Dear CEESP members and partners,
Once again, after Policy Matters No. 10 on
Sustainable Livelihoods and Co-manage-
ment of Natural Resources(2002) and no.
12 on Community Empowerment for
Conservation (2003), we are going to print
with a special issue of our Journal edited by
the CMWG Chair and colleagues. The sub-
ject of this issue— History, culture and con-
servation—is a formidable one, and I must
commend all the members and partners
who have produced the engrossing papers
collected here.
I am proud to see that our Journal contin-
ues to be a forum where we explore and
debate relatively innovative subjects within
IUCN. Indeed, it is part of the philosophy
and mandate of our Commission to stimu-
late the attention of the Union on important
subjects that, for one reason or another,
may not be enjoying a spotlight at a partic-
ular moment in time. This does not mean,
however, that they are not of momentous
consequences for conservation... as you can
easily find out by going through this vol-
ume.
Let me point your attention to the contacts
details of the CEESP members and partners
who generously shared their thoughts with
all of us by compiling and offering the
papers collected here. I hope there will be
exchanges among many of them and you,
the readers, and fruitful collaboration in the
field. Indeed, if history and culture vis-à-vis
conservation are not new subjects, much is
still to be learned to unfold all their poten-
tial and many pathways for action are point-
ed at here.
This issue is being prepared for the 3d
World Conservation Congress in Bangkok
(Thailand) November 2004. We hope it will
contribute to highlighting there the benefits
of an approach to conservation that is histo-
ry and culture conscious. And we hope that,
in the months to follow, such an approach
will also be promoted and sustained mean-
ingfully in the field. I am proud to say that
CEESP is committed to the theme of
“Culture and Conservation” as a part of its
new mandate. Warm wishes to all the read-
ers!
LLEETTTTEERR FFRROOMM TTHHEE CCHHAAIIRR OOFF CCEEEESSPP
M TTaghi FFarvar
