|
Ongoing
Events
United Nations Climate Change Conference
Nairobi, Kenya, is currently
hosting the twelfth session of the Conference
of the Parties to the Climate Change Conventions
(COP 12) in conjunction with the second meeting
of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP
2). These meetings, which began on November 6
and run until November 17, will focus on encouraging
global action and cooperation in order
to mitigate climate change and address the problems
it is already causing around the world. More
information. Press
release.
The Healing Power
of Nature
There is a great need to
continue telling positive, true stories about
South Africa, especially those that highlight
the special relationship between people and nature.
The South African
Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) has commissioned
Mafisa Media, in collaboration with IUCN-SA, to
make thirteen documentary films dealing with the
healing and spiritual power of wilderness.
The thirteen-part series was broadcasted on SABC3
on Sundays at 1830 from early August to late October.
The producers are currently
renegotiating with SABC 3 for a second season
to be aired August 2007. Any suggestions
or stories related to the healing power of
nature would be most welcome. For more information
visit
Healing Power of Nature.
|
| |
| Recent Events |
|
Natural
and Organic Products Expo
IUCN-SA participated
in the Natural and Organic Products Exhibition
held in Johannesburg October 20-22, 2006. The
aim was to share the work of IUCN-SA's
Natural Futures Programme with other natural
products stakeholders, forge new linkages, and
promote examples of sustainable business initi atives
through small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It
was a great opportunity to meet some PhytoTrade
Africa members that IUCN-SA has been supporting
through its policy, certification, and fundraising
work.
The exhibition was of particular value to the
members as it gave them the opportunity to meet
new and potential customers, as well as build
their distribution networks to expand the sale
of their products.
 The
Natural Futures Programme's most recent work in
the field of certification received support from
various stakeholders throughout the weekend. The
need for continued efforts in the development
of an improved certification system for Southern
African natural products was underlined by the
interest displayed in natural products, and particularly
certified natural products, at the exhibition.
Gaps in current certification schemes were highlighted
by natural product producers in recounts of their
experiences in accessing certification and through
conversations with certifiers themselves. The
Natural Futures Programme will push ahead in the
coming months to address this obvious need for
an improved certification system.
Teleseminar by Kozette
Myburgh and Rebecca Witter The
Transboundary
Protected Areas Research Initiative in collaboration
with IUCN-SA recently held a Teleseminar on: "Engaging
Conservation to improve the human consequences of
protected area conservation." This provided
an opportunity for individuals at five centres around
the world to provide commentary and engage in discussion
on this topic. A reflection
on this teleseminar is provided by Jim Igoe,
from the Department of Anthropology at the University
of Colorado in Denver, USA.
|
|
 |
| 2006
Environmental Calendar |
|
|
|
|
