Fostering partnerships with the UNCBD: GM-BioTrade Initiative presented at COP.8

10 September, 2007

The GM and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) BioTrade presented a new initiative on Monday 10 September at a side event held during COP.8.

This joint initiative aims to enhance financing for sustainable land management (SLM) and to improve synergies with biodiversity-related conventions, such as the United Convention on Biological Development (UNCBD), the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The GM and BioTrade are currently cooperating in the framework of the GM’s Strategic Programme on Market Access and Trade (MAT), which is increasingly engaging with new actors and opening new windows of opportunity for mobilizing resources from the trade sectors.

The aim of the MAT Programme is to provide leverage on the comparative advantages of drylands products and to promote a more sustainable use of natural resources, with a view to identifying activities and investments to facilitate market access for local communities.

Within this programme, BioTrade is exploring how to exploit the high market and investment potential of biological resources, to strengthen sustainable development further, in line with the three objectives of the UNCBD: conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of its resources.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and biodiversity-related issues could be linked by:

enhancing cooperation between UNCCD Focal Points (FPs) and BioTrade
including BioTrade programmes in UNCCD priority areas at the country level
integrating SLM criteria into methodologies for selecting priority product groups.

After presentation of the MAT Programme and BioTrade, the joint GM / BioTrade programme was presented: the Andean Initiative in Ecuador.

Ecuador is developing a sustainable trade national programme involving the UNCTAD and the Ministry of Environment and aimed at alleviating poverty and fostering biodiversity conservation through:

generation of value-added products and services
participation in niche markets for exports and commercialization
establishment of sustainable ventures to continue activities when government support stops.

The support provided includes information, technical assistance and coaching, and co-funding, with BioTrade acting as an intermediary between local communities, governments and international actors.

Download the GM’s presentation on Developing Markets for Dryland Products (PDF, English, 1.02 Mb)

Download UNCTAD BioTrade's presentation on Enhancing SLM through Trade and Market Development (PDF, English 3.21 Mb)

Download Biotrade's presentation on the Andean Region Initiative (PDF, English, 3.76 Mb)

For more information:

Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Market Access and Trade Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) ifad.org