The Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership (CPCIL) and the Canadian Committee for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (CCIUCN) organized a webinar on July 4th, 2019 to present the 2021-2024 IUCN Draft Programme entitled, “One Nature, One Future”. The IUCN Programme is a framework for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating conservation work undertaken by all components of IUCN, commissions and secretariat (on behalf of IUCN members). The Programme is developed through a nine-month consultation process across IUCN members and commissions, and approved at the World Conservation Congress every four years.
The 2016 World Conservation Congress, which took place in Hawai’i. Photo credit: Pacific Southwest Region 5
The webinar featured three prominent speakers: First, Rick Bates, CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and IUCN Regional Councillor (North American and the Caribbean), presented an overview of the IUCN and its work. Then, Meg Beckel, CEO of the Canadian Museum for Nature and Past President of the CCIUCN, summarized the 2016-2020 Programme. Finally, Lisa McLaughlin, VP of Conservation and Planning, Nature Conservancy of Canada and CCIUCN President, discussed the 2021-2024 Draft Programme and the ongoing consultation process.
What is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?
IUCN’s mission is to help society conserve nature and ensure that use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that includes 1,400 government and indigenous peoples’ organizations, 16,000 scientists and expert volunteers, and 850 full-time staff.
IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. Photo credit: Erich Iseli
IUCN is the only NGO with observer and consultative status at United Nations. The organization is also involved in major international policy negotiations and is at the forefront of many of the most important conservation initiatives. A few accomplishments developed by IUCN and partners include the Red List for Threatened Species, protected areas at a global scale, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Ramsar Convention and the World Conservation Strategy.
What is the 2021-2024 IUCN Draft Programme?
The 2021-2024 IUCN Draft Programme’s emphasizes interconnections and integrated strategies as solutions to today’s conservation challenges. The Programme outlines the following main thematic areas, which are linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
Healthy lands and waters
Healthy oceans
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Equitable governance of natural resources
Each of the themes has objectives and is integrated into the following cross-cutting areas:
Technology, data and innovation
Youth and intergenerational partnerships
Gender equity and social inclusion
Communication, education and public awareness
Investments and financial sustainability
Get involved in developing the 2021-2024 IUCN Draft Programme!
There have been two drafts of the Programme so far, and IUCN is requesting additional comments and feedback to develop the next iterations of the Programme. Members of CCIUCN may read the Draft Programme and provide input through an electronic survey during the month of July, 2019, and/or provide individual feedback. A Member’s Forum is also being held on September 5, 2019 in Ottawa with web access. Final submissions are due September 30, 2019.
Global feedback will be integrated into a new version of the Draft Programme. The final version will be presented in France at World Conservation Congress in 2020, where over 10,000 people from all over the world meet to set priorities and drive conservation and sustainable development action.
Interested in participating? Watch this webinar here to learn more.