IUCN 2016 World Conservation CongressUS Government –Freely Associated States Meeting

Friday, March 20, 2015

Chipper Wichman, Vice-ChairmanWCC National Host Committee/Hawai`i 2016

What is IUCN?

• Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization.

• Headquartered in Switzerland

• Today the largest professional global conservation network

• A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development

• More than 1,200 member organizations including • 200+ government• 900+ non-government organizations

• Almost 11,000 voluntary scientists and experts, grouped in six commissions in some 160 countries

What is the World Conservation Congress?

• The largest conservation event in the world

• Held every 4 years in Switzerland or in another State that agrees to host the WCC

• Its functions (among others):

to provide a public forum for debate on how best to conserve nature and to ensure an equitable and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources

as an opportunity to meet and interact with fellow conservationists from across the globe

to present and discuss among those who are on the cutting edge of conservation.

Who attends the Congress?

• Leaders from: Government NGOs UN agencies Grassroot

organizations Academia Public sector Private sector

• 1,200 Member organizations from 160 countries

• Wider conservation community

• Anyone interested in nature

The place to interact personally with leaders from all backgrounds

History

• 5 World Conservation Congresses 2012 Jeju 2008 Barcelona 2004 Bangkok 2000 Amman 1996 Montreal

19 General Assemblies 1994 Buenos Aires 1990 Perth 1988 San José 1984 Madrid 1981 Christchurch 1978 Ashkhabad 1975 Kinshasa 1969 New Delhi 1966 Lucerne

1963 Nairobi 1960 Warsaw 1958 Athens 1956 Edinburgh 1972 Banff 1952 Caracas 1950 Brussels 1948 Fontainebleau

Where next?

8 Islands 1 UNESCO Biosphere reserves 2 Natural World Heritage sites 1 Ramsar site 28’000 native plants and animals, 90% endemic

1 to 10 September 2016

Honolulu

1. Inspire

2. Strengthen and Mobilize the Union

3. The Hawai‘i Commitments

Inspire

The Congress will inspire the international community to take action for nature by demonstrating its critical role as our life support system and by showcasing inspiring examples, from Hawai‘i and the rest of the world, where conservation has delivered tangible benefits for biological diversity, people and sustainable development.

Strengthen and Mobilize the Union

The Congress will bring together all IUCN Members to consolidate and advance the Union’s policy to address urgent issues of our time, agree on new priorities and actions for the global conservation community from 2017 to 2020 and involve all IUCN constituencies and partners to jointly drive the necessary implementation.

2016 Congress Objectives

The Hawai‘i Commitments

The Congress will launch a set of new responses to ensure the most efficient, effective and sustained scaling-up of action on existing global biodiversity and sustainable development targets to date.

Congress structure

The Forum where IUCN Members and partners discuss cutting edge ideas, thinking and practice.

The IUCN Members’ Assembly, a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs.

Congress Fact Sheet – Jeju 2012

• 6500 Participants• 550 Forum sessions• 180 Resolutions• 157 Countries

150 Posters

130 Knowledge cafés

100 Exhibition booths

7 Thematic pavilions

Over 600 events

150 Workshops

50 Conservation Campus

Forum Fact Sheet – Jeju 2012

Exploring the depths of conservation, showcasing results and innovation

5 World Leaders Dialogues

Members’ Assembly

IUCN’s highest level decision-making body• Approves IUCN’s four year programme and its

financial plan; • Elects IUCN’s governing body (President, Treasurer,

Regional Councillors, Chairs of Commissions), and• Passes Resolutions requiring action from

components of IUCN as well as Recommendations addressed to its Members and third parties.

The moment for Members to exercise their rights and influence the governance of IUCN

IUCN CommissionsThe six Commissions unite 10,000 volunteer experts from a range of disciplines. They assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues.

Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy

(CEESP) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) Species Survival Commission (SSC) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)

How to join a commission : http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/

US Member Agencies

• US Dept. of State – Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

• US Dept. of State - Agency for International Development

• US Dept. of Agriculture – Forest Service

• US Dept. of the Interior – Fish and Wildlife Service

• US Dept. of the Interior – National Park Service

• US Environmental Protection Agency

• US Dept. of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

White House Support

• Federal Interagency Working Group

• Six member agencies of IUCN

• Council on Enviromental Policies

WCC National Host Committee/Hawai`i 2016

• Board of Directors (National and Hawai`i Leaders)

• Committees• Program• Hospitality• Marketing and Communications• Budget and Finance• Cultural• County / Neighbor Islands

Opportunities for Engagement

• Call for Contributions –

May through October 2015• Opening Ceremonies• Workshops• Knowledge Café• Conservation Campus• Pavilions• Posters• Social Events• Exhibitions (booths)

Opportunities for Engagement

• Congress Journeys • Bio-Security• Islands

• Conservation Campus

• Sponsored Delegates

WCC National Host Committee / Hawai`i 2016

Contact Information:

Randall Tanaka, Executive Director

Email: RTanaka@2016wcchawaii.comPhone: (808) 348-5834

Web: www.iucn.org/congress

Mahalo!

Mahalo! Mahalo!