IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN STRATEGIC DIRECTION ON GOVERNANCE, COMMUNITIES, EQUITY, AND LIVELIHOOD RIGHTS IN RELATION TO PROTECTED AREAS
 

COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS: FROM "OLDEST SECRET" TO CRUCIAL AVENUE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY…
This side event, organized by IUCN’s TILCEPA (a joint Theme of the IUCN Commissions WCPA and CEESP) will provide space to discuss Community Conserved Areas and their potential to further the CBD. Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) are “natural sites, resources and species’ habitats conserved in voluntary and self-directed ways by indigenous peoples and local communities through customary laws and/or other effective means”. This conservation practice—intertwined with local livelihoods and the spiritual and material values of local cultures—is the oldest on earth. Paradoxically, it is also the least understood, and in severe jeopardy today. After an introduction to the characteristics, variety and history of CCAs, participants will be accompanied to discuss the potential and limitations of CCAs in contributing to achieving CBD’s goals. They will exchange experiences and lessons learned, and look for concrete next steps to support the effort of indigenous peoples and local communities in governing and conserving biodiversity and natural resources throughout the world.

SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF PROTECTED AREAS: LAUNCH OF SCBD PUBLICATION "THE VALUE OF NATURE"
Although protected areas prove a vast amount of goods and services to the people, especially to the poor; they are greatly undervalued by markets, politicians, and by the general public. As a result, they are extremely under-funded, overlooked and face constant threats. During this side event, benefits of protected areas to human well being will be showcased and the brochure "The Value of Nature" will be launched by the CBD Secretariat.
 

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME- WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE AND THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION

THE UN LIST OF PROTECTED AREAS: LAUNCH OF A NEW SYSTEM FOR NATIONAL AUTHORITIES TO UPDATE, EDIT AND ADD INFORMATION
This session will provide an opportunity for participants to view the newly redeveloped UN List of protected areas system (part of the World Database on Protected Areas, a joint project of UNEP and IUCN) built specifically for national authorities to provide data into the global system by revealing its many functions and user-friendly interfaces. A facilitated discussion will give the audience a chance to ask questions and provide inputs to the process and ensure that the final product and tools will meet the needs of countries for national level reporting to the CBD as well as to other multi-lateral environmental agreements like World Heritage and Ramsar. This session will be informative for those who work with terrestrial, marine, and transboundary protected areas at the global, regional, national, and local scales.

INSTITUTE OF FOREST AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (IFP), FREIBURG UNIVERSITY; UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (WCMC); WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) NETWORK AND WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (WRI)

FOREST PROTECTED AREAS - IDENTIFYING AND CLOSING GLOBAL CONSERVATION GAPS
This project will present the results of a project "Conservation of forest biodiversity under the CBD: Options for a global forest protected area (FPA) network" and a gap analysis for FPA carried out by UNEP-WCMC, WWF and WRI. The gap analysis evaluates FPA coverage of forest ecoregions, present-day forest cover, and global priority areas for forest conservation. It is based on the latest version of the WDPA (not yet published) and a newly updated version of the Global Forest Map. The results can be used to give recommendations on how to measure progress towards the 2010 forest targets and to pinpoint the most urgent global conservation gaps for forests.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF GERMANY

LIFE WEB: GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON PROTECTED AREAS
Protected areas are the foundation for safeguarding ecosystems, species and genes in all their abundance and diversity. The Life Web Initiative aims at supporting the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas through enhancing partnerships at the global level. The purpose of the initiative is to match voluntary commitments for the designation of new protected areas and the improved management of existing areas with commitments for dedicated (co-)financing of these areas.

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMME "MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS", UNIVERSITY OF KLAGENFURT

PRESENTATION OF THE POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMME "MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS"
Planning and management of protected areas are complex tasks and therefore demands on protected area managers are very high. This side event presents the unique MSc programme "Management of Protected Areas" of the University of Klagenfurt (Austria) in cooperation with international organisations (CBD, IUCN, Ramsar, WWF, Europarc, MaB, etc.) and the Austrian Ministry of Environment, which offers the possibility to acquire the relevant skills. Furthermore we discuss experiences and impacts. Lunch will be provided.

THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTRE (IUCN ELC)

PROTECTED AREAS: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF LAW
There is a vast array of studies and guidelines available regarding the management of protected areas (PAs). However, little has been done to accompany them by analyses of and guidance for supportive legal frameworks. It is increasingly recognized that national legislation play a critical role in underpinning the infrastructure and management necessary for successful PAs and PA systems, as well as in implementing relevant international conventions. The IUCN Environmental Law Centre (IUCN ELC) has recently embarked on a three year project to prepare Guidelines for Protected Areas Legislation. The aim of the Guidelines is to provide guidance regarding the key elements of a modern and effective legal framework, attuned to the present roles and corresponding diversification of protected areas, as well as to the emergence of new scientific understanding about protected areas management and new governance approaches. The methodology is to anchor this work in practice, making the Guidelines the result of cooperation between PA legal and management experts. Various case studies will illustrate the Guidelines, covering government-managed, marine, community-conserved, private and transboundary areas. A small panel will present the work in progress at the side event. A discussion with the audience will follow, with a view to obtaining critical comments and benefiting from the experience of participants. Partner institutions: the IUCN Environmental Law Centre (lead), the Joint Task Force of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), the Academy of Environmental Law together with the University of Ottawa.

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY RESEARCH

FOREST CONSERVATION AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL: WHO CARES ABOUT BIODIVERSITY?
Scientists and conservationists are becoming increasingly aware that conservation approaches based on threats and protected areas are necessary but not sufficient for the conservation of biodiversity. In the landscapes outside of protected areas, forest patches and other secondary forests, agroforests and plantations play a key role in conserving biodiversity both within and outside of protected areas. These patches are often beyond the direct control of the government and their institutions, overlooked by traditional conservation strategies and subject to pressures originating from sustaining people’s livelihoods or conversion to a more profitable agricultural system. In addition, communities and other actors in these landscapes often utilize forest resources in protected areas in order to supplement their incomes, diets or medicines. Without taking an integrated approach to conservation, that examines the relationships between people and biodiversity within and outside of protected areas, many conservation initiatives will fail. For this reason, The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the global conservation organization WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) will host this side event in order to present strategies for conserving biodiversity at the landscape level that recognize the demands from local communities and other actors, and address broader governance and land-use planning issues. At the core of these strategies which will be presented are: the need to i) integrate development and conservation planning at multiple levels, especially at the landscape level and in multifunctional mosaics including protected areas; ii) recognize existing and potential tradeoffs; and, finally, iii) consider the governance structures and challenges of monitoring biodiversity and project outcomes.

ECOLOGICAL TOURISM IN EUROPE

IMPLEMENTING THE CBD GUIDELINES ON BIODIVERSITY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT - GOOD PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED OF A UNEP/GEF PROJECT IN CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE
The proposed side event introduces the experiences made within the GEF-UNEP Project 'Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity through Sound Tourism Development in Biosphere Reserves in Central and Eastern Europe', implemented from March 2005 until May 2008. The project aims at strengthening the protection of globally significant mountain ecosystems in the three Biosphere Reserves Babia Gora (Poland), Aggtelek (Hungary) and Šumava (Czech Republic) through the development of new tools and innovative management systems with a special focus on tourism-related uses of these important sites. The project is a model case for the implementation of the CBD Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. As such, the project demonstrates in which way local development related to tourism can contribute to the conservation goals of protected areas.

WCPA (CENTRE ZAPOVEDNIKS)

IMPROVED BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOODS THROUGH A BETTER MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS
Will be presented a good practice of the GEF/UNEP Project “Strengthening the network of Training Centers for PA managers of Northern Eurasia” implemented by Center "Zapovedniks" in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus

AMAZON COOPERATION TREATY ORGANIZATION

TOURISM AND PROTECTED AREAS
Acto will be presenting and discussing its Protected Areas Programm as well as its Tourism Programm, specially its Initiative Destination Amazonia Year 2009

WWF INTERNATIONAL

THE MPA NETWORK IN WEST AFRICA: THE SUBREGIONAL PROGRAMME ON MARINE AND COASTAL AREAS MANAGEMENT (PRCM) DELIVERING ON CBD COMMITMENTS
Enable the countries of the PRCM region to use the opportunity of the COP 9 to showcase outstanding achievements towards the 2010/2012 targets of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA).

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

UNDP/GEF SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF CBD PROGRAMME OF WORK ON PROTECTED AREAS
The CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), adopted at COP-7, is the internationally agreed path towards sustainable in-situ conservation, striving to reach a global network of representative terrestrial and marine protected areas by 2010 and 2012 correspondingly. UNDP/GEF/CBD project "Supporting Country Eearly Action for CBD PoWPA", which started in July 2007, provides grants to countries, with a focus on LDCs and SIDS, to boost the implementation of key POWPA Activities. The event will showcase the implementation of the CBD PoWPA in a number of countries, discuss barriers and models in PoWPA implementation.

13:15 - 14:45  

Saal Bonn, Maritim

MINISTÉRIO DO MEIO AMBIENTE/PROGRAMA ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS DA AMAZÔNIA

PRIORITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION IN THE AMAZON BIOME: EXPERIENCES AND METHODOLOGIES.
The Program of Work on Protected Areas under the CBD (Decision VII/28, goal 1.1) emphasizes the need to complete gap analyses and to designate protected areas according to the national or regional gap analysis (including precise maps). Evaluation and identification of areas and priority actions for the conservation of the Brazilian biomes is a pioneer initiative. Between 1997 and 2000, the Brazilian government (MMA) organized a large consultation process to define priority areas for conservation in all biomes: the Amazon Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado and Pantanal, Atlantic Forest and Pampa, plus the Coastal and Marine Zone. Priority areas for biodiversity conservation have been reviewed in 2006. The methodology applied, based on Systematic Conservation Planning, used an approach that promotes higher objectivity and efficiency. It promotes increased participation and produces information that makes possible informed decision-making and capacity to value opportunities. Among the Brazilian biomes, the Amazon Forest is characterized by its enormous dimensions and diversity, occupying almost 50 % of the Brazilian territory. It represents 60 % of the overall biome, the neighboring countries Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela sharing the remaining 40%. The review of priority areas in the Amazon Forest was coordinated by the ARPA Program, resulting in 825 priority areas for conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of Brazilian biodiversity. In other countries in South America, experiences with priorities areas for conservation, using Systematic Conservation Planning or other similar approaches have been realized. Identifying and sharing these results is an important challenge for conservation.

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT IN BRAZIL/AMAZON REGION PROTECTED AREAS PROGRAM (ARPA) AND UNEP-WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE

EVALUATION TOOL FOR PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS (FAUC IN PORTUGUESE): METHODOLOGY, APPLICATION, RESULTS.
Over the last 10 years significant effort has been put in place to assess management effectiveness of protected areas in Brazil. Several methodologies have been developed and applied in a wide range of PAs in the country. In order to meet the national context, the Brazilian Government has recently developed the FAUC - Evaluation Tool for Protected Areas Effectiveness, which has already been applied in 80 Protected Areas of the ARPA programme with participation of more than 150 Protected Areas managers. This side event, organized by the Ministry of Environment in Brazil in collaboration with the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, will present the progress and future plans in evaluating PAME in Brazil and will present launch the FAUC tool, discussing methodology, application and results. Created in 2003 by the Brazilian government for the conservation of a significant sample of Amazonian biodiversity, the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program (ARPA) has developed a range of best practices concerning the management of Protected Areas in Brazil. The ARPA Program is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and implemented by a technical and financial partnership with Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, state governments, the Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity FUNBIO and donor institutions. During the first 4 years, the Program has been provided with US$ 81,5 million from the Global Environmental Facility/World Bank, WWF-Brazil and KfW, along with the Brazilian government. In addition to that, the program receives technical cooperation from GTZ

WCPA/CEESP PROTECTED AREAS, EQUITY AND LIVELIHOODS TASK FORCE, CARE INTERNATIONAL, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

AVOIDING NEGATIVE SOCIAL IMPACTS: APPLYING THE "DO NO HARM" PRINCIPLE TO CONSERVATION
Increasing interest in linkages between conservation and poverty is leading to the development of principles and standards designed to maximise the potential for conservation activities to contribute to poverty reduction, and avoid negative social impacts that might exacerbate poverty. These efforts frequently make reference to the "do no harm" principle. Originating in the medical professional, this principle has now been fairly widely applied to humanitarian assistance in the Developing World, particularly in conflict siutations. But what is the meaning, and what are the implications, of the "do no harm" principle when applied to a conservation context? This session addresses this question with an overview of the "do no harm" principle and its application to humanitarian assistance, case studies illustrating different dimensions of social harm in a conservation context, and then a substantial discussion.

IUCN STRATEGIC DIRECTION ON GOVERNANCE, COMMUNITIES, EQUITY, AND LIVELIHOOD RIGHTS IN RELATION TO PROTECTED AREAS

IMPLEMENTING THE CBD PROGRAMME OF WORK ON PROTECTED AREAS: GOVERNANCE AS KEY FOR EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE PROTECTED AREA SYSTEMS
The side event, organized by IUCN’s TILCEPA (a joint Theme of the IUCN Commissions CEESP and WCPA) will review the concept and practice of governance of Protected Areas—one of the least understood but most useful entry points for a successful implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. The event will begin by reviewing progress in implementing element 2 of the CBD Programme of Work, which deals with governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing. Through concrete examples from countries in the South and the North, it will then review how more appropriate PA governance can help expand the coverage of protected areas in a given country, address gaps in its conservation system, improve biological connectivity at landscape/ seascape level, increase the flexibility and responsiveness of the system, enhance public support for conservation and, ultimately, improve overall PA sustainability and strengthen the ties between people and nature. With the help of workshop participants, recommendations for action will be drawn at the end of the event.

HAUT COMMISSARIAT AUX EAUX ET FORÊTS ET À LA LUTTE CONTRE LA DÉSERTIFICATION

LE SYSTÈME DES AIRES PROTÉGÉES AU MAROC : STRATÉGIE, RÉALISATIONS ET RÉSULTATS DE L’ÉVALUATION AU MOYEN DE L’OUTIL RAPPAM (EN FRANÇAIS)
Organisateurs : Le Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD), et Le Secrétariat d’Etat auprès du Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines, de l’Eau et de l’Environnement, Chargé de l’Eau et de l’Environnement  Faire§(Département de l’Environnement), Avec l’appui du WWF. Objectifs :   Présenter la stratégie des aires protégées§connaitre la biodiversité du Maroc,  au Maroc et les progrès dans la mise en oeuvre, par le Maroc, du programme de  Présenter les résultats de§travail sur les aires protégées de la CDB ;  l’application de la méthodologie d’évaluation RAPPAM sur le système des aires  Mobiliser l’intérêt et le§protégés au Maroc, initié par le HCEFLCD et le WWF ;  soutien nécessaire pour la mise en oeuvre de l’initiative en cours de développement avec le WWF et d’autres partenaires visant l’appui des pays d’Afrique du Nord (Algérie, Maroc, Tunisie) dans la mise en oeuvre de leurs §programmes de travail sur les aires protégées de la CDB. Projet de programme :   Présentation de la stratégie des aires protégées au§Allocution de Bienvenue ;  § Projection d’un DVD sur le système des aires protégées au Maroc ; §Maroc ;  Présentation sur la situation actuelle dans la mise en oeuvre du programme de  Présentation§travail sur les aires protégées de la CDB et les plans futurs ;  de l’expérience de l’application de la méthodologie d’évaluation RAPPAM : Son utilité et Résultats

IUCN - THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

DURBAN + 5: FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR PROTECTED AREAS
The IUCN Vth World Parks Congress (WPC) convened in Durban, South Africa, in 2003, marked a paradigm shift in ensuring that protected area benefits extend “beyond boundaries”, and reinforced their role as the best means globally to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This year will mark five years since the last WPC and five years before the next WPC. Thus the Durban + 5 Review Meeting has assessed progress towards implementing the WPC Recommendations and the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (CBD/PoWPAs). This side event will present the results from Durban + 5 focusing on setting directions for protected areas and how these can be considered in reviewing and enhancing the CBD/PoWPAs.

THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, IUCN WORLD COMMISSION ON PROTECTED AREAS (WCPA) AND IUCN SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION (SSC)

SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Conservation planning is the process of locating, configuring, implementing and maintaining areas that are managed to promote the conservation of biodiversity and other natural values. Many systematic methods for planning protected areas and other conservation actions are being proposed and applied to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) across different environments and diverse socio-economic contexts. There is increasing uncertainty in the conservation science community and amongst governments and donors about how to choose between apparently competing methods, many of which are being assertively promoted as the tools needed to save biodiversity. This side event will introduce an integrated framework for conservation planning which has been developed by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Conservation Planning Task Force as part of a joint-Commission initiative (IUCN WCPA and IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)). A major output from this initiative is the forthcoming publication (late-2008) of a WCPA Best Practice guidelines document, which explains similarities and differences between methods, demonstrates how some can be applied together, and guides choices among them. Following a brief introductory presentation, a panel of experts will discuss the contribution of the integrated IUCN framework to support decisions related to prominent issues for in-depth consideration at COP 9. In particular, the discussion will focus on: * The design and implementation of protected areas as part of national biodiversity plans; * Use of the IUCN framework to explain to members how different planning initiatives at different scales (e.g. biodiversity hotspots, Global 200 ecoregions, key biodiversity areas) can complement one another as contributions to a larger planning process; * The application of the ecosystem approach and its integration into the IUCN framework; * The potential to apply the IUCN framework at differ

GEF SECRETARIAT

GEF SUPPORT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF PROTECTED AREA SYSTEMS
The side event will present GEF's strategy towards supporting developing countries and countries in economic transition on sustainable financing of protected areas A few successful cases from Africa, Latin America, and Asia regions will also be presented.

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AND ALLIANCE FOR ZERO EXTINCTION (AZE)

NATIONAL ALLIANCES FOR ZERO EXTINCTION AND THE 2010 TARGETS
As part of the Program of Work on Protected Areas, the CBD has mandated national protected area gap analyses to assess how well protected areas conserve biodiversity, and where the highest priorities are for expanding and reinforcing existing protected areas. Additionally, the Potsdam Initiative 2010 states: “Focusing all our efforts on the achievement of the 2010 target of significantly reducing the loss of bioidiversity in the coming years, we acknowledge the urgent need to halt human induced extinction of biodiversity as soon as possible. In this context we welcome the Countdown 2010 Initiative and the Alliance for Zero Extinction. We will develop and implement national targets and strategies in order to achieve the 2010 target and beyond.” As 2010 approaches governments may be seeking tools to help them meet the obligation to conduct national scale gap analyses. To this end, the Ministry of Environment of Brazil proposes to host a side-event during the 9th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity to illustrate how sites identified through national alliances for zero extinction can help fulfill the 2010 target for protected area gap analysis. Sites identified at the national level using the criteria established by the Alliance for Zero Extinction but using local datasets can be extremely effective in identifying priority areas and opportunities to consider when government agencies consider policy changes for expansion of protected area systems. AZE criteria have been defined such that they can be easily and consistently applied across all biogeographic regions and taxonomic groups. They are designed for application through a national, bottom-up, iterative process, led by national governments in collaboration with local stakeholders, to maximize the usefulness and the prospects of implementation of the resulting site priorities. Through a series of three presentations, we will illustrate how national alliances for zero extinction.

FOREST PEOPLES PROGRAMME

PREPARING FOR 'SUSTAINABLE USE' AT COP10: THE ROLE OF CUSTOMARY USE OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION.
While a lot of discussion has taken place concerning two pillars of the Convention (conservation and fair and equitable sharing of benefits) less attention has been given to the third pillar: sustainable use of biodiversity. Given the growing recognition of the linkages between biodiversity, human wellbeing and human rights, sustainable use may hold the key to achieving much progress in the implementation of the Convention in the future. This side event will focus on the customary sustainable use of biodiversity by indigenous and local communities through case studies from around the world. Discussion will also suggest how the recognition and promotion of customary sustainable use can greatly contribute to the implementation of the Convention, with particular attention to the Programme of Work on Forest Biodiversity and the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL

PROTECTING THE PACIFIC COMMONS: THE NEED FOR HIGH SEAS MARINE RESERVES
The side event will highlight the importance and benefits of marine reserves in the high seas, using the case study of the Pacific, where a number of Pacific Island countries are taking action to safeguard their marine resources by calling for marine reserves in three distinct high seas areas within the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

THE PILOT PROGRAM TO CONSERVE THE BRAZILIAN RAINFOREST, THE BRAZILIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, THE ATLANTIC RAINFOREST NGO – NETWORK – RMA

THE ATLANTIC RAIN FOREST OF BRAZIL – WORLD RECORDS OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY BUT HIGHLY ENDANGERED HOTSPOT – STATE OF THE ART AND WHAT IS TO BE DONE…
Presentation and discussion about the Atlantic Rain Forest of Brazil with government and social society representatives • Presentation of biodiversity features of the Atlantic Rain Forest • History and state-of-the art of deforestation and other threatens • Tendencies of natural regeneration and man-made restoration of forest areas • Public policies for protection and sustainable use of the Atlantic Rain Forest – legislation, incentives, mapping and monitoring, priority areas • Contributions and conquests of NGO, social movements and communities for protection and sustainable use • Long-term goals and mechanisms of restoration of forest and climate change mitigation

WWF INTERNATIONAL

THE POTENTIAL OF THE ARPA PROGRAM IN REDUCING DEFORESTATION AND ASSOCIATED CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON
An event in which the WWF and IPAM will present the conclusion of a study related to the potential of the ARPA Program in reducing deforestation and associated carbon emissions in the Brazilian Amazon. The study includes an evaluation of the historical effect of ARPA Program in the management of protected areas and the direct and indirect reduction of emissions in many scenarios of protected areas expansions.

WWF INTERNATIONAL

HIGH SEAS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS - SHOWCASING DEVELOPMENTS
The world’s four High Seas Marine Protected Areas already in existence will be showcased, presenting how they can work, what different meanings ‘MPA’ can have, and what the different systems/frameworks can be for such an MPA, to further understand the concept.

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

UNESCO-BIOSPHERE RESERVES: ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS AND THEIR LINKAGES IN THE WORLD NETWORK: "DOING TOGETHER - LEARNING TOGETHER: KRUGER TO CANYONS BIOSPHERE REGION (SOUTH AFRICA) AND RHÖN BIOSPHERE RESERVE (GERMANY)"
This side event demonstrates why UNESCO-biosphere reserves are innovative instruments for linking conservation and sustainable development. Presently 531 biosphere reserves (BR) in 105 countries are working in this context to make a difference. The sharing of their experience and the co-operation within the world network of biosphere reserves underlines the important function of biosphere reserves as learning regions and as learning platforms for sustainable development. Keynotes in this side event reflect this issue on the global level (by UNESCO MAB-Secretariat), on the national level (by the German MAB-Committee and the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa) and on the level of development co-operation (by GTZ). The co-operation between the Rhön Biosphere reserve, Germany and the Kruger to Canyons biosphere region, South Africa will be presented as a practical example of mutual knowledge transfer and private sector co-operation. During the side event some local produce can be tasted from both BRs.

MINISTÉRIO DO MEIO AMBIENTE/PROGRAMA ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS DA AMAZÔNIA

AMAZON REGION PROTECTED AREAS PROGRAM (ARPA): INNOVATION IN PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Created in 2003 by the Brazilian government for the conservation of a significant sample of Amazonian biodiversity, the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program (ARPA) has developed a range of best practices concerning the management of Protected Areas in Brazil. The ARPA Program is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and implemented by a technical and financial partnership with Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, state governments, the Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity FUNBIO and donor institutions. During the first 4 years, the Program has been provided with US$ 81,5 million from the Global Environmental Facility/World Bank, WWF-Brazil and KfW, along with the Brazilian government. In addition to that, the program receives technical cooperation from GTZ. Results achieved so far have already exceeded some of the program targets: a total of 41 new protected areas (22.5 million hectares) have been created and are currently under implementation. Studies for the creation of further protected areas (10 million hectares) are being supported. In addition to that, more than 8 million hectares of Protected Areas - 17 sites created before March 2000 that already existed before the beginning of the Program - are being consolidated. The Protected Areas Endowment Fund – the main sustainable financing mechanism of the program – was created in 2006 and had a capitalization of US$ 17 million by December 2007. The event will present and discuss the results achieved so far and some management tools that contributed to the improved efficiency and efficacy in the implementation of the National System of Protected Areas in the Amazon region: 1) The Evaluation Tool for Protected Areas Effectiveness, applied in over 80 protected areas, 2) the online-based Integrated System of Coordination and Management of the ARPA Program (SisARPA) and 3) the Conservation and Investment Strategy that sets investment priorities based on scientific data on biodiversity

DIVISION KI II 3, FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE CONSERVATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY

THE ALPINE ECOLOGICAL NETWORK- A CONTRIBUTION TO THE GLOBAL NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS
The Parties to the Alpine Convention started to set up an ecological network in the Alps approximately 10 years ago. Today this initiative is - together with the issues of climate change and the loss of biodiversity - embedded in a far reaching and overarching context and makes a significant contribution to a global network of protected areas as intended by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The event will highlight the establishment of an ecological network across the Alps as a concrete and successful pilot project for the most important European mountain region. There will be presentations of the measures developed so far, of the cooperation within specific fields of action, of programmes and instruments which will lead to a network of habitats across the Alps. Regional planning, agriculture, forestry, transport and tourism are particularly relevant sectors in this undertaking. The Carpathian Convention which also aims at setting up an ecological network, has received support for the past five years from the network of Alpine protected areas and the Parties to the Alpine Convention for the development of the network of Carpathian protected areas. This initiative also contributes to the global network of protected areas and will be presented in this overarching context. The Alpine Convention, the Carpathian Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity will sign a Memorandum of Understanding as a basis for their future cooperation at the side event.

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF ECUADOR

NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS (SNAP) IN ECUADOR
To present the experience of the SNAP in Ecuador

USC CANADA, NORWEGIAN DEVELOPMENT FUND (USC-SOS AND NDF)

RESILIENCE IN A DANGEROUS TIME: FARMER-LED CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES
This event will showcase the experiences of Southern farmers and activists in using agrobiodiversity conservation and an ecosystems approach to small-scale farming as key climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. They will pay special attention to participatory in-situ seed conservation and enhancement work; organic production; seed and gene banking; and time-tested natural resource management practices that are enhancing biological diversity in the face of increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

NATURA 2000 - EUROPE'S PRACTICAL COMMITMENT TO THE 2010 TARGET
To celebrate and present recent progress in establishing Natura 2000, Europe's protected areas network contributing to the CBD programme of work on protected areas. Short interventions by high level representatives from the European Commission, host country Germany, EU Presidency Slovenia, NGOs and the CBD Executive Secretary (who will be presented with the new Natura 2000 Book).