Story | 04 Oct, 2021

BIOPAMA support to protected and conserved areas in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific in the spotlight at the IUCN World Conservation Congress

The BIOPAMA partnership delivered 35 events during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, highlighting the programme’s key products and their contribution to implementing the global agenda on conservation and development. Thematic sessions, conservation campuses, pavilion events, clinic events, press conferences, networking events, launch of publications and products ensured a high visibility for the five Regional Observatories for protected areas and biodiversity, the State of Protected and Conserved Areas reports, the capacity development programmes and the results of the direct funding for actions on the ground.

Panel at the BIOPAMA Showcase Event - IUCN World Conservation Congress, Marseille

Photo: IUCN

BIOPAMA Thematic Session with OFAC - IUCN World Conservation Congress, Marseille

Photo: IUCN

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema at BIOPAMA Showcase Event Address - IUCN World Conservation Congress, Marseille

Photo: IUCN

BIOPAMA at the IUCN Knowledge Hub - IUCN World Conservation Congress, Marseille

Photo: IUCN

Press Conference for the Launch of the 'State of Protected Areas in Central Africa' publication in Marseille

Photo: IUCN

Key moments:

Launch of the "Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées"

Julia Miranda Londoño, Deputy Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, presents 'Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées', presents 'Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées'

Julia Miranda Londoño, Deputy Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, presents 'Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées' Photo: Roxana Bucioaca / IUCN

“Nature becomes central for the human development. Protected and conserved areas are important not only for biodiversity conservation, but also for development. In many countries there is a lack of capacity materials and sometimes they are not available in local languages. The “Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées” becomes an indispensable resource that many countries and protected area actors need”, said Mr. Philippe Mayaux from the European Commission, Directorate General for International Partnerships, at the launch of the “Gouvernance et gestion des aires protégées”, on 5 September, at the “Vital Sites for a Protected Planet” pavilion. This publication represents the French version of the “Protected Area Governance and Management”, initially launched in English at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 and in Spanish at the Third Latin American and the Caribbean Protected Areas Congress 2019.

This publication represents one of the greatest ever WCPA volunteer projects, and has involved 164 authors, five editors, and 27 reviewers over two and a half years. In one large text for students, policy makers and interested readers, the 28 Chapters and 1000 pages covers all aspects of the protection, governance and management of Earth’s protected areas. The equivalent of an estimated $US2.9 million worth of volunteer time was contributed to the development of the book. The development of the publication and its translation to French were supported by BIOPAMA, among many other partners and donors.

Celebrating protected and conserved areas with success stories from BIOPAMA and BEST

This high-level event lined up speakers who emphasized the critical importance of programmes such as BIOPAMA and BEST, for building a future in harmony with nature and in support of the implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Interventions and presentations of success stories included the following speakers:

Trevor Sandwith, Director, IUCN Global Protected and Conserved Areas Programme
Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity

Philippe Mayaux, Team Leader, Biodiversity and Forests, Directorate General for International Cooperation, European Commission
Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary General, Environment and Climate Change, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
Luther Anukur, Regional Director, IUCN Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
Ursula Parilla Artiuguina, Regional Director, IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
Kako Kossavi NUBUKPO, Commissioner for Agriculture, Water and Environment, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
A video message from the BIOPAMA grantees