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World Conservation Union regional forum opens in Colombo

Posted on: Thursday, 11 December 2003, 06:00 CST

World Conservation Union regional forum opens in Colombo

COLOMBO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The World Conservation Union (IUCN) regional forum sponsored by the Sri Lankan government opened here Wednesday to discuss and seek to define Asia's environmental priorities and actions for the next five years.

"The main objective of the forum is to ensure that environmental and conservation efforts in the region are science- based, relevant, effective, compatible and connected as necessary to achieve agreed conservation and sustainable development goals," Aban Marker Kabraji, head of the IUCN Asia Regional Office said.

"Conservation of natural resources is a fundamental necessity for economic development. By focusing on ecosystems and livelihoods, the forum will set a new conservation agenda for Asia, one that puts human well-being center stage." IUCN President Yolanda Kakabadse Navarro said.

Representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations, research and scientific institutions, UN bodies and experts on conservation from 23 countries in the Asian region and beyond are attending the four-day forum.

IUCN, the world's largest environmental knowledge network with its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, encourages and assists countries throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

IUCN has helped over 75 countries prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies.

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