International Biodiversity Commitments Welcomed

United Kingdom (UK) Wildlife Minister Joan Ruddock speaking before the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties in Bonn urged the nations to work together internationally in order to conserve the world's wildlife. The minister appreciated the fact that some of the agreements reached in the convention were geared towards the development of international sustainability standard for biofuels and the adoption of the criteria to designate international marine protected areas.

Other agreements reached at the Conference of the Parties include:

• An indefinite moratorium on dumping nutrients such as iron and nitrogen into the oceans to promote the growth of phytoplankton and absorb excess carbon dioxide, with the exception of scientific studies looking at the efficiency of ocean seeding.

• A detailed road map that will lead to an international regime by 2010 to ensure that people in developing countries benefit from discoveries using their rich biodiversity and genetic resources.

In her final remarks, the minister commented that nations should be committed to pursue these agreements and that, "The world should not be complacent since the world's natural resources cut across national boundaries and the UK will continue to press for international action to ensure that we protect them for all of us in the future.”

See press release at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/biodiversity-0602.htm for more details.