Hírek a nagyvilágból

It is a pleasure to join you here in Kuala Lumpur for the fourth session of the IPBES Plenary. We come together for a very exciting moment in the history of IPBES, when the Plenary will be presented with the first two assessments for its acceptance and approval.

For three days in Mexico City over 65 women and men working on issues related to gender and biodiversity in Mexico came together to share experiences and provide input into the development of a gender-responsive National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

First, I would like to congratulate the Arab Society for Fungal Conservation for declaring 20 February as Egyptian Fungus Day. This initiative truly demonstrates commitment towards conservation of biodiversity and promoting the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Official Representatives of the Parties to seven global biodiversity-related conventions met at the United Nations Office in Geneva from 8 to 11 February 2016 to explore ways to strengthen synergies and improve efficiency among the conventions with a view to enhancing their implementation at all levels.

The theme of this conference, "biodiversity for sustainable development", could not come at a better time. Finally, the world is waking up to the essential role of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems for all life on earth, including humans and our well-being. The opportunity for us to make lasting change has arrived.

With the aim to encourage positive action for biodiversity and inspire others by showcasing the notable work of those it honours, nominations are now invited for the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2016. The call for nominations remains open from 15 February to 30 June 2016.

Statement by the CBD Executive Secretary on the occasion of the Expert Meeting on Improving Progress Reporting and Working towards Implementation of Aichi Biodiversity Target 6, 9 to 11 February 2016, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy

Statement by Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, on the occasion of the Expert Group Meeting on Article 10 of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, Montreal, Canada, 1 - 3 February 2016

Déclaration de M. Braulio F. de Souza Dias, Secrétaire exécutif de la CDB, lors de l'ouverture de l'atelier de renforcement des capacités des pays francophones partenaires du centre d'echange d'informations (CHM) Belge, Cotonou, Bénin, 1-3 février 2016

The wetlands of today are essential for human health and prosperity, and the benefits they provide have enormous economic and social value. As confirmed by the 2013 report, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Water and Wetlands, which we are proud to have contributed to, the ecosystem services provided by wetlands, on a per unit area basis, are the most valuable of all of our ecosystem types.