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international environment and sustainable development negotiations

KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES

BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE

This page was updated on: 01/12/10

SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FAO E-MAIL CONFERENCE ON "WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE AND FOCUS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AGENDAS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?"

This report summarizes the main arguments and concerns raised during the moderated e-mail conference, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum held from 13 November to 16 December 2002. The report comprises an Executive Summary, an Introduction, information on conference participation and a summary of the main discussions organized under the following seven headings: bottom-up approach to agricultural research; how much of the limited resources available for agricultural research should be devoted to biotechnology?; what should be the priorities for biotechnology research in developing countries?; focusing research towards the small farmer; national, regional and international research collaborations; should developing countries adapt existing biotechnology products and techniques or develop their own?; and intellectual property rights and biotechnology research in developing countries. The report is available at: http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C8/summary.htm or through biotech-admin@fao.org

THE TRADE IN WILDLIFE: REGULATION FOR CONSERVATION
(Earthscan, December 2002) Edited by Sara Oldfield, this book provides a critical assessment of how international trade in wildlife is currently regulated and how those regulations are enforced. For more information see: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3840

REPORT ON SMALL CETACEANS

(CMS Secretariat, December 2002) A review report on small cetaceans' distribution, behavior, migration and threats, prepared by Professor Boris Culik, is made available by the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The report was conceived with the main objective of providing the CMS Secretariat, other CMS statutory bodies, the Parties and a wider audience with an up-to-date and comprehensive review of available information on small cetacean migration and related conservation issues on a worldwide scale. The report is available at: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/reports/small_cetaceans/index.htm

THE WIPO PATENT AGENDA: RISKS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(South Centre, November 2002) Written by Carlos Correa and Sisule Musungu, this report gives an overview of the intellectual property standard setting at WIPO and the WTO. It further provides an historical perspective of the trends in international intellectual property standard setting, and discusses the three main pillars that underlie the patent agenda process as well as reasons of concern for developing countries. It is available at: http://www.southcentre.org/publications/wipopatent/toc.htm

POLICING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE CITES TREATY AND COMPLIANCE
(Earthscan, November 2002) Authored by Rosalind Reeve, this book presents the first definitive study of the CITES compliance system. For more information, see: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3824

PROTECTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE: A REVIEW OF PROGRESS IN DIPLOMACY AND POLICY FORMULATION
(ICTSD, October 2002) Authored by Graham Dutfield, this case study was produced as part of the UNCTAD/ICTSD Capacity Building Project on intellectual property rights and development. It presents a range of proposed systems and measures to protect traditional knowledge and folklore in light of ongoing international negotiations taking place at the WTO, WIPO and the CBD, including proposals made by governments, experts and NGOs. It is available at: http://www.ictsd.org/iprsonline/unctadictsd/docs/Dutfield2002.pdf

WORLD ATLAS OF BIODIVERSITY – EARTH'S LIVING RESOURCES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

(UNEP 2002) The first World Atlas of Biodiversity was launched in August 2002 by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. It is the first comprehensive map-based view of global diversity, providing a wealth of facts and figures on the importance of forests, wetlands, marine and coastal environmental and other key ecosystems. It also highlights humankind's impact on the natural world. More information and images from the Atlas, including the front cover and sample map are available at: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/information_services/publications/biodiversityatlas/presspack/

INTEGRATING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY

(Commission on Intellectual Property Rights 2002) The final Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, set up by the British government to look at how intellectual property rights might work better for poor people and developing countries, addresses the issues of: development; health; agriculture and genetic resources; traditional knowledge, access and benefit sharing and geographical indications; copyright, software and the internet; patent reform; institutional capacity; and the international architecture. The full text is available at: http://www.iprcommission.org/graphic/documents/final_report.htm

GUIDE TO DEVELOPING A BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY FROM A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE

(Institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de la Francophonie, Ministère de l'Environnement du Québec, UNDP and UNEP 2000)

This publication, available in English, French and Spanish, aims to assist Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in preparing their national biodiversity strategy and action plan. It proposes the use of a framework developed in the Theoretical Framework for sustainable development and biodiversity in Quebec, a simple, effective tool, intended for managers, planners, coordinators, national focal points and experts involved in the preparation and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. A full version of the publication is available at: http://www.undp.org/bpsp/global_links/pubs.htm

If you would like to submit details of
recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD

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