Third International Review Meeting for Country Projects on Integrated Assessment of Trade-related Policies and Biodiversity in the Agricultural Sector

Geneva, Switzerland, 18-20 March 2009

The Third International Review Meeting for UNEP’s initiative on Integrated Assessment of Trade-related Policies and Biodiversity in the Agricultural Sector was held from 18 to 20 March 2009 in Geneva.

This UNEP initiative aims to enhance capacity in African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) countries to develop policy recommendations that safeguard biological diversity while maximizing sustainable development gains from trade liberalization in the agriculture sector.

Core activities include the development of a reference manual for conducting integrated assessment of agriculture trade policies and biodiversity and the implementation of country projects in 6 ACP countries (Jamaica, Cameroon, Mauritius, Madagascar, Uganda and Papua New Guinea). These countries receive financial and technical support to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of agricultural trade policies with specific attention being paid to the impacts and opportunities for biodiversity.

Following the second review meeting in July 2008 (http://www.unep.ch/etb/events/2008_ReviewMtgBiodiv1-3July.php), the country teams have been finalizing their analytical work and are currently preparing the final drafts of the integrated assessment studies.

The meeting in March brought the six country teams and the group of advisors together again to:

- review the results and recommendations of the integrated assessment studies,

- discuss the implementation of selected recommendations, and

- discuss the final revision of Trade and Biodiversity Manual.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to receive information about other UNEP initiatives related to the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity.

For more information on the Trade and Biodiversity Initiative: http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/biodivAgriSector.php

Contact: vera.weick@unep.org