MU-CEL participates in IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, October 2008
Professors Donna Craig and Michael Jeffery and Erika Techera attended the IUCN – WCC in Barcelona in early October. Erika presented a paper in relation to the protection of intangible heritage associated with sacred sites in the South Pacific. This was part of the WCPA Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas project on the protection of sacred sites. Erika has now applied to join this Task Force and continue to research in this area.
MU-CEL sponsored two IUCN Motions in relation to the rights of Indigenous peoples. The first Motion, of which MU-CEL was the principal sponsor, related to the endorsement and implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This Motion was combined with a similar Motion by CENESTA, the Sierra Club and others and adopted by the IUCN Assembly. MU-CEL was a co-sponsor of another motion relating to the integration of culture and cultural diversity into IUCN’s policy and programme.
Aroha Te Pareake Mead, a respected Maori academic and since 2004 MU-CEL’s Visiting Research Fellow, was elected to Chair the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP), and as Commission Chair a member of IUCN Council.
Attended by over 8,000 people from every region of the world, the WCC held once every four years provides an opportunity for all participants to network and renew friendships and working relationships with colleagues across the complete spectrum of environmental interests.
Following the WWC Michael and Donna met with environmental officials with the government of Gibraltar to discuss a range of climate change adaptation measures that are being implemented as the impacts from climate change are predicted to be particularly severe in the Straits of Gibraltar over the next few years.
The following photos were taken at this year’s WCC.
Prof. Jim Salzman (Duke University) and Prof. Michael Jeffery
Prof. Brendan Mackey (ANU), Ralph Osterwoldt (CIDA), Prof. Donna Craig and
Dr. Francoise Berhenne-Guilmin
Prof. Nick Robinson (Pace University), Prof. Donna Craig and Prof. Michael Jeffery