SciDev.Net

The World Biodiversity Congress has been postponed to 11-13 March, 2009.

Biological diversity is the variety of life on Earth, from the simplest bacterial gene to the vast, complex rainforests of the Amazon. Human beings are an integral part of this diversity, as is the food, medicine, clothing and other biological resources that sustain us. Biodiversity is being threatened at an unprecedented rate due to habitat alternation, degradation and fragmentation and human misuses or over-exploitation. It is therefore not
surprising that biodiversity conservation in recent years has gained considerable importance all over the globe. On the other hand, every country, particularly the developing countries, is facing the needs of developing its economy, improving peoples' livelihood or providing food security and supply for a rapidly increasing population. After the United Nation Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio in 1991, many countries have formulated or are implementing a series of action plans associated with their own environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and priority development. Judicious planning and meticulous implementation of different innovative programmes of United Nations, Governments, and Research institutions, Private Organizations, Universities and NGOs have paved the way for the conservation of biological diversity on our earth.

The First World Congress on Biodiversity will provide a forum for reorienting policies and programmes for any country in more productive and sustainable biodiversity utilization and conservation.