NEWS

CBD at UNFCCC COP 16 / CMP 6 – Cancun, Mexico

Rio Conventions' Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion: In Cancun, the Ecosystems Pavilion had an exhibit, a meeting space, and a series of associated events on topics highlighting the linkages between biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management. Presentations and recordings from the events can be accessed at: http://www.ecosystemspavilion.org/en/cancun, and videos, photos and interviews are available at: http://www.ecosystemspavilion.org/en/nagoya-videos.

Forest Day 4: Forest Day 4 was co-hosted by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Mexican National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), and members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), including the Convention on Biological Diversity. It brought together more than 1,500 of the world's leaders and experts, practitioners and policy makers, advocates and investors, indigenous people, community representatives, and the media to discuss the integration of forests into climate mitigation and adaptation from local to global levels. A summary of Forest Day 4 is available at: http://www.forestsclimatechange.org/?id=412.

Forest Biodiversity as the Theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity and International Year of Forests
The theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) in 2011 is Forest Biodiversity. IDB is being celebrated on 22 May as part of the International Year of Forests. More: http://www.cbd.int/idb/doc/2011/idb-2011-booklet-en.pdf .

Online resources on carbon, biodiversity and ecosystem services
The UN-REDD Programme pages on the multiple benefits of REDD+ provide access to a wide range of resources on ecosystem-based benefits, including an introductory brochure 'Beyond Carbon'. Amongst other materials, the website houses the Multiple Benefits Series of technical and issue papers. Your comments on these web pages are welcome. Visit: http://www.un-redd.org/AboutUNREDDProgramme/GlobalActivities/New_Multiple_Benefits/tabid/1016/Default.aspx .

PUBLICATIONS

"The Little Biodiversity Finance Book"
The Global Canopy Programme is pleased to announce its latest publication on innovative finance for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Little Biodiversity Finance Book estimates that between USD 36 - 38 billion per annum is currently being spent on natural capital and explores ways to raise up to USD 141 billion per annum by 2020. To find out more go to: www.globalcanopy.org/go/biodiversityfinance.

"Biodiversity Conservation in the REDD"
REDD+ has potential to combat global climate change and save threatened biodiversity as a co-benefit of protecting forests. This paper shows, however, that in Indonesia, protecting forests providing the largest carbon savings benefits a small portion of Indonesia's most threatened biodiversity. The authors warn that implementing REDD+ without a regulatory framework to guide biodiversity co-benefits could undermine, not enhance, long-term prospects for biodiversity conservation. Visit: http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/5/1/7.

How can you publish in this Newsletter?

Your contributions to this Newsletter on issues related to biodiversity aspects of REDD-plus are welcome. Please send your submission to [email protected]. Articles should contain no more than 60 words, and must contain a hyperlink for more information. For more information please see: http://www.cbd.int/forest/redd/newsletters/

Deadline to submit articles for the next issue: 11 March 2011.

This Newsletter is published pursuant to CBD decision IX/5. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Secretariat of the CBD.