Nature’s Olympics - IUCN World Conservation Congress: Jeju, Republic of Korea, 6-15 September, 2012

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest and most important conservation event. Held every four years, it aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development.

The 2012 World Conservation Congress will be held from 6 to 15 September 2012 in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Leaders from government, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, business, UN agencies and social organizations will discuss, debate and decide solutions for the world’s most pressing environment and development issues.

The Congress starts with a Forum where IUCN Members and partners discuss cutting-edge ideas, thinking and practice. The Forum leads into the Members’ Assembly, a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs.

Effective conservation action cannot be achieved by conservationists alone. The 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress is the place to put aside differences and work together to provide the means and mechanisms for good environmental governance, engaging all parts of society to share both responsibilities and the benefits of conservation.

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FACTS:

With over 400 journalists expected, at least 500 events and more than 6,000 daily participants—including more than 100 State members and major NGOs such as WWF, Conservation International and National Geographic—Congress is the largest ever event for nature.

The Congress theme captures the fundamental importance of nature and its inherent link to every aspect of our lives: Nature+.

Featured at Congress, the World Leaders Dialogues will be “prime time” high-level sessions—organized by the Korean Government and the President of IUCN, they will feature exceptional, internationally recognized experts, politicians and CEOs in a series of five moderated public debates tackling the most strategic issues related to conservation and sustainable development themes: nature + biodiversity, nature + climate; nature + people; nature + economy; and nature + food. The interactive World Leaders Dialogues will provide enlightening strategic thinking to guide the implementation of pragmatic solutions for a sustainable future for our planet.

Since 1948, the IUCN World Conservation Congress has been held every 2-4 years in all corners of the world—currently, Congress is currently broken into two parts: the Member’s Assembly of all IUCN member organizations; and the Forum, open to all for debating major sustainable development issues, proposing solutions and facilitating the sharing of information and experiences.

The 2012 Congress will be a green Congress—in order to minimize and compensate for impacts relating to all aspects of Congress and in order to leave a positive legacy, the government of the Republic of Korea and IUCN are working together to make Congress a sustainable event.

Jeju is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Mount Hallasan and Seongsan Illchulbong and Ramsar wetland sites, each with their own unique ecosystems. Excellent facilities are available at the Congress venue, and there is strong support from the network of IUCN members and grass-root conservation organizations.

Some of the many VIP attendees at Congress:

H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
Bharrat Jagdeo (former President of Guyana)
Iruka (Japanese singer & songwriter)
Michael Mack (CEO, Syngenta)
Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji (Former Prime Minister, Bhutan)
Suk-Chae Lee (Chairman, Korea Telecom) -
Mattias Klum (Photographer, National Geographic)
Malouma (Mauritanian singer & songwriter)
Pierre Yves Cousteau (founder, Cousteau Divers)
Achim Steiner (Executive Director, UNEP)
Cristián Samper (CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society)
Isabella Teixera (Minister of Environment, Brazil)
Maurice F. Strong (former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations)
Guillaume Le Cunff (International Marketing & Strategy Director, Nespresso)
Rachel Kyte (Vice President of Sustainable Development, The World Bank)
Peter Bakker (President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
Henri Djombo (Minister of Sustainable Development, Forestry Economy & the Environment, Congo Brazzaville)

Prospective media products:

Key IUCN Red List news
Corporation 2020 by Pavan Sukhdev book launch—complements UNEP’s “Green Economy Report”
Outcomes from REDD+ Forest Dialogues
Protected Planet report
IUCN Green List of Protected Areas
Algeria & Lebanon National Strategy for Marine Managed and Protected Areas
IUCN Laos – National Biodiversity Action Plan
During the Forum there will be over 50 media briefings and more than 20 “meet the press” events
...and many more!

MEDIA TEAM:

• Maggie Roth, IUCN Media Relations, m +1 202 262 5313, e [email protected]