UN biodiversity process moving like a snail, but moving

Science Features

May 30, 2008, 15:08 GMT

Bonn, Germany - As host and president of the UN biodiversity conference, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel was bound to see 'very good results' from the 12-day event held in Bonn. Picture taken on 17 April 2008 of an ancient kapok tree in the Osa peninsula jungle, in the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The Osa peninsula, with around 3,006 plants species and a 71.5 percent of the mangrove swamp of Costa Rica, has 2.5 per cent of all the biodiversity known over the world and is considered the 'most valuable jewel' in this Central American country. EPA/JEFFREY ARGUEDAS

Picture taken on 17 April 2008 of an ancient kapok tree in the Osa peninsula jungle, in the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The Osa peninsula, with around 3,006 plants species and a 71.5 percent of the mangrove swamp of Costa Rica, has 2.5 per cent of all the biodiversity known over the world and is considered the 'most valuable jewel' in this Central American country. EPA/JEFFREY ARGUEDASThe effort to curb species loss was 'firmly back on the international political agenda,' Gabriel said, acknowledging that the UN's 16-year-old Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) had been looking threadbare before the conference began. Achim Steiner, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme, also admitted the CBD had been in poor shape. 'We have given renewed impetus to the CBD and it was about time to do so,' he said. The conference organizers could point to significant successes. There was unanimity that the 'Bonn Mandate' - a timetable and agenda for two years of discussions on asset and benefit sharing (ABS) from natural resources was a major step forward. The ABS process is to culminate in an agreement when the parties to the CBD next meet in Japan in 2010 to halt 'biopiracy' - the exploitation of indigenous plants for medicinal purposes by the global pharmaceutical industry and, in particular, patenting the research. Germany's 'Life Web' initiative was seen as another significant success. The internet-based scheme links countries with sensitive ecosystems to countries ready to provide funding. Germany, Norway and Finland have jumped in already on the funding side, while Indonesia, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mexico have earmarked large areas for conservation. But conference organizers were hard-pressed to explain the progress contained in what CBD General Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf said were 173 pages of new agreement. The agreements detailed incremental shifts in the positions of the participating countries with no great breakthroughs to report. Gabriel, Steiner and Djoghlaf saw progress in curbing the trade in illegally logged timber and in the certification of biofuels to ensure they comply with environmental standards, but were unable to announce firm and binding agreements. Gabriel said a moratorium had been agreed on the practice of marine fertilization - seeding the seas with iron filings to promote algae that will absorb carbon dioxide - until research had been done into the impact on marine ecosystems. There was also progress on establishing which marine ecosystems should be eligible for being declared conservation areas - less than 1 per cent of the world's seas are under protection. This drew commendation from the IUCN international conservation organization, but the dry text of the deal was unlikely to inspire anyone but the dedicated experts. As delegates scurried about the large hotel where the conference was held, revising their drafts word by word and comma by comma, weariness appeared dominant. CBD spokesman David Ainsworth acknowledged the goal of 'significantly reducing loss of biodiversity by 2010' was a long way off. 'We will achieve targets in some areas, although measurement is very difficult,' he said, calling for patience. Time horizons with the CBD would have to be set much more than 10 years in advance, he said. The lack of clear guidelines for CBD member states and the absence of binding targets in virtually all areas drew angry comment from the environmentalists. 'Despite some progress, there has sadly been no great breakthrough,' the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said. And Greenpeace likened the UN biodiversity process to a 'snail inching forwards.' But, in the view of the organizers, that was in fact the best that could be hoped for, given that 191 participating nations had to reach consensus on every comma. The conference had achieved 'greater consensus than hoped for at the start,' Gabriel said in evident satisfaction at the progress, however snail-like.

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lanceMay 30th, 2008 - 23:23:26

These biodiversity efforts will make no progress until all animals have real representation. I mean, come on:

How many species attended the conference? How many species were lecturers? This biodiversity conference is obviously a ruse.

Or even more to the point: Of the species that attended, how many of them attended dining and ate other species who were not represented?

You know who you are and what you are doing. Don't play dumb with me. This is a campaign of deceit with only one purpose: To convince the attending species that they have the best interests of all other species, while at the same time eating them!

How primitive and obscene.

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patriotJun 5th, 2008 - 19:47:55

Nationalization of Natural Resources in North America, (OIL)

It is now time for the current US Congress to draft a law that will authorize the use of the Armed Forces of America to seize control of all Oil reserves, assets, and property within the borders of the United States of America. Americans are suffering financially because of the profiteering that is being sanctioned by the current Congress. The very survival of America will depend on the controls and relief to the consumer. By controlling the oil and refining process, the final price to the consumer can drop back to levels in the two digit margin, i.e. 39 cents. It is now a matter of National Security that this happen within a very short period of time, or every American will suffer the financial burden of out of control price per gallon for fuel, thus driving up every consumer product and service beyond the affordable means of an average income American.

The American Republic will recommend that the current US Congress and President be held accountable for this 'crime against Humanity' as well as numerous others.

It is time to fire the US Congress and President, now and in November, 2008. A new Republic for North America is underway.

We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.

We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.

We are a growing nation of people that encourage anyone or Nation anywhere to become part of the New American Republic!

NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM
Judah Ben-Hur, Sui Juris
Ambassador
The American Republic
Diplomatic Mission: North America

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