The conference is part of world-wide activities called "Wallace100" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Alfred Russel Wallace`s death, Wakatobi District Head Hugua was quoted as saying by Jalaluddin, representative of Wakatobi District Office in Kendari, Wednesday.
Key speakers of the conference will include Dr George C Wallace, who is a grandchild of Alfred Wallace, former Indonesian environmental affairs minister Prof Dr Emil Salim, and Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Prof Dr Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.
The conference`s participants will include representatives of 20 funding institutions from various countries and 40 district heads/mayors from Indonesia.
"Around 200 environmental experts from a number of universities, such as Oxford University, Cambridge University, the University of Indonesia (UI), the University of Hasanuddin (Makassar, South Sulawesi), and the University of Haluoleo of Kendari, will also participate in the conference," he said.
The conference will highlight the legacy of Wallace in Indonesia, the Wallace Line and the Wallacea region, and examine specific themes important for the future of Wallacea as a world heritage site, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), as the Indonesian organizer of the conference, said on its website.
Wallace100, to commemorate the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace on the 100th anniversary of his death in 1913.
Alfred Russel Wallace died on 7 November 1913 at home in Dorset, aged 90.
On the 100th anniversary of his death this year, various events have been organized around the world to commemorate his exceptional life and work.
The Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) recognized the significance of his centenary celebration, and has taken the initiative to organize the Second International Conference on Alfred Russel Wallace and The Wallacea.
On 3 November 1859, Wallace`s paper "On the Zoological Geography of the Malay Archipelago", also written in Ternate, was read in London.
The region between this "Wallace Line" and Papua, the Wallacea region, is one of the world`s hotspots of biodiversity with most unique characteristics. ***4***
Agus/ Kr.ASA
(Fardah/f001/b003/B003)
SYS/A/F001/B003) 30-10-2013 22:37:54
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
