IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) Component Programme Plan

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1 IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) Component Programme Plan CEC Situation Analysis Overview The Conference of the Parties 10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and 20 Aichi Targets to be achieved by Aichi Target 1 states: "By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably". This forms a fundamental basis for framing the CEC programme for CEC surveyed both the demand for expertise: the needs for support and opportunities identified by other component programmes and partners of CEC; and the supply : the visions and opportunities for potential actions that were identified as being needed by over 200 of the 950 CEC members. The report is available at: on a Survey of CEC Members CEC members surveyed as part of the situation analysis expressed their desire to see the CEC network mobilised to support capacity building to implement the IUCN programme. This incorporates a wide skills set of CEC members including curriculum development, e learning training development, facilitation, multi stakeholder forum coordination and creative outreach approaches. They are keen to help build the capacity of people to be multipliers and enablers of the conservation change sought in the IUCN programme. Twenty years on from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit we cannot see significant progress towards sustainability and in fact negative trends in the state of the environment, increasing risks from climate change, and a growth in population towards 9 10 billion by The resilience of ecosystems, society and the economy are under threat, trapping people in deteriorating environments and likely triggering conflict. The CEC will help to tell the story of climate change, of the value and wonder of biodiversity and to paint the picture of a path to a positive future. The CEC will collect information and examples about nature based solutions to climate change and biodiversity issues and promote these stories and solutions as appropriate to target audiences, supporting the work of Ecosystem Management Programme and Gender Office, as well as humanitarian and environmental security organisations. CEC members have diverse skills that can help in many ways to implement the IUCN Programme. There are currently almost 1,000 CEC members and it is anticipated that many of these people will renew their membership for the Programme period, along with additional members joining. This membership needs to become an active network that can be mobilised to support the delivery of the IUCN Programme, provide knowledge based services and advice, and explore new opportunities and cutting edge examples of communication, education and knowledge management practices that can be integrated into IUCN s ways of working.

2 The IUCN Commission on Education and Communication Results for are: 1. Strategic Plan for Biodiversity Aichi Target 1: Lead IUCN s work on Aichi Target 1 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2. IUCN Capacity Development: Operationalise IUCN s capacity development to deliver the IUCN Programme 3. Nature based Solutions to Global Challenges: Promote nature based solutions within and beyond the conservation community 4. CEC Network Development: Develop a globally active CEC network to support programme implementation Strategic Plan for Biodiversity Aichi Target 1 CEC Result: Lead IUCN s work on Aichi Target 1 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Target: Parties of the CBD demonstrate Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) actions as part of their National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans, in collaboration with the CBD Secretariat. The Conference of the Parties 10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and 20 Aichi Targets to be achieved by Aichi Target 1 states: "By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably". IUCN and the CEC in particular are well placed to take a leading role in the promotion of Target 1, in collaboration with the CBD to help guide the parties on the implementation of their work on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA), and ultimately reaching out to much wider audiences so that awareness of biodiversity, a connection with nature and the willingness to take action to conserve it become mainstream in society.

3 CEC will advise the CBD Secretariat on indicators for Target 1 and involve CEC members in identifying and helping to facilitate national biodiversity public awareness surveys and communication capacity training in at least ten countries. CEC members will be available to advise on the CEPA component of National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans and will liaise with the CBD Secretariat and Global Policy Unit to help apply this expertise. CEC have a good working relationship with the CBD Secretariat and have developed in collaboration with other partners useful tools, such as the CEPA Toolkit, and thought provoking knowledge products such as the Love Not Loss film, to assist the conservation community to consider better ways to communicate about conservation focusing on action impacts. Building on the concepts of CEPA and Love Not Loss, the CEC will develop communication products and initiatives to promote public awareness of and action for biodiversity conservation with the CBD Secretariat and Global Communications Unit of IUCN. CEC will work with the CBD Secretariat and Species programme in particular to ensure IUCN support the UN Decade for Biodiversity and promotion of the Aichi Targets. CEC will form collaborative partnerships with institutions that have the potential to reach out to large sectors of the public to improve awareness and education about biodiversity, such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and protected area managers in collaboration with the Protected Areas Programme, ultimately leading to people going out and establishing their own personal connection to nature. IUCN Capacity Development CEC Result: Operationalise IUCN s capacity development to deliver the IUCN Programme Target: IUCN components have guidance, tools and examples of good practice capacity development to generate conservation action. CEC members surveyed as part of the situation analysis expressed their desire to see the CEC network mobilised to support capacity building to implement the IUCN programme. This incorporates a wide skills set of CEC members including curriculum development, e learning training development, facilitation, multi stakeholder forum coordination and creative outreach approaches. They are keen to help build the capacity of people to be multipliers and enablers of the conservation change sought in the IUCN programme especially for country level action. Many CEC members are also active in academic institutions, with the potential to facilitate sharing of IUCN knowledge products within course curriculum, and advising on academic opportunities for conservation professionals to update their qualifications. In collaboration with the Capacity Development Unit, CEC will develop overarching guidance to help implement the IUCN Programme worldwide. CEC will also directly support component programme capacity development through specific projects on request, based on the skills sets and expertise of CEC members, in collaboration with at least five component programmes. For example, building capacity development training tools developed with the Water Programme based on the WANI toolkits; recognise ten good practice examples of protected area education and communication and promote them as a model, with the Protected Areas Programme; and work with the Asia Regional Programme to create educational materials with and for children and youth.

4 Nature based Solutions to Global Challenges CEC Result: Promote nature based solutions within and beyond the conservation community Targets: A global series of case studies and stories of nature based solutions to climate change are available, particularly focussing on the most vulnerable communities (e.g. environmental migrants), developed in collaboration with the Ecosystem Management Programme, Gender Programme, humanitarian and environmental security organisations. IUCN s Business Engagement Strategy is implemented with the support of the Business and Biodiversity Programme and CEC to design appropriate capacity building, communication and stakeholder engagement approaches, particularly with the water, food and agriculture sector. Twenty years on from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit we cannot see significant progress towards sustainability and in fact negative trends in the state of the environment, increasing risks from climate change, a growth in population towards 9 10 billion by 2050 and other challenges. The resilience of ecosystems, society and the economy are under threat, trapping people in deteriorating environments, economies and likely triggering conflict. A UK government commissioned study Foresight (2011) reports millions are moving to areas that are more vulnerable to environmental disaster particularly in Africa and Asia, and displacement of people with flood, famine and drought is set to rise. Foresight states that the challenges of human migration in response to environmental changes are far more complex than policy makers realise. The greatest numbers of environmental refugees are living in Sub Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, China, Mexico, and Central America and it is estimated that there are already some 25 million environmental refugees worldwide. The CEC will help to tell the story of climate change, of the value and wonder of biodiversity and to paint the picture of a path to a positive, resilient future. The CEC will collect information and examples about nature based solutions to climate change and promote these stories and solutions as appropriate to target audiences, supporting the work of Ecosystem Management Programme and Gender Office, as well as humanitarian and environmental security organisations. In collaboration with the Business and Biodiversity Programme, CEC will support the implementation of IUCN s Business Engagement Strategy, helping with the design of capacity building initiatives for businesses, communication products and convening of stakeholders, particularly with the water, food and agriculture sector. CEC Network Development CEC Result: Develop a globally active CEC network to support programme implementation Targets: An IUCN wide knowledge management system is in place that maps commissions, Members and staff expertise and location; programme s knowledge products and services to support programme delivery, including CEC specific content, in collaboration with Information Systems. Active social networking platforms connect CEC members, demonstrate best practices in communication and promote conservation action, in collaboration with Global Communications Unit. CEC members directly support the implementation of Regional Programmes and have at least ten national level CEC networks supporting the implementation of conservation projects of IUCN. Partnerships established with relevant youth focused and youth led organisations that leverage the outreach of IUCN s programme knowledge to help create action oriented sustainability

5 educational materials, advise on biodiversity conservation actions on the ground, and promote good practices of youth led conservation initiatives and stimulate action across generations. There are currently almost 1,000 CEC members and it is anticipated that many of these people will renew their membership for the Programme period, along with additional members joining. This membership needs to become an active network that can be mobilised to support the delivery of the IUCN Programme, provide knowledge based services and advice, and explore new opportunities and cutting edge examples of communication, education and knowledge management practices that can be integrated into IUCN s ways of working. An essential element of establishing a globally active network is to have knowledge management systems and IT tools that can help to track members expertise, provide collaborative working spaces, and be able to showcase knowledge products and services. CEC will work with the Information Systems team of IUCN to help to put these tools in place for use by CEC and the wider IUCN family. As part of IUCN s work to reach out beyond IUCN s traditional constituency, the CEC see a role in improving youth engagement in conservation. There is currently about 1.2 billion young people (aged 15 24), approximately 17% of the global population, who make up a critical demographic in deciding the future of the how natural resources are managed. They have the potential to impact and are impacted by the effects of climate change. CEC will establish partnerships with relevant youth focused and youth led organisations that will leverage the outreach of IUCN s programme knowledge to help create youth focused environmental educational materials, advise on biodiversity conservation actions on the ground, and promote good practices of youth led conservation initiatives and stimulate action across generations. For example, extension of the Children & Nature Network s No child left inside initiatives, development of programme materials for use by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (30 million members in 162 countries), and advise youth led environmental initiatives of the UNEP Volvo Adventure. Many CEC members expressed an interest to further explore the application of social media as part of the conservation toolbox. CEC will facilitate CEC members engagement with social networking platforms and advise other component programmes on the use of social networking tools, in collaboration with the Global Communications Unit. National actions and regional focused exchange of information and common projects were overwhelmingly suggested in the CEC situational analysis survey. Mobilising the CEC network to better link in with Regional Programmes and National Programmes as relevant, as well as providing opportunities for national level implementation of conservation projects will be an important approach in leveraging the CEC network to support Programme implementation. ***