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Dear friends and colleagues,

It is our pleasure to share with you issue #19 of our newsletter, A Voice for Nature, that brings news from Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia related to nature conservation and sustainable use of resources.

In an attempt to summarize the year behind us, that marked the 15th anniversary since the establishment of the IUCN office in Belgrade, we would like to highlight several achievements that made us proud of our work in 2019.   

On the part of the programme, the SOS Central Asia and Living Buna grant schemes were successfully launched in support of CSO and community-led conservation action on the ground. The Biodiversity Task Force for South East Europe celebrated its second anniversary, evolving into a major regional cooperation platform on nature conservation. The first phase of the Central Asia Nexus Dialogue has successfully paved the way to innovative solutions to water, energy and food security in the region. Broad consultation in Central Asia resulted in a regional thematic study identifying priority sites with potential for World Heritage nomination. First IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Species in North Macedonia were published as a result of cooperation of national and international experts. Finally, end of the year saw the launch of an ambitious Nature-based Solutions initiative in the Western Balkans.

When it comes to membership, our family in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has grown for four new IUCN members that included state members, government agencies and non-governmental organisations. In July in Rotterdam we successfully organized the IUCN Regional Conservation Forum for Europe and Central Asia to discuss the key elements of IUCN’s Programme 2021-2024 and regional priorities in the run-up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress next June in Marseille.

All this is a reason to celebrate and be proud of being a part of our ever-growing Union. Needless to say that we wouldn’t be able to achieve all this without the support of our members, expert networks and donors. We take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank all our members and partners for their dedication and trust in IUCN’s values and mission.

Looking into 2020, we expect another exciting and prosperous year, with the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille and the CBD COP15 in Kunming as two milestone events leading to a new global agreement for our planet – the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. We look forward to working with you all on setting a bold and ambitious agenda for our planet as we walk in the next decade!

We wish you restful holidays and Happy New Year 2020!

IUCN ECARO Editorial
 
WE ARE HIRING!

NEW VACANCIES – apply by 20 January 2020

Conservation Programme Project Officer If you are a conservationist with good knowledge of IUCN standards on protected and conserved areas. If you have a solid understanding of the regional nature conservation policy and opportunities with protected area management.  

Species Conservation Officer If you are eager to work on species conservation under the IUCN's flagship initiative SOS - Save Our Species, and interested to liaise with partners to safeguard some of the most iconic species in Central Asia. 

VACANCIES EXTENDED to 5 January 2020

Nature-based Solutions Senior Project Officer if you are passonate about natural resource management and climate change, and you understand IUCN NbS Standard and have led teams in the Western Balkans.

Communications Officer if you are a creative communicator eager to engage with communities and decision-makers in the Western Balkans and inform them about NbS and climate-smart planning.

Finance and Administration Officer If you are experienced in administration and financial management, attentive to detail and knowledgeable about budgeting and project reporting.
 
IN FOCUS
First Red List of Threatened Species published in North Macedonia

Almost half of amphibians and reptiles are threatened with extinction and 4 vascular plant species are Critically Endangered in North Macedonia, according to first national Red List published today in Skopje and developed by national experts under the guidance of IUCN. Read more
Marine life, fisheries increasingly threatened as the ocean loses oxygen

The loss of oxygen from the world’s ocean is increasingly threatening fish species and disrupting ecosystems, a new IUCN report warns. Ocean oxygen loss, driven by climate change and nutrient pollution, is a growing menace to fisheries and species such as tuna, marlin and sharks, according to the report released today at the UN Climate Change conference in Madrid. Read more
Will the European Green Deal meet its ambitious expectations?

The EU has launched the long-awaited European Green Deal, the plan to tackle the profound environmental crisis we are living in. IUCN welcomes this promising proposal, and encourages all actors to do their bit to make it happen. Read more and check European Green Deal 
 
VALUING AND CONSERVING NATURE
Species recoveries bring hope amidst the biodiversity crisis - IUCN Red List

Conservation efforts have led to improvements in the status of ten species, according to today’s update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. This includes the recovery of the Guam Rail, a bird previously listed as Extinct in the Wild. Read more
EU biodiversity strategy to 2030 - BirdLife Europe position

Our house is on fire! Will we simply eat dinner a little faster before we burn?! We’re in a biodiversity emergency: there's no time for fake solutions. The EU must act now. We have to change the way we farm, change the way we fish, and restore nature on a massive scale. How exactly do we do that? BirdLife has a plan. Read more
World Heritage and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Experts convened by IUCN have issued a statement on how World Heritage contributes to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It provides key messages on the relevance of the World Heritage Convention, with recommendations to help decision-makers integrate specific wording on World Heritage into the framework to be adopted by the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) next October. Read more 
A gathering of 61 polar bears near Chukotka village

Polar bears visiting the Kozhevnikov’s Cape, close to Ryrkaypiy, in Russia's far north is quite a typical. This year, however, Polar Bear Patrol witnessed a massive gathering counting some 61 individuals. Scientists believe that it could be caused by the decline of the sea ice area due to the changing climate. Read more
Analysing opportunities for eco-tourism and Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Prespa region

CNVP has implemented two consultancy contracts with Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), that focused on (a) providinge long term financing for the conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity; (b) supporting natural processes; and (c) developing ecosystem services in Prespa and its wider area for the benefit of nature and the people in the region. Read more
 
GOVERNANCE OF NATURE'S USE
Getting things done

There is a growing number of examples that prove the benefits of Earth observation. In Italy, for example, a team of researchers succeeded in detecting illegal waste dumps and landfills, and monitored them using optical satellite image data and a multi-feature detection algorithm. This is an excellent example of how satellite data can make practical law enforcement more efficient and potentially provide evidence with which to pursue legal action. Read more
Biodiversity Task Force of South East Europe’s role amid changing context of nature conservation

The BDTF SEE works on integration of biodiversity concerns into developmental goals. Interdependence of actors from different levels will be inevitable for achieving the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature. The two-year anniversary and the reflection on the changes so far come ahead of significant milestones for the environment sector, particularly for combating biodiversity loss and its conservation. Read more
 
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
Taking stock of three years of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Dialogues in Central Asia

Better understanding the Water-Energy-Food Nexus can help us as address shortcomings of single-sector approaches and fosters understanding of linkages between natural resource uses. In this way, the nexus approach serves as a catalyst to explore synergies for mutually beneficial and efficient use of human, financial, technological and other resources and provides opportunities for integration and negotiation of trade-offs. Read more
Ecosystem restoration in Eastern and South-East Europe

Topics such as how to develop viable solutions and goals for forest landscape restoration or how to tap into the necessary financing in the countries of Eastern and South-East Europe were discussed in December in Belgrade, Serbia. Read more
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Call for nominations closes on 9 January 2020

The Equator Prize, organized by the Equator Initiative within the United Nations Development Programme, is awarded biennially to recognize outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Read more
 
PUBLICATIONS AND OUTREACH MATERIAL
New Atlas helps remove barriers to animal migration in Central Asia

The UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) has launched the Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure Atlas to help ensure the survival of migratory wildlife in this region. In addition to showing where animals migrate, the Atlas depicts linear infrastructure such as fences, railways, roads or pipelines that can interfere with the free movement of endangered populations of large wide-ranging animals. Read more and download the Atlas
 
EVENTS
2 February

World Wetlands Day
3 March

World Wildlife Day
11-19 June, Marseille, France

#IUCNcongress

IUCN World Conservation Congress
 
JOIN IUCN COMMISSION
What are IUCN Commissions?

The six Commissions unite 13,000 volunteer experts that assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues. Joining one of them you are entering a committed team of experts dealing with issues related to conservation and environmental protection. Learn more
 
BECOME IUCN MEMBER
Why join IUCN?

Being a Member of IUCN enables you to both advance your own cause and to strengthen common action in overcoming barriers to a sustainable future. Through IUCN, members become part of a collective and global voice on important issues of our age. Learn more
 
DISCLAIMER

International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IUCN ECARO)

Created in 1948, IUCN has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,300 Member organisations and the input of more than 13,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Our experts are organised into six commissions dedicated to species survival, environmental law, protected areas, social and economic policy, ecosystem management, and education and communication. Contributing to a sustainable future in Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia, IUCN ECARO focuses on good governance, long-term protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources.

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IUCN ECARO Newsletter ‘A Voice for Nature’ contains third party articles. The views expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN and the responsibility for the content of the published articles remains with the authors. Whilst IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) has used reasonable endeavors to ensure that the information provided in the newsletter is accurate, it accepts no liability for any errors, misprints or omissions herein (whether negligent or otherwise).The designation of geographical entities in this newsletter and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the definition of its frontiers or boundaries.

The newsletter may point to other internet sites that may be of interest to you, however we do not endorse or take responsibility for their content. The information in this newsletter is provided free-of-charge; therefore you agree by receiving it that this disclaimer is reasonable.

Edited and published by IUCN ECARO, 2019

Photo credits © IUCN ECARO cover: Yury Birukov_shutterstock, IUCN/Boris Erg, Dragan Arsovski, Waterframe_Alamy Stock Photos, European Union 2019 source: EP, Thomas Caldwell CC BY-SA 2.0, Yves Adams, IUCN/Remco van Merm, Maksim Dyominov_WWF-Russia, CNVP, enviroLENS, BDTF SEE, IUCN/Kristin Meyer, tycson1/Shutterstock, Equator Prize logo, Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure Atlas_Cover, World Wetlands Day logo, World Wildlife Day logo, IUCN Congress logo, IUCN Commissions, Arber Xhaferaj.