WCPA WEB UPDATE: MAY '04 At: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/newsbulletins/new.html On the "What's New" page of the WCPA website this month, you can read about:
1. PROTECTED AREAS INITIATIVES IN AFGHANISTAN 2. THE EUROPARC JUNIOR RANGER PROJECT 3. EAST TIMOR BUILDS NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM 4. TNC PURCHASES ANCIENT ATLANTIC FOREST IN BRAZIL 5. THE KAMIESBERG ROUTE A NEW SECTION IN THE AFRICAN TOURISM ROUTES LINKING THE CAPE TO CAIRO 6. GOOD NEWS ON LAKE BAIKAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE 7. MALIBU DECLARATION CALLS FOR GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO PROTECT MEDITERRANEAN-TYPE ECOSYSTEM 8. ONE THIRD OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF TO BECOME `NO-TAKE' AREA 9. FIRST STEP TAKEN TO PROTECT BALTIC SEA 10. INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT 1. Protected Areas Initiatives in Afghanistan A new national park and sustainable tourism initiatives in the Hindu Kush area are the cornerstones of one of the first post-war projects to protect Afghanistan's environment. 2. The Europarc Junior Ranger Project The Vth World Parks Congress called for greater participation of young people in protected areas. The EUROPARC Federation has now started the `Junior Ranger Project' to make that happen. 3. East Timor Builds National Park System The world's newest nation is establishing a protected area network. To protect East Timor's few remaining pristine areas financial support from the international community is urgently needed. 4. TNC Purchases Ancient Forest in Brazil Less than 8% of the original Atlantic Forest is left today, scattered along the coast of Brazil. The Nature Conservancy has now bought 970 hectares of these ancient forest remnants in Bahia state (Brazil) to create an ecological corridor. 5. The Kamiesberg Route a New Section in the African Tourism Routes Linking the Cape to Cairo Millions of flowers, blossoming in spring time, are the big tourist attraction of the Kamiesberg region (South Africa) but they only last for a couple of weeks. Now the Kamiesberg Route has been created, aiming to create year-long jobs through tourism and conservation. 6. Good News on Lake Baikal The Russian Government has taken some significant steps to conserve the world's largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal. This comes out of the recent state of conservation report that the Russian State Pary submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Center. 7. Malibu Declaration Calls for Global Initiative to Protect Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems Mediterranean-type ecosystems are more threatened than rain forests that is one of the statements of the new Malibu Declaration, calling for an international programme to protect these environments. 8. One Third of the Great Barrier Reef to Become `No-Take' Areas The new zoning plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has recently passed the Australian Federal Government. With this outstanding result, 33% of the marine park will become `no-take' areas on 1 July 2004. 9. First Step Taken to Protect Baltic Sea To minimize the risk of oil spills and prevent other damages from maritime shipping, the Baltic Sea has been designated a `Particularly Sensitive Sea Area' at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization. Russia was the only country opposing the decision. 10. International Seminar on Protected Area Management (5-21 August, 2004) This seminar, designed for mid-career planners and managers, will evaluate policies and institutional arrangements that sustain both people and natural resources. FIND OUT MORE ON http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/newsbulletins/new.html. Should you wish to contribute to the WCPA website and send information for the next What's New page or any other WCPA Communications tools, please contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Best regards, Carolin Carolin Karnath Communications IUCN Programme on Protected Areas Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland, Switzerland Phone: +41 22 999 0161 Fax: +41 22 999 0015 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
