Environmental policy

This set of 20 4-page briefs aims to raise awareness about biodiversity issues within EC development cooperation. The briefs are broken down into three types, including policy, sector and background biodiversity briefs. The first two indicate important issues to be considered by policy makers and technical advisers at policy, programme and project levels, and the third category summarizes topics and legal responsibilities for a general audience.

This document is the product of extensive consultation between EC policy advisers and task managers dealing with biodiversity and the environment, and those working on natural resource and non-natural resource issues. The important issue of integrating biodiversity into development cooperation policy and practice is addressed. It highlights the need to realise biodiversity's full potential to support development while addressing the direct and underlying causes of its loss.

The aim of this international seminar was to discuss tools for ecological planning in the context of preparing for implementation of the EU Natura 2000 network, and to explore the possibilities for integrating nature conservation objectives into sectoral policies such as agriculture. This publication presents the agreed recommendations of the seminar, the guest papers and brief national overviews.

The spread of invasive alien species (IAS) is creating complex and far-reaching challenges that threaten both the natural biological riches of the earth and the well being of its citizens. Summarising key findings of the Phase I Synthesis Conference held in September 2000 in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, this publication presents ten strategic responses that address how to mitigate the threats of IAS.

This paper addresses the environmental and developmental impacts of patent protection by specifically focusing on the global agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). While the TRIPS agreement serves as an important step in harmonizing international intellectual property systems, the author contends that it currently fails to properly balance public and private interests, especially in the gap between rich and poor.