WILD9 Conference

Mérida is host to many international conferences, but one of the most exciting is coming in November: WILD9 (9th World Wilderness Congress) from Nov. 6-13 at Siglo XXI. Delegates from all over the world will be in attendance.

Launched by The WILD Foundation in 1977, the World Wilderness Congress (WWC) is now the longest-running, public, international environmental forum. With over 25 years of conservation achievements, the WWC has become a high-profile platform for acting on complex wilderness and wildlands issues. WWCs include senior-level representation from governments, the private sector, native peoples, non-governmental organizations, academia and the arts in a structure carefully designed to bring together the full spectrum of wilderness-related views. Broad-based participation, combined with the spirit of open and balanced debate, creates a constructive, objective oriented environment, and generates practical conservation outcomes. The Congress convenes every three to four years around the world. Past WWCs have been held in South Africa (1977, 2001), Australia (1980), Scotland (1983), USA (1987, 2005), Norway (1993), and India (1998). Pre/Post Congress Tours, Professional Trainings, the Global Government Seminar and other Associated Meetings will occur Nov. 1-5 and Nov. 14-16.

The highlight of the conference will be the presence of Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist and environmental educator, who will make her long-awaited public appearance in Latin America to deliver a keynote lecture at the WILD9 Conference on November 8th and personally lead a workshop on Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program.

While Dr. Goodall will participate in conference events prior to this lecture, she will not be speaking on November 6th, the opening day of WILD9.

Goodall is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and is a UN Messenger of Peace. In July 1960, a 26-year-old Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Tanzania, under the mentorship of famed anthropologist and paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals. In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which continues the Gombe research and is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. Dr. Goodall’s scores of honors include the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal, Japan’s prestigious Kyoto Prize, and the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence, among others. Dr. Goodall will deliver a keynote address and personally lead a special workshop on Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program, for all WILD9 delegates who wish to attend.

President Felipe Calderon, the honorary host of WILD9, will welcome WILD9 delegates to Mexico during a special evening event on Friday 6 November.

Website: www.wild9.org
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