WILD Leads Effort on First International Agreement on Wilderness Conservation
Download the MOU in: French, English and Spanish.
On of the key outcomes of WILD9, the 9th World Wilderness Congress (6-13 November 2009, Merida Mexico), was the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Wilderness Conservation, signed between the US, Canada and Mexico. The MOU, officially announced by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is the first formal agreement between countries on wilderness conservation.
“Today it gives me great pleasure to announce that, within the framework of this 9th World Wilderness Congress, Mexico, Canada and the United States will be formalizing an important Cooperation Plan for Wilderness Conservation,” said President Calderon. “This Agreement will make it easier to exchange successful experiences, and facilitate monitoring and the training of human resources, as well as financing projects that will protect and recover wilderness areas.”
The agreement addresses the importance of ecosystems, wildlife and natural resources, and that nature’s many resources do not follow man-made borders. The agreement encourages sharing of knowledge, best-practices and research between countries to further conservation efforts.
Signed in French, English and Spanish by the seven agencies responsible for wilderness management:
- The Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources through the National Commission on Protected Areas (CONANP) of the United Mexican States;
- The Parks Canada Agency of the Government of Canada;
- The US National Park Service;
- The US Fish & Wildlife Service;
- The US Bureau of Land Management; and,
- The Forest Service and Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The MOU is available for download in: French, English and Spanish.
Watch video footage from WILD9
President Calderon Announces the MOU, English & Spanish
The Nahanni National Park, Canadian Wilderness, and First Nations
- Alan Latourelle, CEO, Parks Canada (English & Spanish);
- Grand Chief Samuel Gargan, Deh Cho First Nations (English);
Global Commitments
- The Honorable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, Canada (English & Spanish)
- Ernesto Enkerlin, President of the National Commission on Natural Protected Areas of Mexico, representing The Honorable Juan Elvira, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico (English & Spanish)
- Dr. Sally Collins, Director of Ecosystem Services and Markest USDA, representing The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture (English & Spanish)
Summary Keynotes