Key facts

  • The 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress will be held on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 6-15 September. The Congress is the world’s largest and most important conservation event—bringing 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.
  • With over 400 journalists expected, at least 500 events and more than 6,000 daily participants—including more than 100 State members and major NGOs such as WWF, Conservation International and National Geographic—Congress is the largest ever event for nature.
  • The Congress theme captures the fundamental importance of nature and its inherent link to every aspect of our lives: Nature+.
  • Featured at Congress, the World Leaders Dialogues will be “prime time” high-level sessions—organized by the Korean Government and the President of IUCN, they will feature exceptional, internationally recognized experts, politicians and CEOs in a series of five moderated public debates tackling the most strategic issues related to conservation and sustainable development themes: nature + biodiversity, nature + climate; nature + people; nature + economy; and nature + food. The interactive World Leaders Dialogues will provide enlightening strategic thinking to guide the implementation of pragmatic solutions for a sustainable future for our planet.
  • Since 1948, the IUCN World Conservation Congress has been held every 2-4 years in all corners of the world—currently, Congress is currently broken into two parts: the Member’s Assembly of all IUCN member organizations; and the Forum, open to all for debating major sustainable development issues, proposing solutions and facilitating the sharing of information and experiences.
  • The 2012 Congress will be a green Congress—in order to minimize and compensate for impacts relating to all aspects of Congress and in order to leave a positive legacy, the government of the Republic of Korea and IUCN are working together to make Congress a sustainable event.
  • Jeju is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Mount Hallasan and Seongsan Illchulbong and Ramsar wetland sites, each with their own unique ecosystems. Excellent facilities are available at the Congress venue, and there is strong support from the network of IUCN members and grass-root conservation organizations.

Some of the many VIP attendees at Congress:

  • H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
  • Bharrat Jagdeo (former President of Guyana) 
  • Iruka (Japanese singer & songwriter)
  • Michael Mack (CEO, Syngenta)
  • Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji (Former Prime Minister, Bhutan)
  • Suk-Chae Lee (Chairman, Korea Telecom) -
  • Mattias Klum (Photographer, National Geographic)
  • Malouma (Mauritanian singer & songwriter)
  • Pierre Yves Cousteau (founder, Cousteau Divers)
  • Achim Steiner (Executive Director, UNEP)
  • Cristián Samper (CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society)
  • Isabella Teixera (Minister of Environment, Brazil)
  • Maurice F. Strong (former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations)
  • Guillaume Le Cunff (International Marketing & Strategy Director, Nespresso)
  • Rachel Kyte (Vice President of Sustainable Development, The World Bank)
  • Peter Bakker (President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
  • Henri Djombo (Minister of Sustainable Development, Forestry Economy & the Environment, Congo Brazzaville)

Prospective media products:

  • Key IUCN Red List news
  • Corporation 2020 by Pavan Sukhdev book launch—complements UNEP’s “Green Economy Report”
  • Outcomes from REDD+ Forest Dialogues
  • Protected Planet report
  • IUCN Green List of Protected Areas
  • Algeria & Lebanon National Strategy for Marine Managed and Protected Areas
  • IUCN Laos – National Biodiversity Action Plan
  • During the Forum there will be over 50 media briefings and more than 20 “meet the press” events
  • ...and many more! 

Media team
• Maggie Roth, IUCN Media Relations, m +1 202 262 5313, e maggie.roth@iucn.org

Material for the media:
interview with IUCN Congress Director

Registration
Full details for media registration are available here

Photos
For photos of Jeju Island, please click here.