Experts debate on biodiversity in Catalonia

What is the state of some of the animal populations found in our territory? And what about plants? Is farming an enemy to the conservation of habitats? Will we be able to fish in the Mediterranean 50 years from now? Experts in biodiversity will be trying to find answers to these questions at "Aturem la pèrdua de biodiversitat" (Stop the Loss of Biodiversity), a conference which will take place on 3 December at IEC (Institut d'Estudis Catalans) headquarters in Barcelona. The conference has been organised by the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF, a UAB-affiliated centre), the Catalan Biology Society (SCB) and the Catalan Institute of Natural History (ICHN).

01/12/2009

The name of the conference is in line with a European initiative agreed upon by the heads of state in 2001 and adopted by the European Commission in 2006 with the aim of adopting measures to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The fact that 2010 is around the corner is the perfect reason to stop and analyse the state of Catalonia's biodiversity, the main risks and the effects of the measures adopted by the administration.

The day's programme will include the intervention of John Celecia, permanent professor at UNESCO and international consultant on environmental issues. Celecia was pioneer in proposing the study of cities as ecological systems through the UNESCO "Man and Biosphere" programme (MAB) and has spent 15 years working on the conceptual and practical aspects of sustainable development. According to him, this term is often distorted by politicians and speculators, but it must be understood as the only system able to place natural capital, especially biodiversity, in the centre of regional planning and management.

Other speeches will be offered by renowned experts in biodiversity from Catalonia with the aim of exposing the state of the situation, based on representative cases, and which measures need to be put into action to reduce the loss of species and stop the degradation and destruction of habitats. Participating will be Llorenç Sáez, botanic at UAB; Sergi Tudela, expert in fishing resources at WWF; and Josep Maria Mallarach, environmental consultant.

This is the sixth edition of the biodiversity conference which is organised yearly by CREAF, SCB and ICHN. Entrance is free to all publics. The conference has been organised with the support of the Catalan Government's Commission for Universities and Research and IEC.

More information: Conference "Stop the Loss of Biodiversity"