biodiversity

The declaration outlines the commitments of CBD Parties to 18 actions for integration of biodiversity into the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism sectors to halt the loss of biodiversity across the world.

It was adopted after months of consultation with CBD Parties, ending with a series of high level roundtable discussions.

For the very first time, these discussions included the participation of Ministers from the four development sectors.

"It is critical that we build on this historic opportunity in terms of biodiversity conservation for the future”.

For the first time the Conference brought together Ministers from Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism to participate in this event to help "Mainstream Biodiversity for Well-being".

According to the CBD, the tourism sector accounts for nine per cent of the world's gross domestic product, six percent of exports and contributes directly or indirectly to one in 11 jobs.

The paper, published in the international journal Science, said changes in global temperatures were affecting the diversity and distribution of living species worldwide - but not enough is known about how to protect them.

The paper called for research to be done so outcomes for every species affected by climate change could be forecast.

Lincoln University researcher Dr William Godsoe, who was involved in writing the paper, said climate change was already affecting some of New Zealand's beloved native species.

The National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) two-day workshop was opened by Minister for the Environment Kiriau Turepu at the Pukapuka Hostel on Tuesday.

The project is part of the second generation of Biodiversity Enabling Activities under the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Cook Islands has been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1993.