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DPI/NGO Relations invites you to a
Briefing
Biodiversity - the basis for human well-being:
Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010
on
30 April 2009
10:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
in
Conference Room 5
Background Information:
Biodiversity refers to the seemingly infinite variety
of species of plants, animals, and micro-organisms, as well as the
enormous diversity of genes in these species, and the different
ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral
reefs. All of these aspects are part of our biologically diverse
planet, and it is their unique combination that provides a number
of goods and services that sustain human life. At the 1992 Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive
strategy for sustainable development. One fundamental agreement
adopted at the Summit was the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD). The Convention, signed by the majority of national governments,
is committed to maintaining the ‘ecological underpinnings’
of human well-being while pursuing economic development. The Convention
establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity,
the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. As we
approach 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, the United
Nations, governments and civil society reaffirm their commitment
to protecting biodiversity. The International Year of Biodiversity
(IYB) focuses on three messages: that biodiversity is the basis
for human well-being; that human activity has contributed to a decline
in biodiversity; and that it is possible to realise development
projects that utilize biodiversity in a sustainable manner. During
the International Year, the global community will assess the state
of achievement of the 2010 target: a significant reduction of the
current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national
level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit
of all life on Earth by 2010. This week’s briefing focuses
on the work of the Convention to promote and protect biodiversity
and provide information on the ways that civil society organizations
can become involved in the celebrations.
Moderator:
Maria-Luisa Chávez, Chief, NGO Relations,
Department of Public Information
Speakers:
Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention
on Biological Diversity
David Ainsworth, Focal point for the International
Year of Biodiversity, Convention on Biological Diversity
Dork Sahagian, Director, Environmental Initiative
and Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University
The panel discussion will be followed by a Question and
Answer period.
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