Contact:
Sigrun Lange
Webpage: http://www.inka-ev.de
Email: Sigrun.Lange@inka-ev.de

Introduction:

This international interdisciplinary congress will deal with the conservation of biodiversity in the Andes and Amazon Basin with focus on the countries Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. These countries are hosting an enormous cultural and natural diversity. The ecosystems are ranging from deserts to tropical forests. Between the two extremes there is a variety of plant formations: mangroves, lowland forests in the Amazon basin, tropical dry forests, relicts of Andean forests and scrub formations in the Paramo region. Biodiversity reaches its peak in the complex tropical mountain forests on the slopes of the Andes, which were declared as one of the "Biodiversity-Hotspots" world-wide (Nature, Vol. 403, February 2000). But all of the above mentioned ecosystems have in common, that they are threatened by logging, burning, grazing or other land-use activities. Although there is already a lot of knowledge about the importance and vulnerability of these ecosystems, the destruction is going on.

The congress will provide a unique opportunity to join different groups being concerned with biodiversity: scientists, environmental organizations and local/indigenous people. The exchange of various viewpoints, requirements and knowledge, as well as the realization of the current deficits could facilitate the development of improved conservation strategies and a better management of the natural resources. Right now, the cooperation of science, NGOs and indigenous peoples is frequently insufficient. NGO representatives often do not know anything about the ongoing research in their working area, whereas indigenous peoples are sometimes not asked when management plans are established to protect special areas. For a long-term protection of biodiversity it is crucial to develop conservation strategies in a joint effort.

Objectives:

The main objective is to stimulate an exchange of knowledge and viewpoints between scientists, NGOs and indigenous peoples. Investigators are invited to present their scientific results, whereas NGOs should present their project experiences in endangered areas. Indigenous and local peoples are enabled to talk about their requirements for development and their interests in conserving their environment.

Congress program themes:

• Introduction: The importance of biodiversity in the Andes and Amazon Basin Science - ivory tower or contribution to the conservation of biodiversity?
• 1. Biodiversity of the tropical regions in South America (witth focus on Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia)
• 2. How is science contributing to the conservation of biodiversity? NGOs - between "parks without people" and (sustainable) development
• 3. Deficits of science and knowledge - from the viewpoint of NGOs and indigenous people
• 4. How are NGOs contributing to the conservation of biodiversity? Ecotourism - chances and risks
• 5. Chances and risks of ecotourism for the conservation of diversity and a sustainable development
• 6. Cultural integrity - ecotourism from the viewpoint of indigenous people Indigenous peoples - interests between conservation and development
• 7. Traditional land-use-forms and knowledge about medical plant use
• 8. Development versus intellectual property rights
• Conclusion: Perspectives for cooperation between science, NGOs and indigenous people

The congress is planed between the 24th and 28th of September 2001 in Cusco, Peru. Cusco is located in the south of Peru near the famous National Park of Manu. It is easy accessible from Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as from abroad. It is a touristic town with good accommodation infrastructure.

Organizing NGOs:

The congress is organized by the International Network for the Conservation of Biological and Cultural Diversity INKA e.V. (Munich, Germany) and the Fundacion Cientifica San Francisco FCSF (San Diego, USA), which is running a research station in the mountain forests of southern Ecuador. Both organizations are struggling for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. The accompanying scientist is Dr. Rainer Bussmann (FCSF), who is working on the Ecuadorian mountain forests (ceja.andina@t-online.de). INKA e.V. will coordinate the congress logistics.

Conference languages:

Spanish and English will be the two languages during the conference period. We highly recommend all persons who are able to speak Spanish to communicate in this language to render the exchange between all participating groups. The organizing NGOs (INKA e.V. and FCSF) will not be able to provide interpretation of the presentations or translation of the papers into other languages.

Call for interest and papers:

All interested groups or individuals are invited for contributions to the congress. Please inform us with the response sheet if you are interested to participate and in which form you would like to take part. FEEL FREE TO CIRCULATE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL WHO COULD BE INTERESTED.

Response sheet:

Please fill in your reply/comments where appropriate or add your own suggestions on additional pages. You may mail (Sigrun.Lange@inka-ev.de) or fax (++49 - 89 -45 91 19 20) this form to our office. Otherwise you are able to use the form from our webpage: http://www.inka-ev.de and send it directly from the webpage to our office.

A. I would like to express my interest in the congress and be registered in the address list:

Name:
Organization:
Address:
Country:
Fax/phone number:
E-mail address:

Position/professional background/special qualifications or interests:

B. I would like to present a paper/poster on (please give a preliminary topic and / or your title and attach abstract if possible)

C. I would like to suggest the following additional themes/topics for the conference program:

D. I would like to suggest the following name(s) of keynote speakers for a special subject:

E. I would like to contribute to the cultural program (traditional performance, music, etc.)

F. Other suggestions that you would like to make?

Please return to:

INKA e.V. - International network for the conservation of cultural and biological diversity
Gravelottestr. 6
81667 Munich
Germany
e-mail: Sigrun.Lange@inka-ev.de (subject: Cusco 2001)

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