09.05.08
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)—based in Switzerland and with offices throughout the world—has joined forces with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) for its World Conservation Congress, the world's largest ever conservation event. The agreement is designed to address ecosystem degradation, strengthen the business case for biodiversity conservation and put biodiversity considerations at the heart of the business operations of WBCSD member companies. By promoting the presence of a major business non-governmental organization (NGO), business is now acknowledged as an equal stakeholder when it comes to solving the world's biodiversity crisis. The World Conservation Congress 2008 to be held in October in Barcelona, Spain, provides an opportunity for governments, researchers, civil society, NGOs and the private sector to work together and start taking action. Some 8,000 participants and over 300 international journalists are expected to attend. It is expected that some 70 global corporations will attend.