idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The governing body of the Convention on Biological Diversity will have its ninth meeting ("CBD - COP 9") in Bonn/Germany in May 19-30, 2008. This conference is extremely important for the support of efforts to stop the accelerated loss of species of our planet. As in the past, the CBD - COP will negotiate predominantly biodiversity-related political issues, and there is increasing complaint about ignoring the importance of scientific research in the discussions and the resulting hindrance of basic and applied research into biodiversity by political regulations.
To channel results and needs of scientific research into the political discussion, the associated scientific meeting "Biodiversity Research - Safeguarding the Future" will take place the days May 12 - 16 in Bonn.
Press conference: Friday, May 16 2008, 12.00
Main building oft he University of Bonn, Main Building - Aula, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, D-53113 Bonn
This conference will consist of three symposia which pick up themes of especial urgency:
Acceleration of Biodiversity Assessment and Inventorying: Today, scientists are not able to deliver in reasonable time data on changes of the species composition in landscapes, because traditional methods of species identification are too slow and because databases do not contain the urgently required information on known species. There is not a single nature reserve in the world for which a more or less completed species inventory is available. Questions about the consequences of global warming for the risk of biodiversity loss can not be answered.
The participants of the symposium will discuss these problems and present new technologies that can help to overcome this impediment.
Biodiversity: Functions and uses: Species of organisms play an important role in the development, the maintenance and the stability of ecosystems. Moreover, biological richness provides a wealth of products, services and other inputs to the society, including genetic resources. Therefore, the loss of species is also a loss of quality of life for humans.
The symposium will focus on ecosystem functions and services, human use of biodiversity and ways to secure their future availability and development. Biological and economic impacts of ecosystem services will be discussed in the light of the economic mechanisms guaranteeing their provision. Furthermore, the many potential uses of biodiversity in managed systems, health care and bionic/biomimetic applications will be addressed. This will also include the indispensable national and international regulatory framework for a fair and equitable share of benefits provided by biodiversity.
Biodiversity Change - The 2010 Target and Beyond: The "2010 target", agreed by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, is a commitment to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
To achieve this goal, biodiversity assessments in selected observation sites and the registration of changes are required. Biodiversity management is hampered by a very obvious lack of observation data which describe the change of biodiversity at adequate resolution and specificity.
The symposium will stress the importance of a global network of biodiversity observatories comparable to networks of weather stations. This is needed to enhance scientific understanding of the processes and mechanisms which cause and accompany change of biodiversity and for the development of the public awareness of the economic and ecologicalrelevance of biodiversity and its change for society.
The meeting is being organized by the IUBS (International Union of Biological Societies) and the host institutions in Bonn (Museum Koenig, NEES Institute, University Bonn) and supported by the German Science Foundation (DFG), the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU), DIVERSITAS, and Solar World.
Venue: Main building oft he University of Bonn, Main Building - Lecture Hall X, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, D-53113 Bonn
Press conference: Friday, May 16 2008, 12.00
Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wägele
Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig
Adenauerallee 160
53113 Bonn
Tel. 0228 9122 200
E-Mail:
w.waegele.zfmk@uni-bonn.de
http://www.zfmk.de/preCOP9/ conference programm
Criteria of this press release:
Biology, Environment / ecology, Geosciences, Information technology, Medicine, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing, Oceanology / climate, Social studies
transregional, national
Miscellaneous scientific news/publications, Science policy, Scientific conferences
English
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