SA to host special rhino conservation event at World Parks Congress

Cape Town - South Africa, former hosts of the landmark global forum on protected areas, held every 10 years, has officially handed over the torch for the World Parks Congress to Australia as the hosts of the 6th World Parks Congress.

The event is being held in Sydney from 12 November to 19 November 2014.

Sanparks announced on its website that the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa is leading the South African delegation that includes the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Barbara Thomson.

South Africa as chair of International Union for the Conservation of Nature, will host a special event on rhino conservation at the Congress.  Hosted by the Minister, the event is aimed showcasing how South Africa has increased its efforts in protecting this endangered species, and highlighting the challenges encountered in protecting this species.

The delegation will also showcase the management and tourism of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas within the SADC region.

Delivering an address on behalf of South Africa, Ms Thomson said the management of natural resources in a mega-diverse and developing country is a tremendous responsibility.

^{Also see: Protecting Kruger’s rhinos}

"It requires innovative solutions, youth-centred policies, sustainable financing as well as harnessing strategic partnerships to unlock opportunity – all the while mindful of the need to balance the developmental needs of that country with conservation," she said.

This Congress is an opportunity to learn from each other and to work in partnership to sustain, protect and conserve the natural wonder of our home, Planet Earth, for future generations.

“On behalf of my government, allow me to salute all of you here for your dedication, resilience and commitment; often in the face of significant challenges,” she said appealing to the more than 5 000 delegates from more than 160 countries not to fail the Planet as the sustainer of Life.

The theme of the 2014 Congress, being held at the Sydney Olympic Park, is "Parks, People Planet: Inspiring Solutions".

As a landmark event, the 5th Congress was held in Durban, South Africa, in 2003, where the Durban Action, adopted at the end of the 2003 Congress, was accepted by the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties (CBD COP 7) as the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

Delegates will consider ways to address the gap between conservation and the sustainable development agenda at this year's event and in the coming days articulate the vital role of protected areas in conserving nature while delivering essential ecosystem services; position protected areas within goals of economic and community well-being, and demonstrate how this can be achieved in practice.

 
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