9th World Wilderness Congress, WILD 9, Mérida, Mexico 2009
 Resolution 15: Mega-Connectivity Conservation in the Altai Sayan Mountains of Central Asia [Regional]
 Resolution 22: Cooperation toward Global Ecological Connectivity [Global], [Regional]
 Resolution 29: Heart of the Continent Partnership – USA/Canada Border  [Site]
 Resolution 32: Transboundary Wilderness Conservation on the Czech-Bavarian Border
 Resolution 33a: Transboundary Parks and Wilderness Areas in Mexico

9th World Wilderness Congress, WILD 9, Mérida, Mexico 2009
http://www.wild.org/resolutions-from-wild9/
 

Resolution 15: Mega-Connectivity Conservation in the Altai Sayan Mountains of Central Asia [Regional],

Whereas the 9th World Wilderness Congress (Wild9) is a global forum of wilderness that includes many protected area experts who share experiences, lessons, advances and cutting edge approaches and ideas for protecting, conserving and restoring wild nature;

WILD9 is a platform to synthesise the collective wisdom of over 1500 delegates from 52 countries including community leaders, policy and decision-makers, wilderness land owners and managers, scientists, researchers, indigenous communities, business corporations, philanthropists, young people and many others;

And…whereas:
   1.   The Altai-Sayan Region is the heart of Asia where the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia meet
   2.   The natural habitats of a range of critical species are found in the Altai-Sayan, including habitats for the endangered Argali, the largest of the world’s native sheep and the Snow Leopard
   3.  The high mountain catchments of the Altai-Sayan are the source s of some of the World’s mightiest rivers and are of critical importance to the people of Asia and beyond
   4.   Large landscape scale conservation along the high mountain catchments and across political borders including protected areas, transboundary protected areas and connectivity conservation is necessary to protect the natural values of the Altai Sayan

Therefore: the Delegates at the 9th World Wilderness Conference urge China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia to encourage, facilitate, and move ahead with large scale connectivity conservation along the entire Altai-Sayan border area and beyond, including any associated intergovernmental and transboundary cooperative management agreements that are needed

 Proposer:
 Tatyana Yashina IUCN WCPA Focal Point for the Altai Sayan
 Seconder:
 Dr Graeme Worboys, IUCN WCPA Vice Chair (Mountains and Connectivity Conservation)
 Signatories:
 Harvey Locke IUCN World Commission Protected Areas
 Professor Larry Hamilton IUCN / WCPA Mountains Biome

Resolution 22: Cooperation toward Global Ecological Connectivity [Global], [Regional]

Whereas
An evident global need to mitigate impacts caused by the increasing fragmentation of natural habitats and threats to biodiversity resulting from climate change, calls for broader collaborative visions and shared efforts.
That in order to achieve effective connectivity between lands specifically assigned to conservation purposes including wilderness, an integrated natural resources conservation and sustainable management vision at a landscape level must be implemented.
Trans-boundary ecological connectivity issues should always remain within the realm of mutual respect for national sovereignty.
Every sovereign country, should freely apply the combination of public policy and social action instruments for land and waters use planning, that adapt to local ecological, socioeconomic and governance conditions, in order to derive positive effects from their use.

Therefore
The Memorandum of understanding on Cooperation for Wilderness Conservation between Mexico, Canada and the United States, signed Saturday, November 7, 2009, as a Global Wilderness Commitment for the 9th World Wilderness Congress is considered to be an important positive step that furthers Panamerican connectivity efforts.

Resolved
To recommend that the World´s Nations, academia, NGOs and concerned persons, work towards implementing continent wide ecological connectivity frameworks that:
  • Facilitate bilateral and multilateral agreements towards working together on ecological connectivity.
  • Support experimentation and development of on the ground “Ecosystem Based Climate Change Adaptation” processes.
  • Facilitate the development and use of science based connectivity tools.
  • Remove restraints for bilateral, multilateral and multisectoral conservation efforts.
  • Package, enhance and facilitate relationships between donors and recipients interested in connectivity and climate change adaptation / mitigation.

To recommend that New World Nations, academia, NGOs and concerned persons develop initial proof of concept effort towards creating a collaborative framework for the multiple ecological connectivity initiatives already being independently implemented throughout the length and breadth of the Americas, through the adoption of a Panamerican Biological Corridors Initiative.

 Proposer:
 Juan E. Bezaury Creel, Mexico Representative, The Nature Conservancy
 Seconders:
 Exequiel Ezcurra, Mexico Riverside
 Ernesto Enkerlin Hoeflich, National Commission of Protected Natural Areas

Resolution 29: Heart of the Continent Partnership – USA/Canada Border  [Site].

   1. WHEREAS, a large and diverse mosaic of wilderness, forests, parks, natural and cultural areas have been established along the USA/Canada border west of Lake Superior, and;
   2. WHEREAS, a network of over twenty government and non-government groups have been working in this trans-boundary area, at the centre of North America, to promote communication, research and cooperation under the name Heart of the Continent Partnership (HOCP) and;
   3. WHEREAS, HOCP is a good example of cross-border collaboration in a region that encompasses not only large tracts of designated wilderness but also large areas of multiple use public land, and towns that rely on these for their economic vitality/ and;
   4. WHEREAS, these lands and waters along the border are managed by federal, state, provincial and indigenous organizations with a common interest in natural and cultural stewardship.

THEREFORE, as WILD 9, has at this Congress, encouraged, witnessed and celebrated the signing of an historic Memoradum on wilderness cooperation between Mexico, Canada, and the United States, it may further that agreement’s goals by accepting this resolution.

RESOLVED that WILD 9 congratulates the Heart of the Continent Partnership in its ongoing effort to promote trans-boundary cooperation and research generally, and specifically encourages the Partnership to report to the next World Wilderness Congress on the trans-boundary research and monitoring of climate change within the publicly managed lands along this Canadian/American border area.

 Proposed by:
 Robin Reilly
 Heart of the Continent Partnership, and Quetico Provincial Park (Ontario, Canada)
 Seconded by:
 Lawrence Hamilton, Trans-boundary Taskforce, World Commission on Protected Areas
 Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park (USA)
 Bruce Hamilton, Sierra Club
 Christine Boston, U.S. Forest Service
 Ernesto Enkerlin Hoeflich, (National Commission, Mexico)

Resolution 32: Transboundary Wilderness Conservation on the Czech-Bavarian Border [Site]. 

Whereas:
In December 2007. the Schengen Treaty of the European Union (EU) came into effect, allowing free travel across European borders.
In anticipation of the demands of local communities and tourism, the directors of Sumava and Bavarian National Parks came together on March 13, 2008 to prepare joint management guidelines for a core area of approximately 15 000 hectares (35.050 acres) in the heart of the Greater Bohemian Forest Ecosystem.
In June 2007 this cooperation resulted in a mutual system of wilderness trails that was agreed upon and officially marked for publication on July, 14, 2009.

Therefore:
Noting that the area described above effectively fulfills all the prerequisites of a de facto wilderness area and should soon be submitted by the lawmakers to de jure status as IUCN Protected Area Category 1b.
Now therefore the WWC9 resolves to call upon the lawmakers in Bavaria and the Federal Republic of Germany to adopt the definition of “Wilderness” for this area according to IUCN Protected Area Category Ib pending renewal of the environmental laws on both State and Federal level.

 Proposer:
 Till Meyer
 Seconders:
 Zdenka Krenova
 Barbara Promberger-Frpass

Resolution 33a: Transboundary Parks and Wilderness Areas in Mexico [Site]. 

Whereas
Trans-frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) – also called bi-national, peace parks, etc. – are:
  • important to respect ecological integrity and assure the health of ecosystem services to human society;
  • powerful national and international models of cooperation, collaboration, and peace;
  • facilitate many social, political, economic and other benefits, and
  • symbolize a future world for which we strive, one of ecological integrity, respect of humans for the natural world, and recognition of the importance of good political relations between all nations.

Therefore
Mexico, as a leader in the developing world, and its geopolitical neighbors, can assist their own citizens, and also make a statement of significant international importance, by formally recognizing the practical and symbolic importance of TFCAs.

Resolved
That the government of Mexico, its neighbors to the south, and the United States move in a timely bur urgent manner to create TFCAs including but not limited to the Texas/Big Bend-El Carmen, and Kalakmul/El Mirador areas, with significant portions designated as wilderness, and allocate the resources necessary to manage these areas for the good of nature, and for local and global human communities.

 Proposed:
 Patricio Robles Gil – President, Unidos para la Conservación
 Vance G. Martin – President, The WILD Foundation
 Seconded:
 Jaime Rojo, Unidos and WILD, Executive Director, WILD9