The first World Leaders’ Conservation Forum that was held in the Republic of South Korea underscored the
critical role of nature conservation in peace building and sustainable
development. It called for bold leadership at the global and local levels to
stop the devastating loss of biodiversity taking place today.
Under the theme Nature: a path to peace and coexistence, the Forum included
technical Expert Sessions and a World Leaders’ Dialogue that covered a range of
topics from the threats to biodiversity and co-existence between humans and
wildlife to peace-building and sustainable development.
Hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of the Environment, Jeju Special
Self-Governing Province and IUCN, this inaugural event attracted more than 700
participants from 52 countries.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a video message to Forum participants,
commending the organisers for taking up these issues. Distinguished author and
journalist Alan Weisman delivered an insightful keynote speech drawing on
decades of research into human impacts on the environment, warning we were
playing a game of “Russian roulette” with biodiversity.
“Human progress and nature conservation are complementary, and we must ensure
that the two thrive together – not consume each other, said IUCN
Director General Inger Andersen. “There are credible and accessible
political, economic and technological approaches that can promote human welfare
in ways that support – and even enhance – our natural planet’s assets. We have a
limited window of opportunity to act, before it will be too late.”
The Republic of Korea Minister of Environment Yoon Seongkyu
noted that for too long nature conservation was considered a constraint to
economic development. “But when we connect nature conservation and economic
growth, and engage them with each other, they become one strong and powerful
mechanism that will lead us toward a better future for all.”
The Governor of Jeju Self-Governing Province Won Heeryong
noted that while there is a growing awareness that human survival ultimately
depends on healthy, resilient ecosystems, “we urgently need a new concept of
environmental peace, where we live in harmony with nature.”
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