{"id":4191,"date":"2021-09-29T07:10:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T14:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?p=4191"},"modified":"2021-09-30T09:04:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T16:04:19","slug":"corals-perspective-highlights-from-iucns-world-conservation-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/blog\/corals-perspective-highlights-from-iucns-world-conservation-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"CORAL\u2019s Perspective: Highlights from IUCN\u2019s World Conservation Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From raging wildfires to melting glaciers to coral bleaching\u2014it is clear that there is pressing urgency to face the planet\u2019s climate and ecological emergency. After postponing last year\u2019s event due to COVID-19, the International Union for Conservation of Nature<\/a> (IUCN) decided to hold its quadrennial World Conservation Congress<\/a> from September 3 to 11, 2021 and commit to actions that will ensure a more sustainable future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members from more than 160 countries in government, science, civil society, and business sectors met in Marseille, France\u2014along with many more participating virtually. One of those attendees was CORAL\u2019s Hawai\u02bbi Regional Program Director Manuel Mejia<\/a>, representing the Hawai\u02bbi Conservation Alliance, an IUCN member organization and previous host to the 2016 World Conservation Congress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hawaii<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had a chance to catch up with Mejia after he returned from Marseille, getting a \u201cbehind-the-scenes\u201d look at the main highlights and why there are reasons to be optimistic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Indigenous Voices <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, Mejia attended the 2016 Congress that took place in Honolulu, Hawai\u02bbi, where a new membership category called the \u201cIndigenous Peoples Organizations\u201d was formed. Since its establishment, Mejia has noticed a significant increase of individuals from the Indigenous Peoples Organizations represented at IUCN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndigenous voices are finally being elevated and listened to,\u201d says Mejia, expressing the importance of taking a biocultural approach to conservation. \u201cIn the Pacific, and in Indigenous cultures in general, people are part of the equation. They aren\u2019t separate from nature. As nature thrives, people thrive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Congress, Mejia proudly represented our partners in Hawai\u02bbi at the \u201cPacific Pavilion,\u201d where members living in Oceania and the Pacific Islands spoke about topics relevant to their region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IUCN<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mejia gave a presentation and shared the significance of \u201cmauka to makai\u201d conservation approaches in Hawai\u02bbi, or \u201cridge to reef.\u201d He explained why taking care of land and sea is an important element to local cultures and island communities, like Hawai\u02bbi, and how communities are leading conservation efforts guided by Indigenous values and knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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