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“OUR BIGGEST WEAPON IN THE BATTLE TO PROTECT NATURE IS THE CITIZENRY OF THE WORLD”
11 November 2004

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, today, Thursday, 11 November 2004 convened a briefing to introduce and send off its candidate to the World Conservation Union Congress {IUCN} Presidency, Mr Mohammed Valli Moosa. The former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism also used this opportunity to share his vision for the IUCN Presidency.

Valli Moosa’s expressions were another affirmation of his passion for people centered environmental justice and human development. Talking about his nomination, Valli Moosa said “…it didn’t take much persuasion because I thought the IUCN was a very important organization in the field of conservation, more so it’s unique make up as a partnership between civil society groups and governments”, he said. “The IUCN also brings together the developed and developing world and in that sense it bridges the North - South divide,” he added.

Talking about the challenges of the next 10 years, Mr Moosa highlighted issues of education awareness and public mobilization. “Our biggest weapon in the battle to protect nature is the citizenry of the world,” he said. “If people are not involved in efforts to look after and develop the environment, everything else we do will have limited success,” said Valli Moosa.

He cautioned that the world had to attend to the imperative of reversing the current trend in the loss of biodiversity. Describing biodiversity as both a National and International issue, Mr Moosa urged that governments and the International multilateral system had to commit to finance mechanisms, which would contribute to this goal.

“It is a fallacy that emphasis on nature conservation compromises the fight to eradicate poverty. Both have to be part of a continuum.” Said Valli Moosa in emphasizing the link between environmental protection and poverty eradication.

As Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Valli Moosa championed the notion of conservation for the people. Projects like People and Parks, realization of the Trans-frontier Conservation program in Southern Africa and many other achievements in this regard, attest to the steadfast commitment to prove the economic value of conservation.

Mr Moosa also encouraged the consolidation of gains that have been made in conservation including the area of protected areas and trans-frontier parks. He called for commitment in the implementation of multilateral agreements and proper resource allocation for these. The former Minister concluded by calling for a bolder and more assertive role for the IUCN in the global arena. “We will have to ensure that there is a dynamic relationship between the IUCN as a body and it’s individual membership in many parts of the world and international multilateral institutions like the United Nations” concluded Mr Valli Moosa

The IUCN Congress takes place between the 17 – 25 November 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr Moosa will be contesting the IUCN Presidency with a Pakistani Lawyer, Mr Parvez Hassan.

For more information contact:
JP Louw
Chief Director: Communications
Cell: 082 569 3340
E-mail: louwjp@iafrica.com

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
11 November 2004
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (www.deat.gov.za)