Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2016 — Sustaining a global future [ARTICLE]

Sustaining a global future

By Dave Dondoneau The world's biggest conservation conference is headed to Honolulu and expected to bring with it hotly contested debates about how to deal with the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet today. More than 8,000 scientists, conservationists and world leaders from more than 175 countries will participate in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, to be held Sept. 1-10 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Every four years, the Congress brings together leaders of organizations with the goal of creating policies and solutions to help sustain and better the planet's resources.

The Congress 2016 event will be the first time a sub-national area (Hawai'i) — not a country — has hosted the prestigious event and the first time in its 68-year history it is being heldon U.S. soil. It's estimatedto bring in $37.7 million in visitor spending and $3.6 million in tax revenue to the state, along with security measures the island hasn't seen since the state hosted APEC in 20 1 1 . Hawai'i-based member organizations of the IUCN are taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase the State's natural resources and present our unique challenges and solutions to a global audience, getting seven motions on the docket for discussion. OHA has awarded $500,000 to support the conservation forum, promote cultural sites and expand the opening and closing ceremonies to include Native Hawaiian protocol. The Hawai'i topics range from the global problem of marine debris to a Pacific region resiliency action plan to affirmation of the role of indigenous cultures in global

conservation efforts. Other motions with Hawai'i ties are Aloha + Challenge Model for Sustainable Development, Environmental Courts and Tribunals, Community Based Natural Resource Management in the State of Hawai'i and International Biofouling. And that barely scratches the surface of offerings. "It's massive," said Miehael Cain, Planner at the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands for the Department of Land and Natural Resources. "The DLNR is the lead agency so we are fully immersed in putting it all together. You've got some of the top scientists in the world coming here as well as world leaders. So, yes, there will be parts of Waiklkl with heavy security ... and there will also be plenty of opportunity for loeal folks to participate and volunteer. It's a great opportunity." This year's World Conservation Congress theme is "Planet at the Crossroads." Rotated around the world every four years, mueh like the 01ympics, the Congress brings together leaders and decision-makers from government, civil society, indigenous peoples, business and academia, with the goal of conserving the environment and harnessing global challenges. Officially, there are more than 1,300 member organizations participating and the event will have two components: A forum and a members' assembly. The IUCN defines the forum as a hub of puhlie debate, bringing together people from all walks of life to discuss the world's most pressing conservation and sustainability ehallenges. The Members' Assembly is IUCN's highest decision-making body. A global environmental parliament, it involves govemments and non-govermental organizations (NGOs) — large and small, national and intemational — making joint decisions on conservation and sustainability. SEE IUGN W0RLD ON PAGE 10

It's the opportunity to exchange mana'o with our counterparts throughout the world, to highlight the importance of conservation not only to secure our future but also keep us connected to our past." — Bern a Fo, National Host Committee

TQ REGISTER There is still time to participate the historic IUCN World Conversation Congress, to be held Sept. 1-10 at the Convention Center. This year's theme is "Planet atthe Crossroads." Go to: iucnworldconservationcongress. org/participe/register and iucnworldconservationcongress.org to learn more.

One of the biggest topies will be how to eombat climate change, but other topics will be also debated. The public ean get into the lower part of the convention center over Labor Day weekend free of charge to take part. Activities, events and speakers are all part of the Congress as well as excursions. On its website, www.iucnworld conservationcongress.org, there are more than 27 pages of choices for attendees and a list of the six key motions primarily identified for debate: dealing with protected areas, natural capital, biodiversity offsets, oeean govemance, oil palm expansion and ecotourism. Bema Fo of the Nahonal Host Committee said loeal organizations such as OHA, the Hawai'i Conservation Allianee (HCA) and The Nature Conservancy will all benefit ffom hearing from experts across the globe. "It's the opportunity to exchange

mana'o with our counterparts throughout the world, to highlight the importance of conservation not only to secure our future but also keep us connected to our past," Fo said. "Hawai'i will be highlighting its innovative work with partnerships within Hawai'i as well as throughout the Paeihe. The state is excited that for the first time in its history the IUCN Congress will be open to the community." Among the Hawaiian issues, Fo is looking forward to "Hawai'i Motions." Dubbed Mohon No. 83, it's an affirmation of the role of indigenous cultures in global eonservation efforts and the motion speaks to the role of culture in eonventional conservation practices. The mohon was submitted by the Hawai'i Conservation Allianee in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and was based on HCA's position paper, Hawaiian culture anel conservation in Hawai'i (published by OHA). Breanna Rose, Operations & Partnership Manager for Hawai'i Green

Growth, said the state will take away plenty from hosting the Congress. "(Congress) presents an opportunity to utilize the nahonal and international spotlight on Hawai'i to advance aehon on sustainability for future generations, and showcase Hawai'i as an island model for integrated green growth," she said. "Hawai'i ean leverage the investment in hosting the IUCN Congress to generate intellectual capital, hnaneial resources and political will to catalyze progress toward our statewide Aloha + Challenge 2030 sustainability goals. Building on the recently adopted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement, this major intemational forum is a platform to share best practices and build lasting partnerships that will help to collectively tackle the world's most pressing environment, sustainability and development challenges." ■ Dave Dondoneau, a Honoluh{-based freelance writer, is afonner editor and reporterfor the Honolulu Advertiser.

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