UNEP Vienna, together with GRASP, GRID-Arendal and UNIS, will organize two public events for World Environment Day. The theme for both will focus on “Human-wildlife conflicts in mountain regions.” Local organization of the event will be led by UNEP Vienna as part of a collaboration between ROE, GRASP and ROA, while communication support will be provided by DCPI together with UNIS Vienna.

The events will feature the launch of a photo exhibition, whereby exceptional pictures of great apes will represent the often very difficult relationship between humans and wildlife. The exhibition will be organized on World Environment Day, 5 June, from 1 to 2pm in the Rotunda at the Vienna International Center and will remain open until 30 June. The event will also feature the European launch of the newly produced African Mountain Atlas, to be published by UNEP at the forthcoming AMCEN meeting.

The second event will take place on Monday 8 June at the UNIS CineONU Event in Vienna’s TopKino and will feature the screening of the highly acclaimed documentary “Virunga.” The film focuses on the conservation work of rangers in Virunga National Park and the activity of a British oil company which began exploring for oil in the park despite it being a world heritage site, meaning extractive activities are not allowed. The national park stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North and lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

For more information: filippo.montalbetti@unvienna.org