Samdhana is currently participating in the World Conservation Congress (WCC) 2016 of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Hawaii. Its 1300 State and NGO Members, Samdhana being one, is currently discussing and acting on key resolutions including conserving the oceans, climate change and the role of private investment in nature conservation. The WCC is the highest decision-making body of IUCN and instrumental in setting the direction of conservation efforts. Since 1948, the IUCN World Conservation Congress has been held every 2-4 years in all corners of the world. Past IUCN Congresses have been important in building consensus that have led to CITES, CBD and Ramsar Convention.

The Congress will bring together top professionals from all regions and expertise to share knowledge on how our natural environment should be managed for the continued well-being of humanity and all life on Earth. Samdhana is among over 10,000 delegates from around the globe, including representatives of 170 governments, leading scientists, NGOs, indigenous peoples and business will convene to take part in the biggest networking opportunity in the environmental sector.

The event has two parts: the Forum and the Members Assembly. The Forum just took place from 2 to 5 September, was the largest knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and innovation with over 600 sessions addressing a wide range of issues. It was heartily opened by Hawaiian indigenous drumbeats to echo natures voices and to create a great place to learn, share, to reconnect and influence.

Samdhana Institute actively took part as speaker/panelist (Yunus Yumte) in several Workshops: September 3rd “Indigenous Community and Land Rights: Realizing a New Conservation Ethic” together with speakers from the Amazon and DRC; The September 4 Workshop on Accessing Global Finances: Funding Opportunities for IPs and Local Communities”; and the workshops on Biodiversity Offsetts, and Forest Pavilion Panel on locally managed primary forests, on September 5. Samdhana also worked on a “Planet at A Crossroads” mural with Fellow Intu Boedhihartono of James Cook University. Other Samdhana fellows are also actively participating, namely Jeff Sayer, Dami Buchori, Nonette Royo, Cristi Nozawa, herself as a Regional Vice Chair for Southeast Asia of the IUCN World Comission on Protected Areas.

6-10 September will be dedicated to the Members' Assembly, where IUCN's 1,300+ Member organisations collectively decide and vote on actions for the often controversial conservation and sustainable development challenges. The knowledge from the Forum informs the decisions taken at the Members' Assembly.

As this is one of the avenues for voicing and influencing the future environmental trends, Samdhana will aim to populate membership and voices in the next WCC with indigenous youth and women defenders of the environment from Southeast Asia.

More detail about WCC please see http://iucnworldconservationcongress.org/