The theme for the IUCN congress is Nature +. This is a great theme that is everywhere, there is so much branding, videos, etc. around. It is a really good strong theme and one that is simple and easy to see. Seeking nature based solutions is a main discussion point for this congress and it is so great to be surrounded by so many people sharing this overall vision. There are 180 different countries represented here, which is pretty amazing.
Today I had a very fun and productive day. It is a funny place an international conference, as this morning I started the day off catching the bus with an environmental economist from India, then in the morning at a meeting I ended up discussing how and why the English dunk biscuits in their tea to a Japanese fisheries manager. In the afternoon I had some great conversations with some more directors and heads of various organizations, attended a workshop by national geographic and google earth and listened to a great talk by Sylvia Earl a national geographic explorer in residence. I had dinner with some Koreans working at the congress and then I met some Canadians and went to a local pop concert featuring famous Korean boy and girl bands. A very bizarre day!
One meeting I went to today was so great for me, the opportunities here for networking are amazing. I was invited to a meeting with the Fisheries Expert Group, a sub group from the commission on ecosystem management of which I am a member. I am certainly not a fisheries expert, but I went to the meeting aS I was invited and found myself in a room full of fisheries government ministers, fisheries managers, policy makers, lawyers, and academics all from different countries. I became part of this great round table discussion and joined in the conversation. There is not many chances you get to do that! Also managed to collect some more business cards to my nice little pile of future contacts, always good to have!
Right, that's it for now, got to make my plan for the next full day, here are some photos :)
Beautiful Jeju on a walk from the congress 
there is lots of staff, security and police everywhere all making sure everything is ordered, and under control...! 
Korean pop concert, the teenage Koreans loved it, I think the bands are well known boy bands that all the teenagers love! 
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