UNESCO IYB Biodiversity Science-Policy Conference

2010 is the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). In kicking off its year long program of events celebrating biodiversity and the global effort to preserve it, UNESCO last week held its IYB Biodiversity Science Policy Conference. Scientists participated in the conference to present new scientific findings on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including in relation to global and climate change and to assess related implications for policy-making.

While taking into account the priorities expressed by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Conference was intended to pay special attention to the voice of the scientific community in order to bring novel knowledge that could be used in the context of biodiversity-related decisions.

The Keynote Address at the conference was presented by Ed Wilson, America's grand champion in the battle to recognize, classify and preserve biodiversity.

Check out the abstracts of the papers presented.

Read the speech by Director General Bokova opening the meeting. (In French)