12 Dec 2007 - WWF welcomed
the release in Geneva of draft World Trade
Organization (WTO) rules aimed at ending subsidies
that drive overfishing. The long-awaited text,
authored by the chair of the WTO Negotiating
Group on Rules as part of the Doha Round negotiations,
is the first formal draft of language aimed
at fulfilling a pledge made by WTO members
in 2005 to eliminate subsidies that contribute
to overfishing.
“On first look, this is a serious and constructive
text,” said WWF Senior Fellow David Schorr,
“It clearly reflects the progress that has
been achieved in these negotiations so far.
While there may be devils in the details or
a few important gaps, it is a solid basis
for negotiations to proceed. We applaud the
thoughtful efforts of the chairman, Uruguayan
Ambassador Guillermo Valles.”
Fisheries are under severe stress in every
ocean—more than three quarters of all fisheries
are already overfished or fished up to their
biological limits. Yet governments continue
to pour billions into supports that increase
the size and power of fishing fleets and encourage
excess fishing effort. The WTO fisheries subsidies
negotiations have been widely identified—including
by heads of state at the 2002 World Summit
on Sustainable Development—as the most important
opportunity to reverse these unsustainable
practices.
“This issue presents an unprecedented test
of the WTO’s ability to guide globalization
towards a sustainable future,” said Schorr.
“The ultimate proof will be in the final results
of the talks. WWF calls on governments to
build on the chair’s text to achieve WTO rules
that deliver real benefits for the world’s
fisheries and the communities that depend
on them.”
The fisheries subsidies issue has been on
the WTO agenda since the launch of the Doha
Round in 2001. Strong language to end harmful
fisheries subsidies has been supported by
a diverse group of countries including the
United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil,
and Chile. The European Union and Japan—the
two largest providers of fisheries subsidies—have
resisted rules considered necessary by environmental
groups. WWF helped put the fisheries subsidies
issue on the global agenda when WWF was the
first to call for new WTO fisheries subsidies
rules in 1998, and has worked closely with
governments and other stakeholders to propose
effective solutions.
+ More
New Finnish National Park becomes the first
marine area to be certified as Best of Europe’s
wilderness
11 Dec 2007 - Archipelago National Park in
the Baltic Sea has received recognition this
week of being one of the best managed wilderness
areas in Europe. As a result of undergoing
an intensive independent assessment of its
conservation, visitor management and sustainable
tourism development it received the coveted
status of being a certified PAN Park. Oulanka
National Park was the first Finnish national
park in the PAN Parks network.
This means that it now joins the PAN Parks
network that brings together some of the most
outstanding wilderness National Parks across
Europe that are working to combine nature
conservation with developing a future for
local communities through sustainable tourism
development. Archipelago National Park is
the first marine park in the network and the
10th park to be certified.
Archipelago National Park in the Baltic Sea
between Åland and mainland Finland is
part of one of the largest archipelagos in
the world. The National Park itself includes
more than 2,000 islands and rocky islets shaped
by waves and the ice sheet during the Ice
Age. Inside the co-operation area of the park,
there are about 8400 islands and islets altogether.
You can discover Archipelago National Park
by visiting www.outdoor.fi/archipelagonp.
PAN Parks is working to create an eco-tourism
brand that guarantees visitors a quality wilderness
experience where they can be sure that their
visit is supporting the protection of these
stunning and beautiful areas. The network
of certified parks stretches from the Arctic
Circle, to the Mediterranean and across to
the Caucasus – but is growing every year.
PAN Parks was originally set up by WWF in
a response to the need to improve the management
of protected areas across Europe.
Archipelago National Park is managed by Metsähallitus
Natural Heritage Services. The PAN Parks certification
is recognition of the excellent management
standards they have achieved but they are
not content to stop there. Park Superintendent
Laura Lehtonen said ‘Archipelago National
Park has applied for the PAN Parks brand for
several reasons. One aim is to raise the profile
of Archipelago National Park; to send a stronger
signal for local and other people about the
valuable and unique nature we have here. Since
this brand includes high standard for the
nature protection we also forced to evaluate
our work in this field both above and under
water along this process. This is good and
may even lead into some improvements in our
work. This process possibly also raises the
level of general knowledge considering this
area’
Zoltan Kun, Executive Director of the PAN
Parks Foundation said ‘Archipelago National
Park is an exciting addition to our network,
a new habitat that brings exciting challenges
and new opportunities for those wishing to
enjoy and explore the best wilderness in Europe.
Given the limited human resources allocated
to the park it is reflective of their commitment
that so much has been achieved in making this
such a prime destination. The addition of
Archipelago National Park as the 10th certified
PAN Park to the network is also a timely celebration
of PAN Parks 10th Anniversary.’
WWF Finland (www.wwf.fi) has been playing
a crucial role in promoting the conservation
of the Baltic Sea and in supporting the activities
in Archipelago National Park. Anita Mäkinen,
Head of Marine Programme of WWF Finland, said
‘Archipelago National Park is an internationally
important area and a vital resource in ipreserving
wildlifeof the Baltic Sea. However, there
are outside influences, national and international,
that threaten the ecological integrity of
this special area, notably through increasing
euthrophication of sea water. Collective action
is required therefore if this special park
is to have the protection it deserves. There
is also a need for closer co-operation between
the park and those living on the islands of
the Archipelago. We see the PAN Parks process
as a key mechanism in making this happen.
In protecting both the natural and cultural
treasures of the area, Archipelago National
Park is in a position to lead the way in developing
the means to effectively manage what is a
rare habitat in Europe’.
A key part of the PAN Parks ethos is bringing
park managers, local communities and business
together to develop a sustainable tourism
strategy for the area. This deals with threats
and pressures on the park at the same time
opening up opportunities to promote the region
to discerning eco-tourists across Europe.
Rauno Väisänen, Director of Metsähallitus
Natural Heritage Services said ‘Hopefully
the PAN Parks brand also serves as a way to
increase the amount of visitors, especially
the amount of foreign visitors in our National
Park because nature tourism would help to
keep the Archipelago alive. Sustainable nature
tourism requires quality products and increased
co-operation between Metsähallitus and
local entrepreneurs. What kind of products
there are now and what kind of products could
and should be developed - hopefully the Sustainable
Tourism Development Strategy will give answers
to these questions.
Having the PAN Parks brand means that we
are part of the PAN Parks network which offers
valuable chances to exchange experiences and
information among European National Parks.
This in turn helps us to manage Archipelago
National Park even better than today’
