NOMKHUBULWANE & ANDRIES BOTHA
Nomkhublwane, named for the Zulu Goddess of rain, nature and fertility – regarded as “Mother Earth” – is a magnificent sculpture created by the South African sculptor, Andries Botha. Standing at over 3 meters tall, Nomkhublwane is a matriarch and symbol of the earth. Botha created the sculpture from galvanized mild steel and recycled truck tires. Garnering wide-spread support in South Africa from Dunlop Tyres, Grindrod Shipping, Premat, the Magqubu Ntombela Foundation, Dr. Ian Player and scores of individual supporters, Nomkhublwane is now en-route to Merida, Mexico for WILD9. She left port in South Africa on 1 October and will arrive in Altamira, Mexico on 28 October. Her journey will continue on road and rail to Merida! 
     
 

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Trainings
There are many opportunities for learning at WILD9, including pre- and post-Congress trainings. Trainings on photography, Hydrosheds, Climate Change, Cenotes and more are available to WILD9 delegates. More information on trainings and registration for these opportunities.
     

Conservation Photography - Frans Lanting: Life Through Time

Frans Lanting’s LIFE: A Journey Through Time” will be performed on November 7, 2009 as part of WILD9. The 60 minute presentation will include the customized production created by Frans Lanting Productions telling the story of the history of life on earth, using images by Frans Lanting set to an original musical score by Philip Glass, performed live by the Yucatan Symphony and conducted by Carolyn Kuan. LIFE will one of a number of cultural and artistic events during WILD9. All photos © Frans Lanting
     
 

YUCATAN NEWS

The Yucatan RAVE: 25 photographers over the span of four months document the diverse, beautiful and threatened Yucatan. In the past several decades, the Yucatan has seen some of the highest deforestation rates in the world. The RAVE team will focus on underground wilderness, impacts of tourism, coastal environments, freshwater, Mesoamerican tropical forest, Mayan sites, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity and more. The talented team of iLCP photographers will present their work in a one of a kind multi-media presentation on the opening day of WILD9 (6 November), introducing delegates to the Yucatan and Merida!

     
 

WILD9 Editorial
WILD9 will be my first World Wilderness Congress, and I’m very excited to finally experience what I’ve heard so much about during my 3 years with The WILD Foundation.  There are a few program pieces that I’m working on – and I’m very excited about those as well!  Convening at WILD9 will be at least 30 young professionals from around the world.   In partnership with the World Commission on Protected Areas Young Professional program, we’re offering several opportunities for Young Professionals to network and learn from each other.  We’re also providing some guidance to help each Young Professional learn the most from their WILD9 experience, and hosting a space in the Expo for delegates to learn about the work of these amazing young leaders!  Please be sure to come and check it out! 
Also, I’ve been working very closely with a great communications team to get WILD9 “virtual.”  We will have live blogging, tweeting and video-streams from the Congress.  WILD9 LIVE (hosted on wild.org and wild9.org during the Congress) will feed all of this information and be your “on stop shop” for WILD9 information.  If you’d like to participate in the Young Professionals program or be a part of our communications team, please let me know!  See you Merida -- Emily Loose, Director of Communications, The WILD Foundation
 
 
 
 
 


ONE:  Establish strategic alliances with conservation organizations around the world.

TWO:  Listen to worldwide environmental leaders and experts.  

THREE:  Improve skills in negotiating and resolving environmental issues.

FOUR: Witness social and environmental commitments from leading corporations in Mexico and around the world.

FIVE: Discover conservation policies and models proposed by government agencies and environmental organizations.

  
 
 
 
 
 

The 8th World Wilderness Congress (Anchorage, Alaska 2005) convened the first Native Lands and Wilderness Council. Megaron Txukarramã, a chief of the Kayapo Nation (Brazilia), was one of the many native leaders who participated. At the council, participants presented their conservation stories, learned from other indigenous leaders and gathered tools and knowledge for their people and their efforts to protect their wild-nature.  Megaron’s experience at the 8WWC helped him to unify the Kayapo to form a stronger, united voice to oppose mounting threats to their land and culture.  Read more about the Kayapo. The second Native Lands and Wilderness Council will convene in Merida.
 
 
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