Policy Watch

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Jeff Thurston — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:57:14 +0000

The plans for an Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) were considered at the Governing Council of the UN Environment Programme in Bali in February. ICSU, working with its global biodiversity programme DIVERSITAS, continues to be actively involved in the discussions on IPBES, which is envisaged as providing a new and effective international mechanism for linking science and policy. The final decision on the future of IPBES will be made in June, at a meeting in South Korea. Read More

EU Soil Policy in the Environment Once Again Blocked

Vector1Media — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:21:28 +0000

A Europe-wide system of soil protection is rejected by some EU member states once again with a blocking minority. The Spanish Presidency has addressed the issue today in the Environment Council in Brussels. The EU's department heads were following a further debate, only the rigid fronts in the now-year long dispute over an EU Soil Framework stick. Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands want to protect their soils with national regulations.

LUF Quarterly – Land-use Framework Progress Report

Vector1Media — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:40:10 +0000

The LUF Quarterly – Land-use Framework Progress Report is designed to inform Albertans about how the government is meeting the commitments made in the framework, and to report our achievements as we move forward. Read More

Carbon markets and Forest Conservation: A Review of the Environmental Benefits of REDD Mechanisms

Vector1Media — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:34:15 +0000

UNEP-WCMC has undertaken a review of existing and planned measures to promote environmental co-benefits from REDD. It considers the options for how these measures might be developed in the future. This report is available. Read More

Legal Instruments for Ecological Connectivity in the Alps

Vector1Media — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:14:34 +0000

An international technical seminar on legal instruments for ecological connectivity in the Alps will take place on 6 May in Grenoble, France. It is organised by CIPRA France in the frame of the EU Alpine Space project ECONNECT, work package 6 "legal barriers". Legal practitioners, experts in spatial planning, protected areas managers, scientists, politicians and partners of the ECONNECT project are invited to discuss thematic issues in order to overcome the juridical difficulties to the implementation of ecological networks. Read More