Archive for June, 2011

Ethiopia needs to harmonize existing ABS Legal Provisions with the Nagoya Protocol

Monday, June 27th, 2011

After six years of negotiation, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties on 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan. The Protocol significantly advances the Convention’s third objective by providing a strong basis for greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources. Ethiopia is on the process of signing the Protocol. Is there any benefit for the country? Does existing legal provisions on ABS need harmonization? This article was taken from Ethiopian Flora Network website (www.etflora.net).

IUCN Releases Analysis of Freshwater Species in Africa

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a report, titled “The Diversity of Life in African Freshwaters: Underwater, Under Threat – An analysis of the status and distribution of freshwater species throughout mainland Africa,” which provides information on the distribution and conservation status of species in all inland water ecosystems across mainland continental Africa, as well as the reasons behind their declining status.

GEF establishes the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund

Monday, June 6th, 2011

Washington, D.C., 3 June, 2011 – The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world’s largest public financer of global environment issues, will operate a new landmark fund to help developing countries to ratify and implement a key international agreement to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity.