International organizations

The new Annual Report series contains information on the activities of the International Whaling Commission during the previous year. In particular it will contain the Chairman's Report of the Annual Meeting. This summarises the important discussions and management actions taken by the Commission and is essential reading for all who are interested in the conservation of cetaceans.

The term agrobiodiversity refers to genetic variability in plants, animals and micro-organisms of economic value. In the past, several thousand plants were used for purposes of food, feed, fibre, fuelwood, fertilizer and medicine. As agriculture advanced, the human food secruity systems began to depend not only on fewer and fewer plant species, but also on a small number of varieties. Such genetic vulnerability to pests and diseases as well as to soil and climatic stresses.