Examination of Witnesses (Question 180)
JOAN RUDDOCK
MP AND MR
MARTIN BRASHER
15 JULY 2008
Q180 Joan Walley: I would like to
ask you about international biodiversity loss. In terms of the
joint action that Government is taking in conjunction with other
departments, what is the prospect in terms of the role that the
UK can play in respect of halting biodiversity loss internationally?
Joan Ruddock: We play a very active
part in the Convention on Biological Diversity and a CBD was recently
held which I attended. What we agreed there is that we would provide
£100,000 towards the working group to look beyond 2010 because
that is clearly the importance. In order to work beyond 2010 we
do need the best analysis of what we have achieved up to 2010.
We will be gathering our reports to ensure that we carry out our
duty in terms of reporting to the international community how
we have progressed in trying to meet the 2010 target in the UK
and that will be done and clearly that will join in with the devolved
administrations as well.
Mr Brasher: The way the CBD works
is through major conferences every two years or so with workshops
in between. We support those strongly. We are expecting to host
an ad hoc technical expert group in November on climate
change. As for the other conventions that we are party to, the
Convention on Migratory Species and the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species, we are prominent members in all of
those and probably punch above our weight in terms of the input
we make, in terms of the voluntary contributions that the minister
referred to, in terms of chairing working groups and that sort
of thing. Darwin is a global scheme as well. This time we have
said we would encourage applications from overseas territories,
but it is a global scheme which has reflected very well on the
UK, but far more important than that, it has done a lot of practical
conservation since 1992 when it was launched.
Joan Ruddock: Can you remember
how many countries we have projects in?
Mr Brasher: It is 146 countries.
Joan Ruddock: It is 146 countries
we have had projects in. I have to tell you, there is huge enthusiasm
and respect for us in the international community because virtually
nobody does that sort of thing. It means collaboration between
UK scientists and the scientists of the country where the project
is. We now have involvement not just with the natural environment
but with livelihoods as well, where people's livelihoods depend
on the natural environment. It is quite wonderful work and we
are very proud of it.
Chairman: Thank you very much indeed
for your time.
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