 Dr Walter Erdelen
Topic: “International Co-operation in the Humid Tropics: priorities and opportunities during the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)”
Dr. Walter Erdelen is the Assistant Director General for Natural Science at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Between 1981 and 1988, Walter Erdelen was a Lecturer and Researcher at the Dept. of Zoology, University of Munich, and a Research Associate at the Zoological Museum in Munich, Germany. In 1995 he was appointed Professor of Ecology and Biogeography at the Department of Zoology, Institute for Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology and Director of the Ecological Field Station, University of Würzburg, Germany. In 1997 he left Germany for invaluable experience in Asia to become a visiting Professor at the Dept. of Biology, Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia, a post he occupied until his nomination as Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO, in 2001.
 Prof. Monte Cassim
Topic: “Biodiversity regeneration in tropical ecosystems. How does one do it? Why does it happen?"
Prof. Monte Cassim is the President of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and the Vice Chancellor of the Ritsumeikan Trust. He also held the position of Director at the Ritsumeikan Center for Global Education and Research. Prof. Cassim obtained M.Eng and Ph. D. from the Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo.
Prof. Savithri Gunatilake – “Spatial scales in tree species distributions in natural forests of Sri Lanka and their implications for restoration."
Prof. Savitri Gunatilake was a pioneer in floristic research in a MAB Reserve in Sri Lanka, and she is now one of the most well respected Botanists in Sri Lanka with a large number of scientific publications to her credit. She presently serves as Professor of Botany at the University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Prof. M. Domroes – “ Variabilities of Rainfall Seasonality in the Monsoon Humid Tropics”
Prof. Domroes is working as a professor in applied geography, Director and Head of the Department of Geography at the Mainz University. He has held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences at the Mainz University and Chairman of the Commission on Climatology of the International Geographical Union. He also has been awarded a honorary professorship by the Chinese Academy of Science and a honorary Doctorate in science by University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Dr. Mark Leighton – “Spatial Planning to Conserve Faunal Diversity in Human-Impacted Landscapes”
He is presently attached to the Great Ape World Heritage Species Project & Dept. of Anthropology, Harvard University, Vanserg 103, 25 Francis Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Ms Wendy Goldstein – “Role of Communication for Sustainable Development”
She is a lecturer in sustainable development, and education for sustainable development to post graduate students in the Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. From 1992 – 2005 she was Head of Environmental Education and Communication at IUCN - The World Conservation Union (Gland, Switzerland) and was responsible for managing the programme and network support of the Commission on Education and Communication, CEC. Her IUCN work involved her in organising numerous international workshops at four IUCN Congresses, 2 Parks Congresses, WSSD and strategic planning for the Commission. She was involved in international policy influence for education and communication for the Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity and Ramsar – Wetlands, the work programme of the CSD; capacity building projects in participatory communication, knowledge management on education and communication and presenting on IUCN communication and education at international meetings.
 Arq. Hector Ceballos-Lascurain -
Topic: Ecotorism Opportunities in the Humid Tropics
Héctor Ceballos-Lascuráin is a Mexican environmentalist, architect, and ecotourism and cultural tourism expert. He is currently the Director General of the Programme of International Consultancy on Ecotourism (PICE) and Special Advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN (The World Conservation Union), as well as Advisor to the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
He is an expert in the planning and development of sustainable tourism, ecotourism, park management, and environmentally-friendly architectural design, with worldwide experience in this field. He has carried out consultancy and research work in 72 countries, including physical planning and low-impact architectural projects for ecotourism and sustainable tourism facilities, collaborating with governments NGOs and private firms in those countries, as well as international institutions such as UNDP, UNEP, FAO, World Bank, OAS, World Tourism Organization, IUCN, WWF, US-AID, IDB, TIES, PATA, NAFTA, Conservation International, National Geographic Society, German Technical Cooperation Agency, etc. He has spoken in conferences and symposia in over 35 countries. Developed the National Ecotourism Strategies of Mexico, Malaysia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Dominica, and Yemen.
Prof. Luis E. Aragón – “The need for integrating conservation and development In the Amazon: changes, challenges and opportunities in the age of globalization”
He is presently the UNESCO Chair on South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development, and is attached to the Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil |
