Dr. Hartmut Jungius

Hartmut

Organisation

WWF international

Field of expertise

Member of ECNC Scientific Council

Species

Countries

Regions

About

Dr. Jungius – Member of ECNC Scientific Council

Dr. Hartmut Jungius was born in 1939 in Georgental, Germany. From 1963 to 1970, he studied biology and geography at the University of Kiel. This included visits to Canada, the United States and South Africa, to study management of protected areas, to undertake field research on ungulates and management of national parks. He received his PhD (summa cum laude) from the University of Kiel in 1970 for his ecological and behavioural studies on African ungulates in 1969.

During 1969/1970, he worked as a consultant to UNESCO in Bolivia to advise the Government on the establishment of protected areas. He also taught zoology as assistant professor at the University of Kiel.

In 1970, he joined WWF where he worked until 1977, first as Conservation Officer and later as Director of the Conservation Department. He was responsible for organizing, implementing and supervising WWF's conservation programme. This involved practical conservation work on species (e.g. the Vicuna in Bolivia, Wolves in Europe, reintroduction of Large Herbivores in Italy) conservation and protected areas in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, and cooperation with national and international governmental as well as non governmental organizations.

He transferred to IUCN in 1978 as Programme Officer with responsibilities for IUCN's conservation activities in Western Asia. This involved promoting regional and national conservation activities, cooperation with IUCN members and provision of advice on conservation issues and development of projects. Practical work was undertaken in several Middle East countries, particularly in Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, in relation to the reintroduction of the Arabian Oryx, development of system plans for protected areas, a coastal zone management plan for the capital area, Oman, and surveys and management plans for the Saudi Arabian Red Sea and Gulf Coast. From 1980 to 2000 he was member of WWF Germany's Scientific Advisory Committee.

In April 1981, he was appointed IUCN Director of Regional and Project Services with responsibilities for IUCN's regional sections which involved supervising and coordinating the development, implementation and review of regional activities, as well as responsibility for IUCN's project management department which handled the development, screening, implementation, evaluation and management of projects.

He returned to WWF in July 1985 as Head of the Project Screening and Project Development Section in the Conservation Division. This involved organizing, undertaking and overseeing review and development of projects submitted to WWF for funding from all over the world.

In 1990, Dr. Jungius took charge of WWF's programme and projects for Europe and the Soviet Union. Particular emphasis was put on developing contacts and projects in Eastern countries and in promoting cooperation between WWF's National Organisations on conservation issues of European concern. Priority was given to identify and promote establishment of new protected areas to advance conservation of biodiversity. Some of the most successful projects were the establishment of the Biebrza National Park in Poland, a comprehensive integrated conservation programme for the Odra region, the Sumava National Park, new conservation initiatives for the Danube Delta, the launch of a programme for protected areas in the Caucausus (Georgia) and several new protected areas in Russia, in particular in the Arctic, Siberia an the Far East.

From 1991 to 1995, Dr. Jungius worked as Director (Geschäftsführer) of WWF-Germany. This task involved directing and coordinating the development of WWF-Germany's conservation programme, strengthening of WWF-Germany's fundraising and communication activities and redirecting WWF Germany's programme from national to international activities, with a particular focus on Russia, the Caucasus, Mongolia and Eastern Europe. More geographical and policy attention was also given to the National Conservation Programme, with emphasis on freshwater issues (e.g. Odra and Elbe rivers), the Waddensea and the Baltic, climate change and agriculture.

His secondment to WWF-Germany ended in 1995. He returned to WWF-International and continued his work as Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Priority Regions were Russia, in particular the Russian Arctic, Central Siberia (Yakutia), Russian Far East and the Ural, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Mongolia and Eastern Europe with focus on Hungary, Poland and the Danube Carpathian region. Activities include issues related to EU Accession, awareness, education, conservation of species and protected areas. Overseeing and directing the development and implementation of comprehensive ecoregional conservation plans for the Russian Far East, Caucasus, Altai-Sayan (Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan) are high priorities, including development, implementation and fundraising for specific projects dealing with endangered species and protected areas.

Dr. Jungius retired from WWF at the age of 65 in 2004. He continues to work as "Senior Advisor" on nature conservation for WWF and other NGO's. This includes:

• Chairing the Caucasus Biodiversity Council, this coordinates and oversees the implementation of the Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus.

• Supervising the WWF' investments in Tai NP in the Ivory Coast. Directing and supporting Saiga conservation programme in Mongolia and several activities in Central Asia, in particular Kazakhstan.

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