Title:
Need for Specific Legislation on Wilderness in Asia
Author: Mr. Vance
G. Martin
Seconded by: The World Wilderness Trust
E-mail resolution sponsors now!
WHEREAS,
Wilderness areas are the source and repository of unique biological, scientific,
economic, cultural, spiritual and other values that directly benefit all people;
these areas and their values continue to be diminished and disappear in Asia and
throughout the world;
sufficient scientific knowledge now exists to conclude that wilderness areas assure the
continuous operation of critical, baseline functions for a healthy and productive human
society such as nutrient cycling (the basis for food production), clean air, water and
more;
many years of experience in numerous nations have shown conclusively that wilderness
areas require specific legislation, management and community participation to safeguard
its values and services , and it appears that no such legislation exists in India or other
Asian countries;
The 6th
World Wilderness Congress hereby resolves to:
Establish a working group, which will:
- quickly assess existing natural resource legislation and policy throughout Asia to
determine to what extent wilderness and wildland values are adequately addressed;
- review cultural concepts which may clarify how to best communicate a wilderness concept
in Asia or in particular Asian nations;
- produce guidelines (following the accepted international criteria of the IUCN) for
wilderness legislation or other means of further protecting wild nature per se,
incorporating to the extent possible the needs of traditional, local people who depend on
wildland resources;
- submit these guidelines, following acceptable protocols and efficient channels, to
governmental departments and relevant NGOs in all Asian countries;
- report on progress to the 7th WWC;
- appeal to the judicial authorities to encourage and facilitate dissemination of judicial
decisions, which pertain to the public.
Sponsored by:
Mr. Vance G. Martin
Seconded by: The World Wilderness Trust
The WILD Foundation
P.O. Box: 1380,
Ojai, CA 93024, USA
Tel: +1-805-640-0390
Fax: +1-805-640-0230
E-mail: vance@wild.org
