Puesto de Trabajo en la IUCN

La IUCN (World Conservation Union) oferta un puesto de trabajo por dos años para su programa de áreas Protegidas. El contrato es por dos años y el contratado o contratada realizaría su labor en Gland (Suiza). Para los interesados adjuntamos la información que nos ha llegado:

UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention (WHC) is one of the most prestigious international agreements which aims to protect the world’s remaining natural and cultural places of outstanding universal value (OUV). The World Heritage (WH) List comprises those sites which both meet the rigorous criteria for OUV and that in principle should have the highest standards of care and management. Natural World Heritage sites are often considered as nature's “crown jewels” and include sites such as the Galapagos Islands, the Serengeti, and the Great Barrier Reef. IUCN has a key role in the World Heritage Convention as the Advisory Body for natural and mixed sites. In undertaking this role IUCN draws on its expertise within the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) which has a global leadership role on protected areas issues. World Heritage is one of the Flagship Products of IUCN, which has a clear and important role as the Advisory Body for Natural and Mixed World Heritage properties under the World Heritage Convention. This role mainly involves four functions: (1) evaluating new natural and mixed properties which are proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List; (2) monitoring the state of conservation of existing natural and mixed World Heritage properties; (3) promoting a range of training and capacity building initiatives; and (4) providing guidance on the strategic implementation of the Convention. There is considerable potential for expanding this role to ensure that natural world heritage sites are used effectively to promote conservation and development efforts worldwide. IUCN’s role on World Heritage is led by the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas (PPA). Key activities are implemented in close coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and other Advisory Bodies of the WH Convention and are financially supported by a contract with UNESCO. IUCN has recently taken a policy decision to strengthen its efforts in world heritage and the Special Adviser, World Heritage will play a key role in ensuring that the potential of world heritage is fully realized.

JOB DESCRIPTION
• Developing and implementing a Business Plan, with an associated project portfolio, to ensure that significant resources are raised to enhance IUCN’s capacity to work on World Heritage at global, regional and national levels;
• Ensuring the full potential of natural and mixed World Heritage sites as “flagships” for conservation is fully realized through the development of innovative project proposals;
• Supporting the IUCN evaluation process to ensure the highest professional standards are applied;
• Supporting implementation of the Cameron review , to ensure all recommendations are implemented in a timely and effective manner;
• Mobilizing and motivating experts within IUCN’s Global and Regional Programmes and expert networks, in particular WCPA, to ensure they are effectively contributing to IUCN’s work on World Heritage; and
• Maintaining close coordination with PPA/WCPA work to ensure synergy and complementarity with the PPA/WCPA Strategic Plan.

REQUIREMENTS
• Substantial and progressive international experience in heritage conservation and/or protected area management. At least 10 years' work experience would be expected. Relevant field experience is essential;
• Commitment, energy and vision in relation to heritage conservation;
• Proven track record in relation to project development and fundraising;
• High-level management and organizational skills;
• Outstanding communication skills, including informal (interpersonal skills and networking) and formal (presentation) skills;
• Dynamic and communicative personality;
• Relevant academic background, preferably in environmental management and/or natural resources conservation and management;
• Outstanding written and spoken fluency in English; skills in French and Spanish are highly desirable;
• Extensive experience working in cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams; and
• Willingness to travel and work non-traditional hours as required.

APPLICATIONS
Applicants who meet the qualification requirements are requested to submit at the latest by 31 January 2007 their curriculum vitae and a supporting letter of motivation in English, and the names and contact details of three referees (including one recent employer) to: Human Resources Officer The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland Fax: +41 22 999 0339 E-mail: jobapplications@iucn.org

Suerte para los que se animen

Al encuentro de los Titanes

Del 22 de Diciembre del 2006 al 17 de Febrero del 2007 se puede disfrutar con la exposición "Al encuentro de los Titanes" en la Sala FEC situada en el Camino de la Plata. Avda Castilla y León, 22. Burgos. La entrada es libre y gratuita y se puede visitar de lunes a sábado de 12.00 a 14.00 y de 18.00 a 21.00 horas. Esta exposición preparada por la Fundación para el estudio de los Dinosaurios en Castilla y León y el CAS hace un repaso a los dinosaurios en Castilla y León pudiendo disfrutar de ejemplares no mostrados hasta la actualidad y replicas que recrean a tamaño natural como serían algunos de estos titantes. Más información en http://www.fundaciondinosaurioscyl.com/es/portada/index.asp

Es una exposición muy recomendable

Quaternary changes of Vertebrate Communities across and between continents

En el próximo VIII INQUA Congress 2007 que se va a celebrar en Cairns (Australia) del 28 de Julio al 3 de Agosto se va a celebrar una sesión temática titulada "Palaeoecology and Human Evolution". Nos han enviado información sobre este simposio que adjuntamos para los interesados en participar.

Our symposium will focus on the main aspect of mammalian fauna’s evolutionary patterns and modifications during the last 3 Ma. For the last decades, many scientists compiled database on fossil terrestrial vertebrates, especially mammals, at regional or sub-continent scale. These studies bring important insights about evolutonary processes, biochronology, or paleoecological and paleoenvironmental informations; which are sometimes connected with early hominid evolution and peopling. One of the main topics concerns the relation with Plio-Pleistocene global climate change as an important influence on evolution and faunal community change. The role played by environmental factors in large mammal changes has been interpreted in various ways: for instance following the "Stationary" model, diversity is primarily regulated by density-dependent factors in the physical environment (Rosenzweig 1975); according to the “Habitat Theory” (Vrba 1992), "Turnover Pulse Hypothesis" (Vrba 1992, 1995a), “Traffic Light model”(Vrba 1995a) and “Relay Model” (Vrba 1995a). Such theories claim changes in the physical environment (such as physical parameters and primary resources) or in the habitat drive evolutionary changes. Anyhow, changes in mammal faunal diversity over time have often been considered the result of bioevents linked to major climatic changes: physical and/or biotic environmental variations caused by climatic changes can determine concurrent bioevents in multiple lineages, affecting taxonomic diversity and changing community structure. On the other hand, some authors claimed that extrinsic environmental factors such as impacts, eruptions, and climate change have a minimal effect, and intrinsic biological factors must be more important (Prothero, 2004). Indeed, according to the "Red Queen Hypothesis", as regards macroevolution (Van Valen 1973) and microevolution (Bell 1982), changes in equilibrium may be due to the internal dynamics of competitive relationships, and do not necessarily indicate the strict interdependence of major climatic changes and evolutionary events. Equilibrium conditions can be maintained by density-dependent extinctions and originations (immigrations) and by coevolution (Van Valent 1973; Stenseth & Maynard Smith 1985: Boucot 1990).
At present times it becomes important to present and share these data in order to better i) appreciate the degree of mammal biodiversity and ii) correlate the main biotic events across and between the continental records. They would allow also considering the differences in eco-evolutive responses and defining the general common ecosystemic factors, meanwhile to envision taxonomic and biogeographical questions.
General synthesis, as a state of the art, about small and large mammal guilds for different regions of the world would be presented and discussed. The biodiversity and ecological structures of fossil vertebrate communities, their dynamic through time, would be compared. They could bring relevant points about faunal dispersal and exchange during the Quaternary Times, especially between the large mainland biomes, including specific cases such islands. They would provide reliable informations about Holocene biodiversity. Finally, a main underlying goal would be to a better temporal definition of the Quaternary period, with first and second order limits or biochronological boundaries.

Please, let us know in you are interesting in our symposium until the 15 January 2007 filling the form in attachment and e-mailing or posting it to the conveners (J-P Brugal; M.R. Palombo). Details will be presented in the second announcement that will be sent directly to those people who have registered. You will find complementary information about the XVII INQUA Congress 2007 at http://www.inqua2007.net.au/ All abstracts have to be submitted by 31 January 2007. Submission will be electronic, via this website, and will be accessible from July 2006. Abstracts will be published as an issue of Quaternary International and will be distributed to delegates at the Congress.

Diario de los Yacimientos de la Sierra de Atapuerca

La Fundación Atapuerca junto a la empresa de cervezas San Miguel edita el Diario de los yacimientos de la Sierra de Atapuerca. Es una revista gratuita que se puede descargar en forma de pdf en la web de la Fundación (http://www.fundacionatapuerca.com/). Acabamos de recibir el número 22 impreso, que suponemos estará proximamente en pdf. En portada y en las páginas centrales se encuentra una amplia e interesante entrevista a Emiliano Aguirre. La frase que han enmarcado los periodistas es "El conocimiento enriquece y se distingue del dinero porque busca comunicarse, no concentrarse". La entrevista trata un poco de todo, de lo divino y de lo humano, del pasado, del presente y del futuro de Atapuerca. Además se puede leer en el periodíco un artículo denuncia sobre el futuro trazado de la A-12 que destruirá asentamientos arqueológicos al aire libre muy cerca de los yacimientos de Atapuerca, nombrados patrimonio de la Humanidad de la Unesco. Nuestro apoyo desde Aragosaurus a nuestros colegas que trabajan en Atapuerca en su justa reinvidicación de preservar lo más inálterado posible el entorno de Atapuerca.