Another activist NGO talks about Svalbard:
The Bottom Line: The Global Seed Vault is a constructive contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.
Excuse me? Yep, you heard me. A must read.
SBSTTA [decides]
SBSTTA’s recommendations on the review of the CBD’s programme of work on agrobiodiversity are out, after last week’s smackdown. As usual, there are analyses at UKabc and IISD. The general consensus seems to be that the recommendations have been weakened, but I talked to one person familiar with the negotiations who thought the text was actually clearer and more focused now. But a lot of square brackets remain, in particular the whole section on biofuels. One thing that struck me is the invitation by SBSTTA “to evaluate and characterize germplasm potentially suitable for adaptation to climate change.” I didn’t find that in the original document, so I am assuming it was added during the negotiations. It seems unusual for a CBD document in recognizing — albeit implicitly — the importance of ex situ conservation, at least in the context of climate change. But I don’t really know how these things work. I hope someone will explain it to me.
SBSTTA discusses agricultural biodiversity
The 13th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity has been meeting all week here in the FAO building in Rome. I only mention it because the agenda includes discussion of a review of implementation of the CBD’s programme of work on agricultural biodiversity. You can read about that discussion and various side events at UKabc and IISD. If you’re taking part and would like to share your thoughts and impressions, let us know. I did sit in on one session as an observer, but really, I have no idea what was going on.
Talking about health and biodiversity
The 2nd International Conference on Health and Biodiversity will kick off next week in sunny Galway, Ireland. As ever, if you’re going to be there, and would like to tell the world about it, you’re more than welcome to use these pages to do so. Meanwhile, in Maccarese, Bioversity International has a space on its website for discussion on how biodiversity can be used to fight hunger and malnutrition: have your say!
More hot cocoa
Never rains but it pours. Mars and Nestle jump on the ethical cacao bandwagon.