OPENING
PLENARY: |
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Amb. Raymundo Santos Rocha Magno (Brazil),
passed on the presidency of the COP to Germany and underscored the need to achieve a balance among the three objectives of the
CBD. |
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Following his election by acclamation,
COP 9 President Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's
Environment Minister, called
for a clear mandate for concluding negotiations on the international
regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), and for improved financing for global biodiversity conservation, including linking climate protection instruments and nature conservation. |
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Drawing attention to the State's species,
Eckhard Uhlenberg, Minister for the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, presented the State's activities
on biodiversity conservation. |
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Mayor of Bonn Bärbel Dieckmann outlined the city's
initiatives focusing on biodiversity, and efforts to join forces with other administrations. |
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KIDS FOR EARTH – GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL highlighted Amazon rainforest destruction and the need to stop illegal logging and global deforestation, and stressed that biofuel plantations are replacing forests and areas used for food production.
Above photo L-R: Veronica Rameck (Kids for
Earth - Brazil), Paul Lüdemann and COP 9 President
Gabriel. |
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Representatives of the International Youth Conference "Biodiversity on the Edge" (13-19 May 2008, Bonn) demanded:
the integration of sustainable development education into school curricula; a protocol on protected areas; no patents on living organisms; prohibition of genetically modified organisms; full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities; and measurable targets for biodiversity protection. |
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Above
photos: Kids from various schools in Bonn perform
during the opening plenary of COP 9. |
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In a video message,
Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, noted that existing international environmental governance arrangements have not been effective in addressing the biodiversity crisis. He called on delegates to give new direction and priorities to the Convention, exploring connections to related issues such as climate change and food security. |
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Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, noted the urgency of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dramatic species loss. |
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CBD Executive Secretary
Ahmed Djoghlaf drew attention to the plight of sharks and the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. He underscored the essential role of pollinators, highlighting their decline and its potential devastating impacts on mankind, noting the current food crisis should be a wake up call to maintain diversity. |
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Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, asked parties to support
the implementation of joint action under the Rio Conventions, underscoring links between drought, land degradation and biodiversity loss. |
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Mary Fosi
Mbantenkhu (Cameroon) was elected as Rapporteur for
the meeting. |
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ABS Working Group Co-Chairs
Timothy Hodges (Canada) (left) and Fernando Casas
(Colombia) (right) highlighted that the sixth meeting of the Working Group established a firm and sound basis for further negotiations on an international ABS regime and, calling for sufficient resources, political support and agreement on a roadmap, said a meaningful agreement can be reached by
2010. |
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STATEMENTS: |
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The CBD ALLIANCE asked for COP 9 to avoid promoting "false solutions": agrofuels, genetically engineered trees, and climate technology
"fixes," such as ocean fertilization; and expanded on "genuine solutions" for the likes of agriculture, ABS, PAs and marine biodiversity.
Above photo: Camila Moreno (CBD
Alliance) |
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The INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY
(IIFB) affirmed that decisions and implementation of the Convention must be in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
Above photo: Gina Malia Sui Lin Nobrega
(IIFB) |
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LA VIA CAMPESINA drew attention to the causes underpinning the current food crisis.
Above photo: José Maria Oviedo Chaves
(La Via Campesina) |
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The INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(ICC) noted that restricting access to genetic
resources may curtail the flow of benefits to be shared.
Above photo: Annik Dollacker (ICC) |
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WORKING
GROUP I |
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Above photo
L-R: Sarat Babu Gidda (CBD), Jo
Mulongoy (CBD), WG I Chair Maria
Mbengashe (South Africa) and Stella
Simiyu (CBD) |
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ISLAND
BIODIVERSITY: |
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Vanuatu, on behalf of
the PACIFIC ISLANDS,
said that access to funding was a major hurdle to conservation efforts.
Above photo: Touasi Tiwok (Vanuatu) |
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NEW ZEALAND announced a technical workshop on the control of
invasive alien species in Pacific islands.
Above photo: Andrew Bignell (New Zealand) |
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WORKING
GROUP II |
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Above photo
L-R: Olivier Demunck (CBD), Ravi
Sharma (CBD), WG II Chair Chaweewan
Hutacharern (Thailand) and David
Cooper (CBD) |
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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND THE CHM: |
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MOROCCO called for bolstering North-South and South-South scientific cooperation.
Above photo: Hassan Falaki (Morocco) |
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CANADA suggested considering the results of the CHM in analyses prepared for the revision of the CBD Strategic Plan.
Above photo: Krista Blackborow (Canada) |
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