In early November 2015 two activities aimed at the conservation of biodiversity in the seas of the region will take place in La Paloma, Uruguay: a training course for leaders and an international meeting of non-governmental and scientific organizations. These activities are promoted and organized by the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence in conjunction with the partner organization in Uruguay, Karumbé.
The training course will focus on the human dimension of marine conservation by introducing knowledge and tools of social sciences that can be applied to research projects, outreach and collaborative advocacy. It is aimed at professionals and advanced students in biology, ecology, environmental science, fisheries and related fields, working both in research and in public office or in civil society organizations. Dr. Alexandra Sapoznikow is the coordinator of the course.
Regarding the thirteenth Plenary Meeting of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence, it will involve 12 active organizations, four associated members and several others as observers. Participants will be representatives of organizations from Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, United Kingdom and other countries. They may also attend scientists and others linked to marine conservation, as guests. At plenary meetings of the Forum, NGOs from the Southern Cone dealing with marine conservation agree to work on a partnership basis on issues relating to marine protected areas, marine pollution, training, the state of fisheries, endangered species and other common topics throughout the region.
© Victoria Zavattieri
Course “The human dimension of marine conservation”
Proposed dates: Sunday, 1 to Wednesday, November 4, 2015 (it also includes a day field trip).
Venue: to be confirmed in La Paloma, Rocha Department, Uruguay
Academic Coordinator: Dr. Alexandra Sapoznikow (CENPAT-CONICET and University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Puerto Madryn, Argentina).
Summary Agenda: transdisciplinary work; ethical aspects of conservation and use of the marine ecosystem; tools for planning marine protected areas; environmental education tools; conflict transformation; management tools for public welfare organizations, network administration.
Audience: The course is intended for advanced degree students, graduate students and researchers, technicians of government agencies and NGOs, rangers, independent professionals. A maximum of 35 students is desirable. Participants who demonstrate experience in the field of conservation and management of marine resources, either from the management, education and research fields could be selected. Particularly the capacity and ability of the participants to implement what they learned in the course will be considered. Candidates will undergo a selection process, for which they will have to send a summary curriculum vitae and a letter explaining their interest and experience in the field.
Course mode: Classes are organized under a dynamic participatory workshop that allows putting knowledge in context, using it to solve problems based on real data. Theoretical presentations, lectures, case studies, debates, discussion of texts, group activities and role plays are combined. Every day presentations of researchers and professionals who are currently leading conservation initiatives in Uruguay will also take place. Four intensive days of work are contemplated, with classes from 9 am to 18 pm, plus a day destined for a field trip.
XIII Plenary Meeting of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence
Proposed dates: 4 – 6 November 2015 (on November 7 there could be an optional tour)
Venue: Centro Cultural La Paloma, Rocha Department, Uruguay (http://ceculapaloma.blogspot.com.ar/)
Organizers: Andrés Estrades, biologist and vice-president of Karumbé. Santiago Krapovickas, biologist and specialist in nonprofit organizations, Coordinator of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence.
Agenda outlined: state of the regional marine ecosystem; public policy developments; projects of member organizations; “Lighthouses of the Patagonian Sea” (relevant sites for biodiversity); trans-boundary conservation initiatives; marine pollution; endangered species; human resource training; development and governance of the Forum.
Participants: civil society organizations concerned with marine conservation (international and those based in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay). There are 16 organizations that are already members of the Forum and several more to be invited as observers. Scientists and Uruguayan officials there will also be invited. The plenary sessions will take up to 40 attendees each day.
Meeting dynamics: plenary sessions will alternate with workshops in smaller groups. Decisions are taken by consensus. For complex issues, the plenary meeting will try to produce general guidelines, which are then developed in the inter-session period by means of ad-hoc Working Groups. Simultaneous interpretation English – Spanish will be available. After the meeting a report containing a summary of the topics discussed and agreements reached will be distributed.