World NGO Conference on Wetlands
“NGOs
for Healthy and Sustainable Wetlands”
(Second and Revised
Announcement)
Changnyeong and Suncheon, Republic of Korea
25 - 27 October 2008
Organized by the Korea NGO Network for Ramsar
COP10
Invitation
We are very pleased to invite
you to participate in the World NGO Conference on Wetlands to be held in Changnyeong
and Suncheon, the Republic of Korea from 25 – 27 October 2008,
immediately prior to the 10th Conference of the Contracting Parties of the
Ramsar Convention.
The Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands came into existence in 1971, to provide a framework for national
actions and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of
wetlands and their resources. The Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP)
is the policy-making organ of the Convention, where government representatives
from each of the Contracting Parties meet every 3 years to discuss and decide
important matters related to wetlands.
The World NGO Conference
on Wetlands is organized by the Korea NGO Network for Ramsar COP10 (KNNRC10) in
collaboration with the Japan NGO Network for Ramsar COP10 (JNNRC10). It will be
an opportunity for NGOs around the world to examine issues related to the conservation
and wise use of wetlands and to come up with policy proposals which reflect the
perspectives of NGOs. It will also provide an important opportunity for NGOs to
discuss how to strengthen our own networks around the world.
In this regard, we would
like to kindly invite your organization to be represented at the World NGO
Conference on Wetlands and to share your views on the conservation and wise use
of wetlands, as well as possible ways to build stronger NGO networks.
Please find the attached
provisional agenda and other relevant information on the Conference. In order
to ensure timely arrangements, it is highly appreciated if you could return the
attached registration form by e-mail to Mr. Ma Yong-un, International Contact
Point, KNNRC10 <koreawetlands@gmail.com> and copy to <ecoguide@hanmail.net>
by 27 September 2008.
With best regards,
Kim Deok-seong, Kim
Jae-seung, Baek Yong-hae, Seo Ju-dal, Lee In-sik, Lee Jeong-ju, and Lee
Pyeong-ju
Co-Representatives
Korea NGO Network for
Ramsar COP10
Information for Participants
Time and Venues
Please be aware that there have been changes to the dates of
the World NGO Conference on Wetlands and it will be held in two separate places
in the Republic of Korea from 25 – 27 October 2008.
The venue for the Meeting on CEPA (Communication, Education
and Public Awareness) on 25 October is in Changnyeong and the other Meeting on Wetland
Conservation on 26-27 is in Suncheon, Republic of Korea.
Objectives
of the World NGO Conference on Wetlands
i. To share information on
Ramsar Convention such as conservation and wise use of wetlands, etc., aiming
for an exchange of world NGOs, citizens, researchers, politicians,
administrative personnel, etc., engaged in wetland issues,
ii. To examine issues on
wetlands and to work out policy proposal with ‘NGO Views’ as a key word.
iii. To adopt an NGO statement
on wetlands at the World Wetland NGO Conference to be presented by a Korean NGO
representative at the plenary of the Ramsar COP10, so that it would be
reflected to discussions and resolutions of the COP.
iv. To discuss and endorse the
establishment of an International Wetland NGO Committee (provisional name) at
the conference.
Provisional
Agenda
|
Date |
Time |
Agenda |
|
Friday Oct. 24th |
17:00-19:00 |
Reception Dinner (in Changnyeong) |
|
19:00-22:00 |
Exchange Program among Participants |
|
|
CEPA Meeting (in Changnyeong) |
||
|
Saturday Oct. 25th |
09:00-10:00 |
Registration |
|
10:00-10:30 |
Opening Ceremony |
|
|
10:30-10:45 |
Keynote Speech 1: CEPA and Ramsar Convention |
|
|
10:45-11:00 |
Keynote Speech 2: CEPA Activities in Korea |
|
|
11:00-11:10 |
Break |
|
|
11:10-12:30 |
Session 1: Wetlands Training Programs |
|
|
12:30-13:30 |
Lunch Break |
|
|
13:30-14:50 |
Session 2: CEPA
Programs at Wetland Centers |
|
|
14:50-15:00 |
Break |
|
|
15:00-16:20 |
Session 3: CEPA Programs at Rice Paddies |
|
|
16:20-16:30 |
Break |
|
|
16:30-17:50 |
Session 4: Discussion and Adoption of NGO Statements on
CEPA |
|
|
18:00-19:00 |
Dinner |
|
|
19:00-21:30 |
Transport from Changnyeong to Suncheon |
|
|
Wetland
Conservation Meeting (in Suncheon) |
||
|
Sunday Oct. 26th |
09:00-09:15 |
Opening Ceremony |
|
09:15-09:45 |
Keynote Speech 1: Roles of NGOs in Wetland Conservation
and Ramsar Convention |
|
|
09:45-10:15 |
Keynote Speech 2: Wetlands in Korea |
|
|
10:30-12:00 |
Session 1: NGO’s View Point; Wise Use of Rice Paddy |
|
|
12:00-13:00 |
Lunch Break |
|
|
13:00-16:00 |
Session 2: NGO’s View Point; Wise Use and Non-Wise Use
of Wetlands (presentations of cases and issues on conservation of specific
wetlands) |
|
|
16:00-16:20 |
Break |
|
|
16:20-18:20 |
Session 3 : NGO’s View Point; Wise Use and Non-Wise Use
of Wetlands (focused on wetland related policy, laws and regulations of each country and
implementation of Ramsar Convention) |
|
|
18:30-20:30 |
Reception Dinner |
|
|
Monday Oct. 27th |
09:30-10:30 |
Session 4: International Wetland NGO Committee |
|
10:30-11:30 |
Session 5: Discussion and Adoption of NGO Statements
including CEPA |
|
|
11:30-11:45 |
Closing |
|
|
12:00-13:30 |
Lunch |
|
|
13:30-16:00 |
Field Trip to the Suncheon Bay Ramsar Site |
|
|
16:00-18:30 |
Transport to Changnyeong |
|
Who
should attend?
Everyone is welcome!
National and International NGOs, community-based organizations, grassroots
support groups and any organization whose work involves wetland conservation,
wise use of wetlands, or people depending upon wetlands should attend.
Funding
Support for International Participants
Up to 150 international participants can get support for
accommodation, meals and local transportation from the nearest airport to the
Conference Venues in Changnyeong and/or Suncheon.
·
Accommodation (up to 5 nights from 24 to 28
October)
·
Three meals per day (during the NGO Conference
from 24 to 27 October)
·
Local transportation from nearest
airport to the venue of NGO Conference
·
Local transportation from
Changnyeong to Suncheon on the evening of 25 October and from Suncheon to
Changnyeong on the afternoon of 27 October
·
Local transportation for the fieldtrip to the Suncheon
Bay Ramsar Site
Costs for air travel can be supported for a limited number
of participants from non-OECD countries and those who want to make
presentations at the NGO Conference will be given priority to support their air
travel.
·
Airfare for economy class (only for a limited
number of participants who submit the Registration Forms before 27 September)
(The Organizers
of the Conference will inform applicants whether they will receive funding
assistance for air travel or not by 2 October.)
Visa
Requirement
Participants who need a visa to
enter into the Republic of Korea should pre-register for the Ramsar COP10 (http://ramsar.org/cop10/registration),
and ask the Korean government to help you get a visa (http://english.ramsar2008.go.kr/03/03.jsp).
How
to Get to Venues of the NGO Conference
Most of the international participants will enter Korea via
Incheon International Airport or Gimhae International Airport.
Those who arrive at the Incheon International Airport will
have to go to Gimpo Airport in Seoul which is about 45 km away. Please take a
limousine bus or a train (Airport Railroad Express; AREX) from the Incheon International
Airport to Gimpo Airport (http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busView.iia?seq=387&flag=E
or http://www.airport.kr/iiacms/pageWork.iia?_scode=C1204070000).
Both will take about 30-40 minutes.
From Gimpo Airport, please take a domestic flight to Gimhae
International Airport (if you want to join the Conference from 25 October in Changnyeong)
or to Yeosu Airport (if you want to join the Conference from 26 October in
Suncheon) which will take about 50 minutes.
Staff from the organizers will receive all of the participants
on the 1st floor of Gimhae International Airport and Yeosu Airport to assist
participants with transportation. Local transportation will be ready to take you
to the Conference venue or your accommodation. Participants are strongly
advised to look for staff holding an “NGO Conference” sign board upon arrival
at the airport. It will take about an hour to go to Changnyeong from Gimhae
International Airport and 20 minutes to go to Suncheon from Yeosu Airport.
Call
for Papers and Presentations
If you would like to make a presentation at the NGO
Conference, please fill in the Registration Form and return it to Mr. Ma
Yong-un, International Contact Point, KNNRC10 <koreawetlands@gmail.com>
and copy to <ecoguide@hanmail.net>
by 27 September 2008.