Climate change is a major threat for the world biodiversity. Over a million plant and animal species could disappear by 2050 due to changing climate (Thomas et al., 2004), and IPCC 4th Assessment Report (2007) stated that 20 to 30% of species could go extinct before the end of the 21st century. Climate change therefore invites conservationists to re-examine conservation strategies worldwide so as to adapt to this new challenge.
Climate change has also large impacts on the development cooperation architecture in general and on the financing of forest conservation in particular. New funding opportunities may arise that the conservation community can hardly afford to miss. Indeed, on-going discussions under the Climate Convention could lead to the creation of a global mechanism intended to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).
In this context, forest ecosystems tend to be viewed more as carbon stocks than as biodiversity hotspots: positive and negative consequences of such a shift are yet to be fully understood.
The conference with Russel Mittermeier and Laurence Tubiana will address the following issues:
- impact of climate change on biodiversity protection priorities
- emergence of carbon-related environmental services in tropical forests
- ensuring compatibility between REDD and biodiversity conservation
Please confirm your participation before 17th June 2008.
