Posted on June, 05 2002
The Tri-national Wetlands Initiative is a commitment by the three nations to work together to achieve sustainable management of 3 million ha of tropical wetlands identified as global priorities for conservation - demonstrating environmental leadership and cooperation within the region, and underlining the importance of protecting freshwater ecosystems.
The 3 million ha is contained within existing protected areas - Kakadu National Park (Australia), Wasur National Park (Indonesia) and Tonda Wildlife Management Area (Papua New Guinea) and will greatly improve the management of these parks, and encourage the creation of further protected areas. The conservation benefits include cooperative action on common threats including management of fire and weeds such as water hyacinth, and will help protect numerous endangered species and millions of migratory waders and waterfowl.
On behalf of WWF International Director General Dr Claude Martin, the Director of WWF's Living Waters Campaign , Jamie Pittock announced that WWF's highest recognition - the "Gift to the Earth" - had been awarded to the three countries in recognition of the this major contribution to wetland conservation. "The Tri-National Wetlands Initiative facilitates the sharing of information, skills and staff between the three countries and the development of collaborative research and management projects. The WWF Gift to the Earth provides international recognition and support for globally significant conservation actions such as the Tri-National Wetlands Initiative."
WWF Program Manager Michele Bowe stressed the importance of local communities that depend on these wetlands for survival. "All three conservation areas are managed with or by local communities and although the models of management are different in each country, each has much to offer and inform the others. The areas also face similar threats such as weeds, feral animals, loss of traditional knowledge related to fire management and development pressures. The Tri-National Wetlands Initiative has been developed in close collaboration with local communities and is welcomed by communities within the protected areas and further afield, where it will encourage similar freshwater conservation action."
The GIFT TO THE EARTH ceremony is timed to take place in Bali on June 5th and will be attended by Government Ministers, Senior Officials and community representatives from each country. The ceremony coincides with the Bali Preparatory Meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development .
The GIFT TO THE EARTH ceremony is timed to take place in Bali on June 5 and will be attended by Government Ministers, Senior Officials and community representatives from each country.
The GIFT TO THE EARTH is WWF's highest award for a globally significant conservation achievement, which addresses WWF's conservation priorities by:
- "Advancing conservation of biodiversity, especially forest, freshwater and marine ecosystems, or enhancing the prospects for survival of threatened species"
- "Addressing global threats posed by climate change, toxic chemicals and unsustainable use of resources such as timber, freshwater and fisheries."
Such Gifts have helped achieve and celebrate many of the successes of the Living Waters Programme . Future Gifts are planned for Nigeria, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Madagascar, and Zambia.
For further information contact:
Michele Bowe, Bali Tel: 0811 79707 821 email mbowe@wwf.org.au
Ulrike Hellmessrn, Bali Tel: 0817 7970 7826 email uhellmessen@web.de
Rosslyn Beeby, WWF Australia Tel 02 8202 1218 Mobile 0419 520 960
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