Journeys through the Forum

Barcelona WCC is going to be big! We’ve come up with a 12 thematic journeys to help you find your way through the maze. The journeys are designed to take you through the vast array of events during the first week of Congress – known as the Forum – according to your own particular interests. The events range from Sustainability Dialogues to Aliances Workshops, and Conservation Cinemas to Learning Opportunities, organized by a host of different actors. 

The journeys will not only help you make sense of what will be a hectic week, but will also make connections and draw analysis from events on similar topics and provide a platform for networking with your fellow “travelers”.

Each journey comes with a map of events you can attend and one or more rest-stops for meeting the travel guide and other travelers.

Here is a snap shot of what the journeys have to offer.

Indigenous people often suffer most from the impacts of climate change. Their needs and the techniques they use for conserving their own, often complex, environment should take a far more important place in the climate change debate.

Bio-Cultural Diversity and Indigenous Peoples Journey

This journey travels the inextricable link between a bio-culturally diverse world and a sustainable future. Cultural and biological diversity are entwined and contribute to our planet’s resilience and health. The importance of cultural diversity, and the significance of traditional knowledge, practices, beliefs, worldviews, values and social organization of human societies have been recognized in recent years. This journey looks at ways of sustaining biological and cultural diversity; lessons to be learned from indigenous peoples and traditional communities; and how traditional knowledge and practices can be included in, and supported by, conservation programmes. Through some 60 events, in the form of workshops, a sustainability dialogue, conservation cinemas, learning opportunities, and field trips, the journey seeks win-win solutions in achieving human wellbeing and development aspirations for all, whilst conserving biological and cultural diversity. A journey map will guide you or come directly to the Futures Pavilion.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Windturbine and rapeseed

Energy Journey

The nature of Energy

The energy journey unveils how and why IUCN is addressing energy as a major theme at the Congress. Seminars and events will revolve around three themes: managing impacts of energy options; the risks and opportunities of biofuels; and low-emission energy solutions. Sessions will explore issues such as sustainable energy in small island ecosystems, introduce scenario building to analyze the effects of infrastructure and global warming in South America and how to balance food, fuel and biodiversity within productive agriculture. Participants will discover why addressing energy sector concerns is pivotal to conservation success; what role biofuels really play as a future energy option; and how all energy options impact on ecosystems and livelihoods. The journey's starting point is at the Futures Pavilion.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Cloud Forest, Des Voeux Peak, Taveuni, Fiji

Forests Journey

Conserving Biodiversity in Productive Landscapes

The forest journey explores the nexus between different demands put on forests, such as biodiversity conservation or climate change mitigation, and income generation needs; and defines best-case management scenarios for forested landscapes. The journey illustrates how governance issues are at the heart of many forest management problems; how to incorporate forest productivity with changing agricultural demands; and how proposals to exploit forests for sequestering and storing carbon might work for the inhabitants of forested landscapes. It looks into ways of helping local communities adapt to climate change within forest landscapes, employing the tools used to capture peoples’ hopes for improving their landscapes and monitoring changes; and assesses the role markets play in meeting local needs whilst sustaining biodiversity. Daily morning briefings at the Forest Pavilion will provide more details.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

Islands Journey

In the mood for an Island Getaway?

How long can island communities and ecosystems stand up to the likes of climate change and limited economic opportunities before homes and livelihoods are lost? The island journey explores the current work of IUCN and its members on such ecosystems, and aims to face their conservation and development challenges. IUCN’s Islands Initiative, which focuses on addressing integrated management issues for marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, will be in the spotlight. The journey includes the launch of IUCN’s Caribbean Initiative; the outcomes of the recent Reunion Conference on climate change and biodiversity loss in the EU’s overseas islands; an overview of ongoing work in Oceania; and the Global Island Partnership’s latest developments. A special event at Port Vell, Barcelona's main harbour, is an excellent opportunity for this journey’s travelers to meet.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

scale purple

Law and Governance Journey

Law and governance permeate all areas of IUCN’s work and are at the heart of members’ concerns. While the IUCN Environmental Law Programme has an essential role to play in developing global, regional and national environmental law, the journey shows how this task is influenced by the evolution of good governance throughout the Union’s activities, and how governance and law are inter-related. The journey starts by addressing the fundamental basis of law and governance, with a workshop on October 6 on ‘Keeping Nature Alive – the Ethical Foundations of Nature Conservation in the 21st Century’. It then looks into law and governance in a number of fields, including soils, water, forests, fisheries, energy, protected areas, armed conflicts and in relation to rights and responsibilities, and liability and compensation. This journey explores pressing governance questions in frontier areas such as climate change impacts and the marine environment, in particular the high seas. Rest stops for journey travelers will be organized in the Members Lounge.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Deep-sea squid (Teuthowenia pellucida)

Marine Journey

Protecting planet ocean

How far can we move ocean governance forward in the 21st Century? What is the best way to prevent coral reefs and the immensely diverse communities they sustain from collapsing because of climate change? What tools are required to fuel a new marine conservation dynamic? How will we ensure that future generations enjoy oceans teeming with life and diversity? To answer these questions, the marine journey broaches four themes: oceans and high seas governance; marine protected areas; oceans and climate change; and fisheries. From presenting the issues at stake, to identifying options and providing solutions to tackle them, this journey aims to take a consequential step towards the improved conservation and sustainable management of our oceans. Rest stops and more information are available at the Oceans Pavilion.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

IPES

Markets and Business Journey

For insight into the challenges and opportunities of enlisting business and consumers in biodiversity conservation, join this journey. Market processes use vast amounts of biological resources and determine how the costs and benefits of this use are distributed among stakeholders. This journey investigates how markets and business help realize the IUCN vision of “a just world that values and conserves nature”. The journey is a cross-cutting selection of all events related to economics, markets and business, focusing broadly on major market sectors and key market tools. The journey highlights events related to agriculture, extractive industries and tourism. It also explores how to ensure effective partnerships between conservation organizations and business, pausing on the use of economic incentives and on indicators measuring the biodiversity impacts of markets and business. The journey will kick off at the Futures Pavilion, and ends at the pavilion of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. When you need a rest, you can stop at these pavilions.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Fish and seagrass, Menorca, Spain

Mediterranean Journey

Mediterranean Reflections, Mediterranean Linkages

From aquaculture and governance to ecosystem management and the establishment of a representative system of marine protected areas; the Mediterranean journey explores challenges and success stories to forge novel alliances, opening a sea of opportunities for the conservation of the Mediterranean. This journey feeds into the bigger cooperation picture that IUCN-Med is drawing for the region and engages new actors and constituencies. It starts with the Welcome Meeting and delivery of the Med Message at the Barcelona Zoo on October 6, and ends with the Mediterranean Gathering at La Pedrera on October 9. Head to the Mediterranean Corner, in the Members Lounge, for more details.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

A cloud forest in Rwenzori Mountains National Park in western Uganda, one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas.

Protected Areas Journey

Protected areas for life’s sake!

In Barcelona, the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) will turn 50 years old! To celebrate, the Commission, the Secretariat and many Members and partners are organising a host of workshops, launches, knowledge cafés, movies and award ceremonies. Major topics include new guidance on applying the IUCN protected areas management categories; the role of such areas in climate change mitigation and adaptation; investigating new directions in their management and governance; evaluating their management effectiveness; and involving the youth community as tomorrow’s leaders. The protected areas journey starts on October 4 at the WCPA Members meeting, followed on October 6, at 14:30, with Nik Lopoukhine, WCPA Chair, opening the “Celebrating protected areas, their values and their people” event. Information at the WCPA exhibition booth will help guide you through the rest of this journey.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map
 

Artisanal fishing in mangroves area, Chiapas, Mexico

Rights and Conservation Journey

Rights and conservation are linked in complex and multi-dimensional ways. This journey explores the consideration of rights in conservation, looking at how positive synergies between conservation and rights can enhance conservation outcomes and human wellbeing.
It will discuss how rights and responsibilities relate to other social dimensions of conservation, and how can we help ensure that wherever possible positive synergies between conservation goals and rights are realized. Other relevant questions in the Journey’s events are: What is a rights-based approach, and what tools and methods can support it? How can rights issues be integrated in the work of field practitioners? This Journey will help participants engage in events addressing these and other questions, and help generate further thinking and action around this important, emerging arena. Details of the Journey will be available from the Futures Pavilion in the Entrance Hall.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Black rhino (Diceros bicornis)

Species Journey

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The species journey investigates how the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is compiled to assess the status of species, and how major threats to their survival are determined and analyzed. It uncovers the many ways the Red List informs the conservation activities of IUCN’s members and partners: be it in the design of protected areas, the monitoring of use and trade, or in measuring the success of conservation projects. This journey aims to further engage members in “Red Listing” and increase the use of Red List information in conservation activities worldwide. It begins with the opening of the “Safeguarding the Diversity of Life” Stream and the Species Pavilion will point you to the many stops along the way.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

Children washing laundry in a freshwater pool, with potable water, generated through upwelling from the dam, Saloum Delta, Senegal

Water Journey

Water for nature and people

The water journey's goal is to share knowledge, build understanding and form new partnerships; looking at watersheds as systems and finding solutions for balancing different water uses. This journey explores the success stories of IUCN's Water Programme specifically the Water and Nature Initiative, and profiles the work of IUCN Members. Each event illustrates that cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches are imperative in water resource management decisions. The journey is divided into four rivers: Water Management & Environmental Flows; Good Governance & Stakeholder Participation; Ecosystem Services & Water Security; and Global Issues & Climate Change. The Water Programme's logbook contains information on water-related events taking place during the forum and in the Water Pavilion, and is a resource for those interested in ensuring the sustainable and equitable management of freshwater resources from local to global levels. Visit the Water Pavilion each morning and evening to share your experiences of the water journey with other participants.
Go to web page ¦ Journey map

IMPORTANT: These Journeys are designed to provide participants with an overview of key issues within the journey topic. Journey stops were selected to include a range of different actors and a variety of topics directly relevant to one or more aspects of the IUCN Programme. The Journey organisers do not make any claim to the value, importance or quality of organization of the events selected. The entire Forum Programme can also be searched by key words which are chosen directly by each event organizer. In this way, you are also able to prepare your own personalized ‘journey’ through the Forum.

  • Online Forum Programme