HCR216.DOC

WHEREAS, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded in 1948 and is the world's oldest and largest global environmental network; and

WHEREAS, the IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries; and

WHEREAS, the IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO, and private sectors around the world; and

WHEREAS, there are 87 state members (i.e. nations) officially represented, and 25 government agencies without state membership; and

WHEREAS, the official United States (U.S.) state representative is the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; and

WHEREAS, funding for the IUCN comes from governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, member organizations, and corporations; and

WHEREAS, the IUCN holds official observer status at the United Nations General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) convenes every four years and is hosted by a member state, but has never met in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, the WCC is a two-part international event:

(1) The World Conservation Forum, a 5-day event open to all registrants to discuss major sustainable development issues, propose solutions, and facilitate the sharing of information and experiences; and

(2) The Members' Assembly, a 5-day deliberative session on policy open to official delegates of member organizations;

and

WHEREAS, the entire WCC lasts almost two weeks and attracts approximately 8,000 delegates from around the world; and

WHEREAS, attendees and active participants include, among others, world leaders in policy and conservation, scientists, leaders in communications and alternative energy, indigenous groups, prominent world citizens, and Nobel laureates; and

WHEREAS, the theme for the 2016 WCC will be "Oceania"; and

WHEREAS, the IUCN WCC is an opportunity for transformational change globally, within the nation, and for the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, with increased attention from world governments, NGOs, researchers, and the public to marine and island systems, Hawaii offers an outstanding site for the next WCC; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is ideally poised to host the WCC, as its geographic location serves as a bridge from the West to Oceania and Asia; and

WHEREAS, the WCC would offer Hawaii an opportunity to display its natural and cultural diversity to the world; and
WHEREAS, Honolulu is a world-renowned visitor destination and has the capability and facilities required to stage the IUCN WCC; and

WHEREAS, tourism is Hawaii's largest employer, revenue producer, and growth sector, and hosting international conferences is critical to the economic well-being of the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature expresses its support for Hawaii to pursue the bid to host the 2016 IUCN WCC; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; each member of Hawaii's Congressional delegation; Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	216
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII