http://www.iucn.org/wildtalk/ en-us © IUCN IUCN Wild Talk profiles conservation projects on the ground, while looking in to the human stories behind the headlines. IUCN webstory@iucn.org IUCN Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group This month thousands of delegates will be attending a conference in Nagoya, Japan to discuss a “big plan” for the next ten years to reduce the current pressures on all life on earth, the planet’s biodiversity. On the table at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or CBD, are 20 targets designed to prevent the extinction crisis and restore the earth’s natural environment. Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group, talks about the importance of the conference and what’s at stake. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_jane_smart_on_cbd.mp3 Fri, 8 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:24 nature, conservation, CBD, Nagoya, Biodiversity, Japan, Conference IUCN Gonzalo Oviedo, IUCN Senior Advisor for Social Policy The diversity of life, apart from biological diversity, also includes our diversity as human beings: our wealth of knowledge, practices, beliefs, values and forms of social organization. But all this is, in fact, inextricably linked with nature: over the centuries, our ancestors have developed ways of interacting with the environment by assigning spiritual values to certain species and places. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_sacred_sites.mp3 Fri, 8 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT 4:02 nature, conservation, natural sites, religion, culture, spiritual values, indigenous peoples IUCN Roberto Zolho, IUCN CCDP Country Coordinator in Mozambique Adaptation to changing weather patterns, some of which may be attributable to climate change, is highly important for people's livelihoods and to help them become more resilient to environmental hazards. Through its Climate Change and Development Project (CCDP), IUCN is working with local and national stakeholders to develop adaptation measures which will sustainably safeguard local livelihoods and habitats into the future. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_roberto_zoelho.mp3 Fri, 8 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:09 nature, conservation, climate change, livelihoods, culnerable communities, adaptation, Africa IUCN Dr Randall Reeves, Chair of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel Just over 130 western gray whales are alive today, and although the population is slowly growing, it is still on the edge of survival. A new satellite tagging project offshore northeast Sakhalin Island could bring more light to the whales' movements and contribute to the recovery efforts of scientists. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_randall_reeves.mp3 Fri, 8 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT 4:18 nature, conservation, species, whales, oil, platforms, private sector, industry IUCN Kristina Gjerde, IUCN’s High Seas Policy Advisor The high seas are essentially the oceans’ no-man’s land - beyond national jurisdiction and with no comprehensive policy or management system to govern them. However, they contain some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, under increasing threat from many sources, including irresponsible fishing and shipping activities, pollution and climate change. Kristina Gjerde is IUCN’s High Seas Policy Advisor. Here she explains how the high seas are governed. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_kristina_gjerde_on_high_seas.mp3 Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:01 nature, conservation, marine, policy, sea, ocean, biodiversity, fish, fisheries, climate change IUCN Marcelo Segalerba, park ranger Marcelo Segalerba has worked on the front line of conservation as a park ranger for many years, putting his own life at risk against the likes of poachers and drug traffickers. Having worked as park ranger in the San Miguel National Park, which lies along Uruguay’s border with Brazil, Marcelo Segalerba has experienced conservation at the sharp end. He now represents the International Ranger Federation, which works with governments to better protect park rangers, to increase recognition of the profession, and to make sure that rangers get the tools and protection from the law that’s needed to do the job. Marcelo outlines some of the problems facing rangers on the front line. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk___perils_faced_by_park_rangers.mp3 Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT 3:51 nature, conservation, world heritage, protected areas, forest IUCN Francois Simard, Deputy Head of IUCN’s Global Marine Programme The oceans are home to awe-inspiring biodiversity, much of which is yet to be discovered. They also play a crucial role in our fight against climate change and are essential for the survival of millions of people around the world. And yet, we often forget about their importance and rarely realize how seriously they are threatened by human activity. Francois Simard is Deputy Head of IUCN’s Global Marine Programme. He explains the difference between marine ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_francois_simard_on_oceans.mp3 Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:41 nature, conservation, biodiversity, marine, ocean, ecosystem, species IUCN Joanna Cochrane, Sensitive Areas Manager for Shell Upstream International IUCN has been working with the multinational petroleum company Shell for the past ten years, with the aim of putting biodiversity higher on the agenda of the private sector, by enhancing Shell’s biodiversity conservation performance and setting standards for biodiversity conservation in the energy sector. Through a wide range of projects, IUCN and Shell are continuing to explore ways to raise the bar for the oil and gas sector. Joanna Cochrane is the Sensitive Areas Manager for Shell Upstream International. Here she explains how Shell works within environmentally sensitive areas. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_joanna_cochrane_from_shell.mp3 Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT : nature, conservation, petrolium, oil, biodiversity, private sector, standards IUCN Forests cover less than 3 per cent of Kenya’s land area but they’re an important source of income, food and economic growth to the country. However, forests are increasingly under pressure, due to rampant charcoal burning, illegal logging, overgrazing, forest fires and pollution. The Kijabe Environment Volunteers group (KENVO) has made great moves in preserving vast areas of the Gatamaiyu forest 30 kilometres north-west of Nairobi, working with local communities, many of whom were previously involved in illegal and destructive activities in the forest. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_kenvo_forest_conservation.mp3 Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT 6:39 nature, conservation, forest, Africa, Kenya, food, livelihoods, local, communities IUCN Edmund Barrow, Regional Forest Advisor from IUCN Edmund Barrow, Regional Forest Advisor from IUCN’s Forest Conservation Programme in Africa, is based in Nairobi but supports the Forest Programme across the whole continent. Engagement with local communities is a very important part of his work. Here he talks about the challenges that this entails and how conservation work can bring real-life benefits both to people and to the environment. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/wild_talk_ed_barrow.mp3 Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:20 nature, conservation, forest, Africa, Communities, livelihoods IUCN Elin Kelsey, member of IUCN's Commission on Education and Communication Environmental news don't need to be all bad. Learning about nature and preserving it can also be fun and simple, as Elin Kelsey shows in her new book for children 'Hey not your typical book about the environment'. A member of IUCN's Commission on Education and Communication, Elin spreads a hopeful message to kids and their parents by showing the deep links we have with nature, and what wonderful resources it offers in our daily lives. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/elin_edits.mp3 Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT 5:33 nature, conservation, children, book, learning, environment IUCN Nadine Mc Cormick, IUCN Energy Network Coordinator As economies and populations grow, our energy consumption and demand will continue to soar for many years to come. Better consumption patterns and looking at nature to provide affordable and locally adapted energy solutions are key to a future of sustainable energy, Nadine Mc Cormick, IUCN Energy Network Coordinator explains. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/nadine_edited.mp3 Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT 3:37 nature, conservation, energy, sustainable