The IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) meets only once every 1o years. In the coming days, five of WILD’s program leaders and other close associates will be contributing significantly to the WPC program and conservation outcomes in Sydney, Australia. WPC 2014 is a landmark global forum on protected areas. The Congress will share knowledge and innovation, setting the agenda for protected areas conservation for the decade to come. Building on the theme “Parks, people, planet: inspiring solutions”, it will present, discuss and create original approaches for conservation and development, helping to address the gap in the conservation and sustainable development agenda. WILD’s World Wilderness Congress has an official relationship with the World Commission for Protected Areas (WCPA), the “Commission” within the IUCN that hosts the WPC, and is an affiliate Congress to the WPC.
Sydney Opera House by Bkamprath
WILD president Vance Martin is a member of the core team for the “Promise of Sydney“, the main outcome document that aims to capture the boldest and most strategic thinking of governments, international organizations, communities, youth leaders, indigenous peoples, private individuals and organisations to chart the future direction for protected areas as offering and implementing solutions for the challenges faced by the planet. This central vision and outcomes document will be released November 19th. Two specific events hosted by WILD and collaborators will generate excitement and interest: on November 14th, in partnership with Canadian Parks and Wilderness (CPAWS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), we will host a “Nature Needs Half evening” with music (Rap Guide to Wilderness!)and presentations by contemporary conservation and Indigenous leaders. On November 15th, we convene the meeting of the Wilderness Specialist Group (WSG), which was founded by WILD and is co-chaired by Vance Martin.
Cyril Kormos, Vice President for Policy at The WILD Foundation, has been instrumental in leading the World Heritage stream with many projected, practical outcomes to protect wild nature in World Heritage “natural” sites. In partnership with Parks Canada and others, CoalitionWILD program manager Crista Valentino is playing a key role at WPC by inspiring a new generation of conservation leaders. Shay Sloan, program director for our Indigenous & Community Lands & Seas project is deeply involved with the Indigenous and Community leaders.
Please follow along as our team makes the World Parks Congress a little bit wilder from November 12-19!
> View the WPC Schedule of Events for the WILD team
> Nov. 15th Nature Needs Half evening
