks in the country. SANParks head Mavuso Msimang said areas in Graaf Reinet, Potchefstroom, Pondoland, Blyde River and in the Knysna Forest were under consideration for the new parks. Over 130 000 hectares will come under protection.
Six new protected areas covering 3.8 million hectares of the world’s most biodiversity-rich territory
The state government of Amazonas, Brazil, announced the creation of
six new protected areas: the Rio Urubú State Forest the Cuieiras State Park, the Cujubim Sustainable Development Reserve, the Catuá/Ipixuna Extractive
Reserve, the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve, and the Samaúma State Park, totalling an area equivalent to Belgium or Costa Rica. Conservation International is supporting this initiative with at least US$1-million.
€5-million pledge for protected areas in West Africa
The MAVA Foundation pledged €5-million to build a network of protected areas on West Africa's coast. The programme will link existing marine protected areas, create new ones, and implement a unique regional system of cooperation between government and civil society.
10-million hectare biodiversity corridor as new protected area
The Brazilian state of Amapá announced the creation of a 10-million hectare biodiversity corridor that covers 71% of the state (an area slightly larger than Portugal), blankets the world' largest tropical rainforest park, and safeguards hundreds of unique plant and animal species. According to the agreement,
the government of Amapá will invest US$15-million over the course of four years, while Conservation International will invest US$1.6-million through its Global Conservation
Fund to guarantee the corridor's success.
Water Law Centre of Excellence in South Africa
An example of "global challenge, local response". The Mandela Institute, School of Law, University of Witwatersrand, is being specifically recognised by the IUCN Commission of Environmental Law as a centre of excellence in water law. Commencing in 2004, the centre will be hosting certificate and Masters level courses in water law, tailored to the needs of lawyers and other professionals.
Senegal declares first-ever marine protected areas
Senegalese Fisheries Minister Pape Diouf announced the creation of four marine
protected areas in Senegal's coastal zone covering more than 7 500 square kilometres to sustain fisheries and protect
biodiversity.
Gran Ruta Inca Trail in South America
Six Latin American countries have joined forces with the World Conservation Union, Conservation International, the Ford Foundation, and local partners to preserve the highland route known as the Great Inca Trail. Spanning Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, the network of protected areas will conserve the cultural and natural heritage of the ancient empire and sustain the livelihoods of Andean communities.
Global fire partnership established to combat escalating forest fires
The World Conservation Union, the Nature Conservancy and WWF International
joined efforts to establish a Global Fire Partnership that aims to prevent the kind of destructive forest fires that raged throughout North America, Europe and other parts of the world last summer.
Source: World Conservation Union
| 
