L-R: Amy Sullivan, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK; Peter Collins, Royal Society; Richard Betts, Met Office Hadley Centre, UK; Antonio Nobre, Amazon Research Institute; Daniel Murdiyarso, Centre for International Forestry Research; and Jamie Webb, CBD secretariat.
Peter Collins, Royal Society, introduced a report on an international meeting held at the Royal Society in June 2007: “Biodiversity – climate interactions: adaptation, mitigation and human livelihoods.”
Richard Betts, Met Office Hadley Centre, UK, highlighted biodiversity’s importance in the uptake of carbon by ecosystems, which he called a “free ecosystem service” and outlined some of the effects of anthropogenic climate change on biodiversity.
Antonio Nobre, Amazon Research Institute, showed that the Amazon’s high rainfall is seeded by natural emissions of particulates from the forest’s biodiversity. He explained how the water vapor produced in the Amazon irrigates the heartland of South American agriculture and urged “not to shoot ourselves in the foot” with biofuel production.
Daniel Murdiyarso, Centre for International Forestry Research, highlighted the challenges for REDD negotiations, including: appropriate baselines; monitoring; equity among stakeholders; and political commitments.
Jamie Webb, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, advocated for further synergies between the CBD and UNFCCC, including through: joint communication; training of National Focal Points; and enhanced coordination between Subsidiary Bodies.
Amy Sullivan, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, stressed the need to identify “win-win” synergies and develop transparent decision-making frameworks.
Participants discussed: identifying critical temperature thresholds for key species losses; links between land degradation and reduced deforestation; and renewable energy project effects on biodiversity.
More information
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk
http://www.inpa.gov.br
http://www.cifor.cgiar.org
http://www.cbd.int
http://www.defra.gov.uk
Contacts
Peter Collins <peter.collins@royalsociety.org>
Richard Betts <Richard.betts@metoffice.gov.uk>
Antonio Nobre <anobre@ltid.inpe.br>
Daniel Murdiyarso <d.murdiyarso@cgiar.org>
Jamie Webb <Jamie.webb@cbd.int>
Amy Sullivan <amy.sullivan@defra.gsi.gov.uk>
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