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IMPAC5 Rescheduled to 3-9 February 2023

Registration will open during World Ocean Week 2022 

Vancouver, British Columbia — With a number of related international environmental conferences rescheduled into 2022, the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) will be postponed to 3-9 February 2023. 

IMPAC events attract a global community of marine conservation managers and practitioners who exchange knowledge, experience and best practices to strengthen the conservation of marine biodiversity and to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the ocean.  

With these new Congress dates, participants at IMPAC5 will be well positioned to develop the ways and means to achieve the international ocean, biodiversity and climate change commitments that will be made at global events such as:  

The new IMPAC5 dates will allow attendees to participate in meaningful dialogue on progress made during these meetings. Participants will also chart a detailed course for action in response to international discussion on protecting 30% of the world ocean by 2030. 

Registration for IMPAC5 will open during World Ocean Week (3-12 June, 2022) with early registration discounts available for the first 90 days. More than 720 presentation proposals from 78 countries were submitted to IMPAC5. Those who submitted will be contacted by the end of April 2022 regarding the acceptance of their proposals.  

Quotes: 

“In recent years, Canada has made historic investments in ocean conservation, innovation, and sustainability. We’re striving for cleaner, more resilient coastlines and coastal communities, better preparedness for environmental challenges, stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities, and more opportunities in the blue economy. At IMPAC5, we look forward to showcasing Canada’s leadership in protecting biodiversity and working together to protect the health of our ocean now and for future generations.” 

The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard 

“Hosting the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver next year is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Canada’s leadership in ocean conservation. The twin crises of biodiversity loss and the changing climate are threatening ecosystems, which affects everything from the water we drink to the air we breathe. It demands urgent action from governments, civil society, Indigenous leaders and scientific experts and for that reason I look forward to standing and acting together with our partners and friends to protect the world’s oceans at IMPAC5 in February 2023.” 

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada 

“On behalf of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, we look forward to welcoming participants from around the globe to the shared territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations for the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5). Alongside our biologists, environmental scientists and field technicians, Tsleil-Waututh works to protect, monitor and restore Tsleil-Waututh lands and waters. As a Nation, we support this date change and we look forward to continuing the good work that will be done coming out of this congress.  

Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation 

“The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is a proud key partner of the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) and looks forward to co-hosting Indigenous conservation leaders, VIP delegates, and marine protection professionals from around the world in Vancouver in February 2023. The new dates of the congress provide the best opportunity for the brightest minds in ocean conservation to build on the critical outcomes anticipated at the CBD-COP and G20 environment meetings taking place later this year. IMPAC5 is a forum for Canada to demonstrate leadership on marine protection, anchor international ocean conservation goals, and establish viable strategies to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.” 

Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS National Executive Director 

“As co-host we welcome every single one connected to MPA creation, management, and continuation. IMPAC5 will now take place at one of the most fertile times of the year for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Northern Hemisphere and Vancouver will be a perfect showcase location. We look forward to advancing the understanding and tools that will support marine protected areas and link them around the globe.” 

Minna Epps, Director, IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme 

Quick facts 

  • IMPAC5 will be jointly hosted by the Host First Nations—xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh Nation)—together with the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 
  • Marine protected area professionals, Indigenous leaders, conservationists, decision makers, young professionals and ocean friends and advocates are expected to attend IMPAC5. The Congress will be a hybrid event, offering both virtual and in-person programming.  

Associated Links 

Contacts


Ben Stanford
Communications Manager
Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5)
Benjamin.Stanford@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
+1 604-347-8754

Jennifer (Jenn) Brown 
Senior Communications Coordinator, National Ocean Program 
Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada (SNAP Canada) 
jbrown@cpaws.org 
+1 416-389-6668 

Anthony Hobson 
Communications Specialist 
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) 
Global Marine and Polar Programme (GMPP) 
Ocean@iucn.org 
+41 22 999 0255 


Backgrounder: Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5)

IMPAC5 will take place from 3-9 February 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Congress will be a hybrid event offering both virtual and in-person programming. Registration for IMPAC5 will open during World Ocean Week (3-12 June, 2022)  

International Marine Protected Areas Congresses (IMPAC) are an opportunity for the global community of marine conservation leaders and practitioners to exchange knowledge, experience and best practices to strengthen the conservation of marine biodiversity and to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the ocean. IMPAC5 attendees include: marine protected area professionals, Indigenous leaders, conservationists, decision makers, young professionals, ocean friends and advocates.  

IMPAC congresses are a collaborative effort between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the chosen host country. Since 2005, four IMPAC events have taken place in the following locations: 

  • IMPAC1 – Geelong, Australia (2005) 
  • IMPAC2 – Washington, D.C., United States of America (2009) 
  • IMPAC3 – Marseille, France (2013) 
  • IMPAC4 – La Serena-Coquimbo, Chile (2017). 

During the closing ceremony of IMPAC4, Canada was awarded the honour of hosting IMPAC5. 

IMPAC5 will be the first major international marine conservation event following global events such as: 

IMPAC5 will take place in the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building, the world’s first double LEED® Platinum certified convention facility. 

To guide discussions and further dialogue, all aspects of IMPAC5 will be informed by five themes and three cross-cutting streams. 

Themes: 

  • Building a global marine protected area network 
  • Advancing conservation in the blue economy 
  • Actively managing marine protected areas and human activity 
  • Conserving biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis 
  • Connecting ocean, culture and human well-being 

Streams: 

  • Indigenous Peoples Leadership 
  • The Voice of Young Professionals 
  • Innovation and Transformational Change 

IMPAC5 will end with a one-day Leadership Summit on 9 February where officials from participating governments will hear the results of the Congress, address key issues, and affirm commitments to expanding ocean protection. 

On IMPAC5 hosts 

IMPAC5 will be jointly hosted by the Host First Nations—xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh Nation)—together with the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

IMPAC5 Goals 

IMPAC5 is an opportunity to bring together different Nations and cultures to work collaboratively towards one common goal—protecting the world ocean. The Congress will showcase Canada’s global leadership in marine conservation and highlight the important role of Indigenous knowledge and leadership in managing marine protected areas in Canada and around the world. 

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and conserving Canada’s oceans for future generations by investing in nature-based solutions such as marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. 

IMPAC5 Agenda Development and Logistics 

 
IMPAC5 Registration 

  • Registration for IMPAC5 will open during World Ocean Week (3-12 June, 2022) with early registration discounts available via the IMPAC5 website for the first 90 days. 

Acceptance of proposals and Congress program 

  • Successful proposal submitters will be notified by the end of April of their inclusion in the IMPAC5 program.  
  • More than 700 proposals were submitted during the IMPAC5 call for proposals from June – October 2021. The proposals span all seven continents. Over 270 people from around the world reviewed presentation proposals for IMPAC5, helping shape the action and dialogue taking place at the Congress.  

Young Professionals at IMPAC5 

  • The IMPAC5 Young Professionals Committee is working to ensure that young leaders from the international marine protected areas (MPA) community, Indigenous groups and other related backgrounds will be heard at IMPAC5 and well beyond.  
  • The IMPAC5 Young Professional Committee is comprised of 16 exceptional young professionals from around the world between 18-32 years of age. This dynamic group was chosen through a worldwide competitive selection process. 

For more information on IMPAC5, please visit www.IMPAC5.ca and follow on social media at @IMPAC5Canada or subscribe to our newsletter here

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN VANCOUVER IN FEBRUARY 2023

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