IUCN - The World Conversation Union

the Gran Ruta Inca - Allen Puttney

The Inca Empire, that stretched 7,000 km. north to south, was tied together by the Gran Ruta Inca (Qhapaq Nan, Capac Nan, Inca Nani). This marvel of antiquity is not to be confused with the much better known 30 km. Inca Trail that leads to Machu Picchu in Peru. In 1999 Peruvian Ricardo Espinosa hiked from Quito, Ecuador, to La Paz, Bolivia and documented what remains of this magnificent route.  His maps indicate that about 22% of the original road still exists, and that the finest part of it is located near Huaráz, in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru.  This section of the Gran Ruta Inca is known locally as the Inca Nani and navigates (or as the local people say "converses with") the Andes at altitudes between 4,000 and 4,800 meters. 
 
Allen has been concerned with the preservation, sustainable use, and associated community development of the Gran Ruta Inca since 2002.  Through the WCPA and with the support of the Ford Foundation, he worked with Ricardo Espinosa and others to present a bold proposal for a system of protected areas associated with the Gran Ruta Inca to the 2003 World Parks Congress.  He has continued to promote the concept since, and has recently focused on the need to get public spirited entrepreneurs involved so that commercial development is carried out in ways that benefit local communities, and preserve the natural, cultural, and archaeological resources.  To that end, he and Miriam Torres of The Mountain Institute organized a trek of the Inca Nani with friends who are not only experienced trekkers, but also have long experience in the business community.  The trek took place 21-28 April.

For more information on the Gran Ruta Inca http://www.conservationconnectivity.org/downloads/FactSheets/GranRutaInca%201.pdf

or contact Allen Putney at allen.putney@att.net

IUCN - WCPA launches the World Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative
The Grasslands Protected Areas Task Force (WCPA) has begun working on a strategy to enhance international cooperation among persons and organizations trying to conserve temperate grasslands worldwide. The project includes the preparation of global inventories, the initiation of research programs and the identification of grassland conservation priority areas, with the goal of protecting a minimum of 10% of the world’s temperate grasslands by 2014. Pilot regions for initial emphasis are South America and the contiguous grasslands of Mongolia, China, and Russian Federation. The first formal event is the TGCI workshop at the International Range/International Grassland Congress in Hohhot, China June 29-July 5. The J.M. Kaplan Fund is thanked for their support.

For more information, please contact the project leader Bill Henwood at bill.henwood@pc.gc.ca

The National Natural Park System of Colombia reaches 54 protected areas.  http://cmsadmin.iucn.org/_preview/index.cfm?uXNavID=127&uNewsID=1143

Sailing to Barcelona - Come onboard! http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/index.cfm?uNewsID=1069

Marine miracles at Convention on Biological Diversity http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/index.cfm?uNewsID=1063

Historic agreement for biodiversity in South-Eastern Europe http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/index.cfm?uNewsID=1061

For more WCPA News please visit our News page http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_focus/index.cfm

WCPA will be holding its members meeting in the H10 Marina Barcelona on the 4th of October, this will be a full day meeting. We will advise you of the agenda as soon as it is available.

If you are planning to attend this meeting, please email Delwyn Dupuis at delwyn.dupuis@iucn.org

Awards at Congress

Miller Award
The award is granted annualy by IUCN's WCPA. The US$ 5000 stipend and certification are presented at a major conservation event. This year the event will be the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain The Kenton R. Miller Award will recognize individuals who have clearly demonstrated innovation in relation to protected areas. Specifically, it will recognize persons who have developed and applied innovative policies, scientific knowledge, technologies, field practice or governance that hold promise to significantly increase the potential for sustainability of protected areas with demonstrable impact at local, national, or international levels.

For more information : http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_overview/wcpa_awards/wcpa_kentonaward/index.cfm

Young Conservationist Award
Extension of the application deadline to the Young Conservationist Award 2008 until Monday, June 30th 2008 The International Ranger Federation (IRF) and IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) calls on a yearly basis for nominations for the prestigious award. The award aims to recognize and raise awareness of the outstanding contributions made to the management of protected areas by young conservationists. It also seeks to encourage young professionals.
For more information and application
 http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/index.cfm?uNewsID=919

Honorary Membership of IUCN nominations sought from IUCN members and Commission members
For more information 30?uNewsID=916

2008 Reuters-IUCN Environmental Media Awards
For more information: http://cms.iucn.org/media/media_awards/index.cfm

Nominations for the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal
The Medal which recognizes outstanding service in international conservation is IUCN’s highest conservation award and commemorates the life and work of Dr John C. Phillips, a pioneer of the conservation movement.
For more information http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=915

More on the Congress
The Congress website is now fully operational in 3 languages, it would be worthwhile to bookmark it as it is continously updated.
http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/index.cfm

Agenda and Documentation for the IUCN World Conservation Congress
http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/index.cfm?uNewsID=887
Registration Hotel and Excursion Booking System now available
http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/attend/congress_register/index.cfm t
Exhibition Booth rental http://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/index.cfm?uNewsID=867
Sponshorship availabilitieshttp://cms.iucn.org/news_events/events/congress/attend/support/index.

Whether it is fighting super villains, natural disasters or monsters from another dimension, Superheroes always end up saving the day. But in real life you don't need to be a superhero to protect the planet.

You can just start by sharing your ideas on environmental issues on www.connect2earth.org.

►Watch our new "Superheroes" video and start changing the world today.

www.connect2earth.org is a green online community that gives young people a platform to share their ideas and concerns about environmental issues through their own videos, image or text. It is also a competition culminating in the presentation of the winner’s video, text or images to world leaders at IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Barcelona this October.

11 renowned artists from around the world, including Moby and James Blunt, have already expressed their support for connect2earth.org.
►View the artists’ videos and statements of support.

► Forward the video to your networks that target young people, to friends and family

If you are interested to find out more on how you can help, contact Gaëlle Cuillerot at gaelle.cuillerot@iucn.org or +41 22 999 0181.

Young Professionals in Protected Areas
If you are a member under the age of 35, would you like to join the WCPA Young Professionals an active, creative and innovative group of protected area specialists ?
Then please contact Kristy Faccer at kristy.faccer@iucn.org

Book Auction in support of the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Fund at the 2008 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival
The aim is to raise an endowment fund which will yield sufficient funds to support a student annually in perpetuity. The fund will support young conservation leaders from Nepal, especially rural mountain areas, to attend Lincoln University in New Zealand.
For the book auction contact brucejefferies@xtra.co.nz
For more information on the Memorial Fund: http://thegreaterhimalayasfoundation.org/scholarshis.htm

New Interactive Website The Big Wild for all those interested in Canada's Wilderness http://www.thebigwild.org En francais au www.horizonssauvages.org

Rio Tinto Alcan and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) have announced that the US$1million Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability 2008 is now open for entries. Information on eligibility criteria and how to enter the prize is available at
http://www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com/tiki-index.php?page=home_en&switchLang=en&bandwidthspeed=high

DVD The Thin Green Line available now in 4 languages English – French – Spanish – Romanian Buy the DVD - All profits go to families of rangers killed in the Line of Duty and other important ranger/conservation projects. For more information and to buy a DVD visit the Thin Green Line website at http://www.thingreenline.info/newsfront

Register Now for
The FORTROP II Conference Website http://www.forest.ku.ac.th/fortrop2008/main/index.php

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Rethinking Protected Areas in a Changing World - The 2009 George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites, March 2-6, 2009 • Portland, Oregon·      Submit proposals online at http://www.georgewright.org/gws2009.html    Deadline: October 3, 2008

Positions in Protected Areas

Looking for a new challenge in Protected areas, visit our jobs page http://cms.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_involved/wcpa_jobs/index.cfm

IUCN's Magazine World Conservation News issue on conservation, development, economics and society in the 21st century.available in english - french and spanish at http://cms.iucn.org/resources/world_conservation/index.cfm

The 1972 World Heritage Convention A Commentary, Edited by Francesco Francioni, Federico Lenzerini http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199291694

Website

the WCPA Mountain Website has been revamped please go and have a look http://mountains.squarespace.com/

This monthly web update is your monthly web update. Please send us in your stories and publications, so that we can promote them in the next update. Email them to Delwyn delwyn.dupuis@iucn.org

Please note that IUCN now requires that all Commission logos be used in conjunction with the IUCN logos.

To obtain them, please contact delwyn.dupuis@iucn.org

If you are willing to share your photos with IUCN and help expand its Photo Library, please contact Alicia Held at alicia.held@iucn.org (with copy to delwyn.dupuis@iucn.org)

For more information please contact delwyn.dupuis@iucn.org

Please visit the new WCPA website at www.iucn.org/wcpa

Photo: Sumatran orangutan in Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, Indonesia by David Sheppard, March 2007