IUCN European Newsletter - August 2012

[IUCN Regional Office for Europe]

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August 2012 Unsubscribe   Subscribe   Contact us   EDITORIAL: HANS FRIEDERICH Dear Members, dear readers, Welcome to this newsletter dedicated to the upcoming IUCN 2012 World Conservation Congress. There are only a few days left before the beginning of this major conservation event and here at IUCN we are all very busy with the final arrangements.   Some people may ask: what is the point of all these international events? One argument goes that if we cancelled all international conferences this year and invested the money in a global programme for ecosystem restoration, we might have made more impact and more immediate results. But ï¿œ how true this may be, international events are essential for global environmental governance... > Read more > IUCN 2012 World Conservation Congress > Hans Friederich's Blog FOCUS: EUROPE AT IUCN CONGRESS A European Journey through IUCN Congress The European Journey is now available on the Europe at IUCN Congress website. The Journey is a helpful tool for getting informed about workshops and other events involving IUCN European Members, Committees, Commissions and the Secretariat during this yearï¿œs Congress. It will help participants interested in European activities find their way more easily through the hundreds of events taking place at the Congress.  > Read more > European Journey Motions: defining the future of conservation During the Assembly at IUCN Congress, IUCN Members will debate and vote Motions which define the Programme of the organization and can modify its structure and functioning.  Of the more than 150 Motions, many are relevant to Europe and will impact its policies, here are some examples: - Are biodiversity offsets schemes a valid tool to reduce companiesï¿œ impact on the environment? See Motion 144. - How to reach the 2011 Bonn Challenge on Forests, Climate Change and Biodiversity? See Motion 78. - How to ensure integration of global environmental policies with EU policies for the benefit of local people and economies in EU overseas? See Motions 100, 74 and 98.  Read more INTERVIEW: Nature+ development ï¿œ where does Europe stand? Gerard Bos, Head of IUCN Global Business & Biodiversity Programme speaks about Nature+ development and the progress on realizing the green economy in the European region.   Q: Where do you think Europe stands in its sustainable economic development? Over the years, Europe has developed the infrastructure to enhance the quality of life of its inhabitants but this has left less space for untouched nature. Although Natura 2000 and other measures aim to protect these areas, pressure on biodiversity is still occurring...  > Read more > Nature+ development > The EU B@B Platform website European Membersï¿œ meeting The meeting for IUCN Members from the West Europe and East Europe, North and Central Asia will be held on 8 September in the Tamna, the main hall of the Jeju International Convention Centre from 7pm to 9pm. The meeting will be an opportunity to get an update on the IUCN Programme in Europe which will be presented by Dr. Hans Friederich, IUCN Regional Director for Europe. > Agenda The Caucasus region at the IUCN Congress The biodiversity-rich Caucasus region will be represented during the IUCN World Conservation Congress by a wide range of IUCN Member and partner organizations from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. For the first time during an IUCN Congress, representatives from twelve Caucasus-based organizations will be present and showcase their work to such an international audience. The Caucasus delegation will consist of seven IUCN Member organizations and representatives from non-Member State and regional organizations.    > Read more > IUCN Caucasus Cooperation Centre Pavilions: IUCN Europe showcases its activities The pavilions at the IUCN World Conservation Congress offer a window into the vast range of work that happens at IUCN. The pavilions will be the backdrop to regional side events. Here you can find information on what IUCN Europe will be up to at the Congress pavilions. > Pavilions European Membersï¿œ activities IUCN European Members will run a large number of events during the Congress: knowledges cafï¿œs, workshops, conservation campuses and poster sessions. You can find some of the key events highlighted on this page. Here are the latest: - WORKSHOP: Limiting biodiversity impacts from biofuels through land use mapping and certification schemes -WORKSHOP: Fisheries, biodiversity conservation and food security > Read more COUNTRY FOCUS Natureï¿œs ï¿œzigzagsï¿œ in Serbia Ever heard of Uvac Meanders? This is where nature gets at its most spectacular. Over the years, the Uvac River in Serbia has deeply carved the limestone rocks along its way and formed narrow canyon valleys which zigzag across the mountains. The landscape is breathtaking. The Uvac Special Nature Reserve is one of the natural secrets of Serbia ï¿œ the country in our Focus in August 2012. > Read more > Country Focus - Serbia > Country Focus - Cyprus > Country Focus - Moldova EU UPDATE EUï¿œs energy policy: the torch passes on to Cyprus The search for a comprehensive and sustainable energy system in Europe remains firmly positioned in the EU policy agenda. The EU is well on track when it comes to the objectives for 2020. Read more on the European Union Update. > Read IUCN's EU Update LATEST PUBLICATIONS IUCN Congress Brochure Learn more about the IUCN World Conservation Congress through this brochure. > Read more The URBES project - Fact sheet The URBES project bridges the knowledge gap on the role of urban biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being. It further aims to inform urban management and decision-makers on how to best integrate the natural environment and human needs. > Fact sheet Engaging CSOs in EU nature-related legislation The published guidelines intend to assist experts of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in their effective engagement in national conservation efforts and to provide them with a tool for delivering knowledge to CSO members.  > Read more Marine mammals and sea turtles of the Mediterranean and Black Seas This booklet presents information on the conservation status of the marine mammals and sea turtles that inhabit the Mediterranean and Black Seas. > Read more Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus The ï¿œEcoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasusï¿œ lays the framework for nature conservation and guides the efforts of all conservation actors working in the Caucasus Ecoregion. > Read more LATEST FROM EUROPE IUCN mourns the loss of Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby IUCN deeply mourns the loss of Martin Schneider-Jacoby who worked at IUCN Member EuroNatur since its foundation. We will all remember Martin as a truly passionate and inspiring person. > Read more Shebenik-Jabllanicï¿œ Logo Competition IUCN is holding a competition for the creation of the official logo of the Shebenik-Jabllanicï¿œ National Park. Click here for more information.  > Read more EVENTS 20 years of protecting Europeï¿œs nature: 3 cents for the future of Natura 2000 IUCN together with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), EUROPARC and WWF will organize an evening reception on 25 September 2012 at the European Parliament to ask its Members to vote for protecting Europeï¿œs nature by financing Natura 2000. > Read more > Register Follow us > Hans Friederich's Blog  > Hans Friederich's Twitter    IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) ï¿œ 2012 IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice. IUCNï¿œs European region covers the European continent, Russia and Central Asia, and includes the European Union overseas entities. Representing one third of the global membership, this is IUCNï¿œs largest programmatic region. Photo credits: Hans Friederich, IUCN; Gerard Bos, Gerard Bos; Members voting on motions at the 2008 IUCN Congress in Barcelona, IUCN / Muntaner; Meeting, European Business and Biodiversity Campaign; Caucasus, A'Shioji/Flickr; Jellyfish, anvil06/Flickr; Jeju Seongsan Illchubong; Uvac meanders, Uvac Reserve Archive; Wind Energy, janie.hernandez55/Flickr; Urban River and Recreation, Dagmar Haase; Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby, Vladimir Dobretic; Shebenik-Jabllanicï¿œ National Park, Albania, IUCN/T.Pezold; Tree, istockphoto.