The 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress is the largest gathering of environmental policy makers since the Paris Climate Agreement and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, and presents a major opportunity to start putting these deals into action.
Thousands of top scientists, academics and business and political leaders from around the world will present the latest conservation advances, tools and action during the Congress Forum.
Over 1,500 sessions will cover the most pressing and sometimes controversial topics including ocean protection and marine plastics, wildlife trafficking and biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and resilience, and the economic and social impacts of transitioning, or not transitioning, to more sustainable development paths.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will be taking part in numerous events, meetings and high-level dialogues. The delegation led by Ramsar’s Secretary General, Martha Rojas-Urrego, will be taking this opportunity to engage with the world’s leaders, governments, NGOs, grassroots organizations and other stakeholders to work towards the Convention’s overall mission to reverse the loss of wetlands and underline wetlands’ vital contribution to world’s sustainable development.
To receive daily updates on Ramsar activities at the Congress follow us on Twitter (hashtag #IUCNcongress), Facebook and our website. Photos will be available for viewing here.
Ramsar will be participating in or organizing the following events
Date/Time
| Event type | Title |
Organizers/Partners | ||
2 September
11h00-13h00
| High-level dialogue | IUCN | |||
2 September
13h00-14h30
| Pavilion Event | IUCN World Heritage Programme | |||
2 September
15h30-16h30
| Pavilion Event | River deltas at the crossroads: transformative change for people and ecosystems | IUCN Global Water Programme | ||
3 September
08h30-10h30
| Knowledge Café | The Ramsar world wetland city scheme: inspiring local communities to value wetlands | Ramsar Convention, World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN Regional Office for Oceania | ||
3 September 12h00-13h00
| Pavilion Event | Ramsar Convention | |||
3 September 14h30-16h30
| Workshop | Can the nexus mobilise nature-based solutions for water security? | IUCN Global Water Programme, WWF International, University of Geneva | ||
4 September 11h00-12h00
| Pavilion Event | Ramsar Convention, IUCN Central and West Africa | |||
4 September 12h00-13h00
| Pavilion Event | Integrating Water Resources Management and Landscapes for SDG Implementation | IUCN Global Water Programme | ||
4 September
14h30-16h30
| Conservation Case | Leave no one behind: Conservation, Rights and Sustainable Development | IUCN | ||
*NEW EVENT* 5 September 10h00 - 11h00 5 September 15h30-16h40
| Pavilion Event | Mainstreaming Wetlands and Ecosystems Services in Extractive Industry in West Africa (*for more information please see below) | Ramsar Convention | ||
5 September
17h00-18h00 | Pavilion Event | Consolidating Partnerships for a Global Vision for Freshwater Ecosystems | IUCN Global Water Programme, Conservation International | ||
*New Event* " Mainstreaming Wetlands and Ecosystems Services in Extractive Industry in West Africa " - The Africa Team of the Secretariat is partnering with the Business and Biodiversity Programme of IUCN to develop guidelines for mainstreaming wetlands and ecosystems services in extractive industry in West Africa. This first technical consultation meeting will bring together government officials, IUCN members and staff and Ramsar staff including new Secretary General Martha Rojas-Urrego. For more information please contact Paul Ouedraogo, Senior Advisor for Africa; . / event information
Types of events explained:
High Level Dialogues
The High Level Dialogues will feature internationally recognized experts, politicians and CEOs in a series of moderated public debates that tackle the most strategic issues related to conservation and sustainable development. With high media exposure, and innovative techniques, these 2 hour sessions will offer strategic thinking to guide the implementation of practical solutions for a sustainable future.
Pavilions
The Pavilions provide a great opportunity to learn about the most innovative partnerships that will drive conservation globally in the coming few years.
Conservation Cases
Conservation Cases will offer a more in-depth approach to a specific conservation issue, facilitating a more complete understanding of the broader picture, factors and actors related to this issue.
Knowledge Café
The two-hour roundtable discussions of the Knowledge Café will explore common areas of interest, how to build on each other’s experience and discuss possible partnerships or joint ventures.
