The voice of the Dugong heard at the Congress 13 September 2012
| Article Over the past few days, the Congress has been buzzing
with protests by people voicing concerns over human impacts on
habitats and species. A group from Japan called Save the Dugong
Campaign Centre (SDCC) are here sharing their experience on the
conservation of dugongs in Okinawa, Japan amidst plans by the
Japanese government to construct a US military base in Henoko
and Oura Bay, important habitat of the Okinawa dugongs. The
Dugong is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species - its population has declined by 30% in the
last six decades. A recommendation was passed at the IUCN World
Conservation Congress in Amman in 2000 and the SDCC believes
this has been critical to build awareness of dugong habitats and
their survival and attracting the attention of local
communities, experts as well as the media.