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IBOY’s Biodiversity Month Seminar on Biodiversity Research for Sustainable Development

Event type: Other - Public Seminar
Hosted by: the US National Committee for DIVERSITAS, the Ecological Society of America, the International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY) 2001-2002
Date: May 9, 2002
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon EST
Where: Board Room, National Academy of Sciences, 2100 C Street, NW
Washington, DC
Cost: Free

In this half day seminar, prominent scientists will describe state of the art scientific knowledge on biodiversity and its significance for sustainable development of sectors such as fisheries, land and energy use. The seminar aims to stimulate information exchange and discussion among a broad constituency interested in sustainable development, and to be especially relevant to parties preparing for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg September 2002.

Biodiversity (the variety of ecosystems, species and genes) is central to issues concerning sustainable development. Biodiversity provides natural resources (e.g. food, fiber, fuel) and ecosystem services (e.g. renewal of soil fertility, purification of water) on which human societies depend. However, in many areas, especially those experiencing most rapid development, human activities place enormous stresses on biodiversity. Up-to-date, science-based knowledge of biodiversity provides a foundation for understanding the interactions between human societies and ecosystems. Biodiversity research is an essential tool for identifying and developing best sustainable practices in traditional human endeavors such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and can also yield new avenues for development for example through bioprospecting and biotechnology.

IBOY’s Biodiversity Month Lecture provide an opportunity for a stimulating exchange of information between scientists and other parties interested in sustainable development in advance of the United National World Summit on Sustainable Development, in Johannesburg South Africa, September 2002. The Johannesburg summit takes place 10 years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, at which the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development. Tens of thousands of people, including international heads of state, national delegates and NGOs will gather to review progress on sustainable development since Rio, and to further stimulate advances. Addressing the status of biodiversity, its role in sustaining ecosystems and the opportunities biodiversity research offers for sustainable development will be key to a successful Summit.

For more information and to RSVP contact:
Gina Adams
Tel: (970) 491 3552
Email: gadams@nrel.colostate.edu