IUCN WCPA Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group (TBC SG) successfully organised two official events during the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, November 2014.

In view of the forthcoming WCPA Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Transboundary Conservation: A systematic and integrated approach, prepared by TBC SG, with generous input by ICIMOD, an event was held to present key contents and findings featured in the publication. The audience widely welcomed the coming Guidelines, funded by MAVA Foundation and Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). Introductory speeches were provided by Dr. Uwe Riecken, BfN, Dr. Charlotte Karibuhoye, MAVA Foundation, and Maja Vasilijević, TBC SG, followed by a key note address by Dr. Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park. The Guidelines were then presented by Dr. Matthew McKinney and Kevan Zunckel, both TBC SG members.

Several key recommendations came out of this event: to develop a comprehensive database on Transboundary Conservation Areas, to develop guidance on monitoring and evaluation of transboundary conservation programmes, to offer guidance on legal implication in cooperation with IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, and to engage with Biodiversity and Peace Initiative started at CBD COP12.

The second event, Governance of Transboundary Conservation Areas, was organised jointly by WCPA TBC SG and Southern African Development Community (SADC). After the introductory presentation on transboundary governance, six cases from various geographical regions presented various models of transboundary governance. This was followed by regional mini-workshops in which the participants discussed pressing issues related to governance.

TBC SG also organised an informal gathering of TBC SG members, coordinated by Dr. Rahimatsah Amat. This was a great opportunity for members to meet their colleagues, some for the first time, and discuss relevant issues with regards to TBC SG.

Apart from these events organised or co-organised by TBC SG, ICIMOD held a side event, Innovative Approaches for Landscape Conservation Programmes in the Himalayas: Reconciling Development Challenges. At this event, Maja Vasilijević of TBC SG presented global perspectives on transboundary approach.