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7th CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (COP-7) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 9-20 February 2004
Highlights
for Monday 9 February 2004
The Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP-7) to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) opened on Monday, 9 February
at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Participants
will consider a range of priority issues, including: mountain
biodiversity; protected areas; the implementation of the target to reduce
significantly the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, which was
adopted at COP-6 and endorsed by the WSSD; technology transfer and
technology cooperation; and access and benefit sharing. Participants will
also discuss the budget for 2005-2006, financial resources and mechanism,
and guidelines for the third national report. It is expected that work on
these, and other issues, will be split between two working groups. |
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Hans Hoogeveen (the Netherlands) (above left), COP-6 President, opened the meeting and presented Dato’ Seri Law Hieng Ding with a ceremonial gavel. |
Above
photo: Dato’ Seri Law Hieng Ding, Malaysia’s Minister of
Science, Technology and the Environment, welcomed delegates in Malaysia,
outlined developments in relevant domestic legislation and launched a
series of commemorative stamps.
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Above photo: David
Suzuki said that we lack knowledge about the inventory of our eco-systems
and therefore should not try to introduce new technologies such as GMOs
without knowing about their environmental impact. |
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Above photo (L-R): Soledad Aguilar and Diego Malpede, delegates from Argentina |
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The
International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) outlined its
opposition to the proposed international regime on ABS and international
systems of registration of biodiversity and traditional knowledge. |
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SBSTTA-8 Chair Jan Plesník (Czech Republic) introduced the SBSTTA-8 report (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/3), highlighting a recommendation regarding MYPOW to focus future activities of the Convention on existing work programmes, rather than consider new items. |
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Above photo: Peter Bridgewater, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, stresses the role of the Ramsar Converntion to address water-related issues. |
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ENB