IUCN 2016 World Conservation Congress US Government –Freely Associated States Meeting Friday, March 20, 2015 Chipper Wichman, Vice-Chairman WCC National Host Committee/Hawai`i 2016

What is IUCN? Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization. Headquartered in Switzerland Today the largest professional global conservation network A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government 900+ non-government organizations Almost 11,000 voluntary scientists and experts, grouped in six commissions in some 160 countries

What is the World Conservation Congress? The largest conservation event in the world Held every 4 years in Switzerland or in another State that agrees to host the WCC Its functions (among others): to provide a public forum for debate on how best to conserve nature and to ensure an equitable and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources as an opportunity to meet and interact with fellow conservationists from across the globe to present and discuss among those who are on the cutting edge of conservation.

Who attends the Congress? Leaders from: 1,200 Member organizations from 160 countries Government NGOs UN agencies Wider conservation community Grassroot organizations Anyone interested in nature Academia Public sector Private sector The place to interact personally with leaders from all backgrounds

History 5 World Conservation Congresses 19 General Assemblies 2012 Jeju 2008 Barcelona 2004 Bangkok 2000 Amman 1996 Montreal 19 General Assemblies 1994 Buenos Aires 1990 Perth 1963 Nairobi 1988 San José 1960 Warsaw 1984 Madrid 1958 Athens 1981 Christchurch 1956 Edinburgh 1978 Ashkhabad 1972 Banff 1975 Kinshasa 1952 Caracas 1969 New Delhi 1950 Brussels 1966 Lucerne 1948 Fontainebleau

Where next? 1 to 10 September 2016 8 Islands 1 UNESCO Biosphere reserves 2 Natural World Heritage sites 1 Ramsar site 28’000 native plants and animals, 90% endemic Honolulu

2016 Congress Objectives 1. Inspire The Congress will inspire the international community to take action for nature by demonstrating its critical role as our life support system and by showcasing inspiring examples, from Hawai‘i and the rest of the world, where conservation has delivered tangible benefits for biological diversity, people and sustainable development. 2. Strengthen and Mobilize the Union Strengthen and Mobilize the Union The Congress will bring together all IUCN Members to consolidate and advance the Union’s policy to address urgent issues of our time, agree on new priorities and actions for the global conservation community from 2017 to 2020 and involve all IUCN constituencies and partners to jointly drive the necessary implementation. 3. The Hawai‘i Commitments The Hawai‘i Commitments The Congress will launch a set of new responses to ensure the most efficient, effective and sustained scaling-up of action on existing global biodiversity and sustainable development targets to date.

Congress structure The Forum where IUCN Members and partners discuss cutting edge ideas, thinking and practice. The IUCN Members’ Assembly, a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs.

Congress Fact Sheet – Jeju 2012 6500 Participants 550 Forum sessions 180 Resolutions 157 Countries

Forum Fact Sheet – Jeju 2012 150 Posters 130 Knowledge cafés 100 Exhibition booths 7 Thematic pavilions Over 600 events 150 Workshops 5 World Leaders Dialogues 50 Conservation Campus Exploring the depths of conservation, showcasing results and innovation

Members’ Assembly IUCN’s highest level decision-making body Approves IUCN’s four year programme and its financial plan; Elects IUCN’s governing body (President, Treasurer, Regional Councillors, Chairs of Commissions), and Passes Resolutions requiring action from components of IUCN as well as Recommendations addressed to its Members and third parties. The moment for Members to exercise their rights and influence the governance of IUCN

IUCN Commissions The six Commissions unite 10,000 volunteer experts from a range of disciplines. They assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues. Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) Species Survival Commission (SSC) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) How to join a commission : http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/

US Member Agencies US Dept. of State – Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs US Dept. of State - Agency for International Development US Dept. of Agriculture – Forest Service US Dept. of the Interior – Fish and Wildlife Service US Dept. of the Interior – National Park Service US Environmental Protection Agency US Dept. of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

White House Support Federal Interagency Working Group Six member agencies of IUCN Council on Enviromental Policies

WCC National Host Committee/Hawai`i 2016 Board of Directors (National and Hawai`i Leaders) Committees Program Hospitality Marketing and Communications Budget and Finance Cultural County / Neighbor Islands

Opportunities for Engagement Call for Contributions – May through October 2015 Opening Ceremonies Workshops Knowledge Café Conservation Campus Pavilions Posters Social Events Exhibitions (booths)

Opportunities for Engagement Congress Journeys Bio-Security Islands Conservation Campus Sponsored Delegates

WCC National Host Committee / Hawai`i 2016 Contact Information: Randall Tanaka, Executive Director Email: RTanaka@2016wcchawaii.com Phone: (808) 348-5834 Web: www.iucn.org/congress

Mahalo! Mahalo! Mahalo!