Highlights and Events
World Conservation Union's Vth World Parks Congress Durban, South Africa 8 - 17 September 2003
The IUCN's Vth World Parks Congress (WPC) on Protected Areas with its theme "Benefits Beyond Boundaries" was held in Durban South Africa, between 8 - 17 September 2003. This ten-yearly congress of experts, convened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) is considered to be one of the premier international events and was held for the first time ever in Africa.
Participants to the Congress are on an invitation only basis and delegates from around the world were limited to approximately 2500. The Congress was opened by its patrons Queen Noor of Jordan and the former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela.
Professor Michael Jeffery, Deputy Chair of the IUCN's Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-CEL) and Director of Macquarie University's Centre for Environmental Law was part of the strong team representing both IUCN-CEL and the IUCN's Environmental Law Centre (ELC) headquartered in Bonn. At the WPC both IUCN-CEL and the ELC focused it attention on Workshop Stream III - Governance of Protected Areas.
Michael was the Lead Author of Section 2 of a four-part paper entitled An International Regime for Protected Areas presented at the WPC on 12 September.
In addition he took part in panel presentations with respect to Indigenous and Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas and Globalisation and Decentralisations: The Role of Legal Framework.