News
A strong IUCN delegation is attending this year’s meeting. Check here for the latest news reported directly from Nairobi and keep up to date with the most important developments of the conference.
One step forward to halting biodiversity loss?
Governments have made “positive moves” towards coming up with a plan to reduce the current loss of biodiversity, which is threatening the future of our planet. Over the past two weeks, delegates at a meeting in Nairobi have been discussing the scientific and technical aspects behind a new “big plan” to save all life on earth, the planet’s biodiversity. Scientists from IUCN, who have been taking part in the discussions, say that they’re encouraged by the commitment shown by governments to develop a new Strategic Plan for the next ten years, which would set targets to reduce the global rate of biodiversity loss. …
23 May 2010 | International news release
Are protected areas in Africa harbouring invasive species?
Protected areas, long thought of as safe refuges for animals and plants, are under increasing threats from invasive species which not only affect biodiversity but also people’s livelihoods. Protected areas can have huge social and economic value, particularly in Africa, where national parks are a major tourist attraction and a significant source of income. But according to the Global Invasive Species Programme, of which IUCN and CABI are partners, many managers of protected areas in Africa are not aware of the severity of the problem which is on their doorsteps nor how to address it. …
20 May 2010 | International news release
Getting rid of island gatecrashers
Climate change can have a devastating impact on islands worldwide but an even greater threat to these often remote and isolated biodiversity ‘hotspots’ comes from its uninvited inhabitants – invasive alien species. Although many of us are unaware of this growing threat, invasive species are the second biggest threat to biodiversity, placing both nature’s and people’s well-being under serious pressure. …
21 May 2010 | News story
Japanese vision – the New Strategic Plan, a decade of biodiversity and raising awareness with origami
After the scientific and technical discussions in Nairobi, the eyes of the conservation world will be moving towards Nagoya, Japan, where Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet in October this year to make binding decisions on the future of the world’s biodiversity. The Japan Committee for IUCN has been working to make every effort to ensure that this event, which is crucial for the future of our planet, has a high profile in Japan. Professor Masahito Yoshida is the Chair of the Japan Committee for IUCN. Here he answers questions about the Committee’s work, its role in the CBD conference and how the Japan Committee for IUCN uses origami to raise awareness of the need to conserve biodiversity, all life on earth. …
21 May 2010 | News story
New prescription needed for medicinal plants
Medicinal plants are valuable species: they provide income and healthcare to thousands of people around the world. Greater numbers of people rely on traditional medicine, mostly based on herbs, for their primary healthcare than ‘conventional’ or western medicine. But 15,000 species of medicinal plants are globally threatened from, amongst others, loss of habitat, overexploitation, invasive species and pollution. …
18 May 2010 | International news release
Keep it quiet!
There are numerous threats to marine biodiversity that many of us are aware of - climate change, overfishing and habitat degradation are just some of them. But very few of us know that something as seemingly harmless as noise can also have devastating effects on sea life. Noise that people produce as a result of various activities at sea is responsible for a growing number of deaths and serious damage to underwater biodiversity. …
18 May 2010 | News story
Saving biodiversity isn't rocket science
The best possible science needs to be available to governments and policy makers as they strive to find solutions to the biodiversity crisis. Independent, credible scientific advice delivered in a relevant and readily usable way for decision making is the key to effective policies. …
17 May 2010 | International news release
Science and policy – a perfect dialogue for the future of conservation
How important are the issues discussed in Nairobi for the future of global efforts to reduce the loss of biodiversity? Why do we need to consider biodiversity together with climate change and why does the world of conservation need increased dialogue between science and policy? Neville Ash, Head of IUCN’s Ecosystems management Programme explains: …
17 May 2010 | Audio
Week one of Nairobi negotiations
Climate change, protected areas and marine issues were some of the hot topics discussed during the first week of a meeting in Nairobi, as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) worked through a number of issues which, in their view, will help to deliver the Convention’s objectives. Decisions taken in Nairobi will provide a scientific basis for discussions that will take place in October in Nagoya, Japan, at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CBD. …
17 May 2010 | News story
Conservation challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa
A lack of technical know-how and limited funding are some of the problems faced by IUCN and its members in Eastern and Southern Africa, where work is continuing to focus on the region's drylands, forests, inland waterways, coastal and marine environments. Hastings Chikoko, Head of IUCN South Africa and Head of Constituency Support and Communications for Eastern and Southern Africa, has been attending talks in Nairobi which will affect the Convention on Biological Diversity. He says that getting across the message that conservation and development can work alongside each other is key to work in the region.
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15 May 2010 | Audio
