Pavilions are areas dedicated to themes where delegates can explore and learn about the work that IUCN and its partners undertake. They have the opportunity to learn about the innovative solutions that are being put forward to drive global conservation efforts in the coming years and to meet and talk to the people involved.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai´i will occupy more than 1´500 square metres of network and hospitality space across nine Pavilions, each centred on a certain theme.
Conveniently located in the main Exhibition area, at the first floor of the Hawai‘i Convention Centre, Pavilions will be open daily from 2 to 10 September 2016, during both the Forum and the Members’ Assembly.
Below is a list of pavilions the IUCN World Conservation Congress will feature:
Water Pavilion
Water is where all life begins. We rely on it to grow food, produce goods and generate energy. Only 3% of the Earth’s water is accessible freshwater; the rest is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. We have long over-stretched this precious resource. There is no substitute for water, yet its availability has become one of the world’s most pressing challenges and risks. The IUCN Water Pavilion will highlight its work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through good water management and governance, and provide a space and platform to discuss solutions, present success stories, and convene champions for a water-secure world.
The programme for the Water Pavilion is available here.
Species Conservation Pavilion
The planet is facing an “extinction crisis”, a loss of species, the rate of which is estimated to be at least 100 times higher in the 20th century than it would have been without human impact. Some estimates suggest that up to 50 % of all species are heading toward extinction by 2050. Rapid, greatly intensified efforts, as well as urgent interventions are needed now to tackle the destruction underway. The IUCN Global Species Programme, with the Species Survival Commission, offers solutions, focussing on taking positive conservation action to help reverse the current trend and to halt the decline in biodiversity.
To see the programme for the Species Conservation Pavilion, click here.
Protected Planet pavilion: Delivering the Promise of Sydney
The IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 resulted in the Promise of Sydney and commitment to achieve goals for parks, people and planet. The Protected Planet Pavilion showcases its delivery. With our planet at the crossroads, protected and conserved areas are a key investment in the future of humanity. They are essential for conserving nature, especially in the oceans, and involving all who conserve. They inspire all people to experience the wonder of nature. They offer nature’s solutions to halt biodiversity loss and address global development challenges. The Promise of Sydney is a commitment to halt the degradation of the world’s protected areas and World Heritage Sites, and to expand their performance to conserve nature and achieve a positive outlook for society.
The programme for the Protected Planet Pavilion can be found here.
Forest Pavilion: Sharing solutions for healthy landscapes, ecosystems and communities
Forests are a source of life for the planet. The livelihoods of 1.6 billion people depend on them, and they are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Their role for a safe, healthy planet is increasingly recognised and the challenge to conserve and restore them, urgent. This pavilion will bring together partners from many sectors to address this challenge through collaborative problem-solving, sharing tools and resources, high-level insight and commitments, and stories from the field. Only by working together can we protect, sustain and restore the forest landscapes needed for a sustainable future.
The programme for the Forest Pavilion is available at the Congress Portal.
Oceans & Islands Pavilion
Our Oceans are threatened and as a result, so are we! The Oceans & Islands Pavilion will be organized around three themes: Marine Protected Area Networks, Islands & Overseas Territories and Financing & Blue Economy. We will showcase, through our events, the latest in technology, trends in Marine Protection and the threat of Climate Change. Young Professionals will show you fresh ideas on what can be done to protect our Oceans – together. The Oceans & Islands pavilion will also be hosting the “Google Portal”, a “Blue Solution” corner as well as a special section on Island biodiversity and conservation. It is here where Marine, Polar and Coastal professionals will meet and mingle, and where new trends and ways of protecting our oceans will be discussed.
The programme for the Oceans & Islands Pavilion can be found here.
Business and Biodiversity Pavilion
Business impacts and depends on the many goods and services that nature provides so it is imperative that companies value biodiversity, deliver biodiversity net gain, govern responsibly and invest in nature for their long-term viability. The Business and Biodiversity Pavilion will explore these themes and how different sectors – from extractives to eco-tourism – can contribute to a more sustainable future. As a hub for business at Congress, the Pavilion will provide a platform for dialogue on challenges and solutions, as well as the latest tools and lessons. Together, leaders from business, government and the conservation community will showcase how business practices can be transformed to generate benefits for biodiversity and natural resource-dependent livelihoods.
To access the programme for the Business and Biodiversity Pavilion, click here.
#NatureForAll Pavilion
The #NatureForAll Pavilion is a creative and engaging space, a venue to encourage dialogue and to obtain commitments to creating an invigorated global movement to support conservation. It will celebrate and showcase efforts from around the world to connect youth, urban dwellers, and other new audiences to nature and innovative approaches for facilitating nature awareness, experiences and connections will be featured. Participants can look forward to learning about ways to motivate new audiences about nature in an interactive way and to exploring #NatureForAll successes stories through exhibitions, performances, presentations, discussions and more.
The programme for the #NatureForAll Pavilion is now available at the Congress Portal.
Hawai´i-Pacific Pavilion
The Hawai´i-Pacific Pavilion will host island nations, states, cities, and communities from across the region. The pavilion will feature cultural, political, and scientific sessions, with an overall focus on community resilience in the face of climate change. The Pacific islands are united by their relationship with world’s largest ocean – and by the global threat of the climate crisis; rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, coastal inundation, ocean acidification and changes in the distribution of infectious diseases all mean that island communities find their environments, economies, and in some cases, their very existence at risk. Some of the world’s greatest navigators once crossed the ocean in voyaging canoes, connecting the thousands of inhabited islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. The Hawaii-Pacific Pavilion will build on this theme of interconnectedness to bring the peoples of the Pacific together to share their knowledge, and to build the alliances necessary to create a regional action plan to support climate resiliency throughout the region.
The programme for the Hawai‘i-Pacific Pavilion is available on the following links: Room A and Room B.
U.S. Pavilion
The U.S. Pavilion is the public outreach space the State Department is to inform participants about U.S. conservation programs, both international and domestic, and to highlight technologies that make scientific information available to everyone. This public diplomacy initiative, made possible with input and support from multiple U.S. government agencies and their partners, highlights key conservation programs, underscoring the strong actions by the U.S. Administration. Visitors will be able to learn more about U.S. actions, participate in detailed discussions on key issues and view stunning and powerful “Hyperwall” or “Science on a Sphere” data visualisations. Attendees will also be able to experience interactive applications covering a diverse range of conservation topics and interact with U.S. scientists and practitioners.
The programme for the U.S. Pavilion is now available via the Congress Portal.
