IUCN Congress ends with Jeju Declaration

More than 10,000 government officials and environmental experts adopted a declaration that proposes green growth as the solution to environmental issues after a 10-day meeting in South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju, organizers said Saturday.    The participants adopted the Jeju Declaration at the end of the IUCN World Conservation Congress based on their discussions to address a wide range of environmental issues and take a step closer to "a new era of conservation, sustainability and nature-based solutions."    Organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the gathering convenes policy makers and environmentalists once every four year to improve management of the world's natural environment for humans, society and economic development.    Organizers also promised to maintain the World Leaders Dialogues, initiated at this year's World Conservation Forum, on a regular basis, to be known as the Jeju World Leaders' Conservation Forum. This year's gathering on Jeju drew some 10,600 participants from 1,100 government and non-government groups from over 180 countries, the largest ever.    Convened policymakers, experts and practitioners shared knowledge and concerns about the health of the natural world, species, habitats and ecosystems.    At forums and symposiums on the sidelines of the congress, participants held discussions on 176 initiatives that range from climate change to the protection of endangered species and a green economy.    The first in its 64-year history to be held in Northeast Asia, this year's congress was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.    Congress attendees also had an opportunity to tour Jeju Island on Thursday, organizers said. An Eco-tour enabled participants to enjoy South Korea's diverse ecological and cultural resources.    Zhang Xinsheng of China was chosen as the new president of the IUCN, replacing his predecessor Ashok Khosla, they added.    Founded in 1948, the IUCN is the world's largest and oldest environmental organization, with about 50 offices around the world and some 1,000 staff. It has about 200 government members and some 900 non-governmental members from about 160 countries.