Brochure available on 2nd Conference on Wetlands and Development, Dakar
The 2nd International Conference on Wetlands and Development, slated for Dakar, Senegal, 8-14 November 1998, is being organized by Wetlands International, the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection of Senegal, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, and WWF - The World Wide Fund for Nature, at the invitation of the Government of Senegal.
The Conference is endorsed by: the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the World Heritage Convention.
An attractive new brochure is now
available (photo right), which includes (in French and English versions) an introduction,
a provisional programme overview, the workshop themes and topics, travel and hotel
information, and a registration form.
For a copy of the brochure or any other information about the conference, contact Maria Pierce, Wetlands International, post@wetlands.agro.nl or visit the Wetlands International Web site: http://www.wetlands.agro.nl/
Here's the text of the Introduction:
The 2nd International Conference on Wetlands and Development will take place in November 1998 in Dakar, Senegal, in conjunction with the first Board Meeting of Wetlands International. As the first major conference on wetlands in Africa, it will build on the achievements of the 1st International Conference on Wetlands and Development held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1995 at the time of the creation of Wetlands International.
The Conference will include plenary and workshop sessions to review trends in wetland conservation and to identify solutions which help agencies and wetland managers better achieve wetland conservation goals at both local and international levels. In addition, the Wetlands International Board Meeting will determine the strategic direction of Wetlands International for the 1999-2001 triennium.
Wetland conservation in Africa is presented with many challenges and opportunities of global importance. It is characterised by issues ranging from: the important role of African wetlands in supporting biodiversity; the direct and sustainable use of wetland products by local communities; and flourishing nature tourism. Africa is challenged by frequent droughts and rapidly encroaching desertification, severe financial limitations in government environment agencies and a lack of trained personnel and information regarding the importance of wetlands. To date, African wetlands have not received adequate international attention either from the scientific, conservation or donor communities, in part because of resource constraints and the fact that local realities make implementation of international conventions and national legislation difficult to enact. Nevertheless, there are many lessons to be learned by other regions of the world.
The Conference provides international conventions and donor agencies an opportunity to debate wetland issues as well as determine conservation priorities. The workshops will be a conduit for local project and agency managers to determine ways to put new information into action at the local level. By the end of the Conference, practical solutions will be identified which help to focus global resources on local needs.
Audience
- Experts, and project leaders on wetlands and wetland biodiversity
- Leaders from African governmental and non-governmental agencies working on wetlands
- Representatives of international organisations working on wetland issues
- Representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies, foundations and donors
For
further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact
the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196
Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@hq.iucn.org).
Posted 17 June 1998, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.
