In particular, the Forum Florestal launched the initiative CorrAC (Race for climate change mitigation and biodiversity) which is an information and awareness campaign aimed at involving people in the recovery of certain forest habitats that are critical for certain species. The races will be organized in several emblematic areas of the country.

The aim of the initiative is:

• Contribute to the rehabilitation of habitats of protected species in Portugal in a free-carbon and full of energy action!

• 100% of the profit raised will be invested in habitat recovery projects

• 0% of carbon emissions

• 100% of well-being and good mood

Did you know?

• Portugal is one of the three most desertified countries in Europe;

• Sustainable forestry has an important role in combating desertification, drought and climate change;

• Climate change may lead to the loss of biodiversity, with serious consequences for humanity.

Run with Forum Florestal to mitigate climate change and help biodiversity!

• Forum Florestal on Countdown 2010 website

• Forum Florestal

• CorrAC Blog

All participants were invited to sign the Countdown 2010 Declaration and take some specific actions for biodiversity. In addition, Natureparif encouraged individuals to sign the Citizen’s Declaration, an initiative which will engage more people in protecting nature through their daily actions and choices.

Natureparif has created a guide for greenspace management which includes the description of tools and practices for a more respectful management of urban nature. The guide is already available on the Natureparif website and will be distributed to all municipalities in the Region.

Finally, Natureparif launched the initiative Papitrame which aims to understand why butterflies presence is so low in urban environments, detect the corridors and identify the obstacles they face. A number of white butterflies will be released in the city and people will be asked to bring them back to their environment.

The event was also organized to celebrate the first year of activity of Natureparif. Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Ile-de-France Region and Jean-Vincent Place, President of Natureparif welcomed Jean-Christophe Vie, representing IUCN and Countdown 2010 at the meeting.

Natureparif on Countdown 2010 website
Natureparif website

Gonzalo Oviedo es consejero sobre políticas sociales de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (_IUCN_ por sus siglas en inglés), y coautor de un informe de la organización sobre el impacto del cambio climático en los pueblos indígenas.

De acuerdo con el experto, algunas de las áreas que más riesgo corren con el calentamiento global en América Latina son, al mismo tiempo, áreas de gran vulnerabilidad humana, porque en ellas habitan comunidades muchas veces empujadas a zonas marginales en condiciones de pobreza, con muy poca atención del sector público.

Estas “poblaciones” no sólo son víctimas del cambio climático, también exigen un mayor protagonismo a la hora de diseñar estrategias de adaptación.

El 80% de los bosques del mundo están en zonas habitadas por pueblos indígenas, según el Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente, y cualquier mecanismo de respuesta al cambio climático va a afectarlos directamente

“Noticia completa en”: http://www.lahora.com.ec/frontEnd/main.php?idSeccion=884230

First prize: Natureparif
Second prize: Province of Limburg and Herdade do Esporao

Click on the names to download the poster.

Other participants:
Conservation Himalayas
Federparchi no.1
Federparchi no.2
IEEM
Outras Paisagens

Countdown 2010 Hubs outside Europe:
Asia 1
Asia 2
South America

The Countdown 2010 team would like to thank all participants and encourage them to continue their great efforts to reach the 2010 Biodiversity Target!

Among the other points raised in the Conclusions of Council, it is of great significance that the EU Environmental Ministers have called for an EU strategy on invasive alien species (IAS) by 2010. This proposed strategy aims at establishing an EU Framework on IAS which includes aspects such as the implementation of early detection, warning and rapid response systems, as suggested by IUCN’s position statement.

The EU Council also expressed the need that a vision and targets beyond 2010 for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the EU is defined not later than mid-2010. At global level, the EU wishes to develop key strategic principles to give its input in the review of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity and contribute to the international post-2010 vision.

Ministers recognize the close link between climate change, soil degradation, desertification and biodiversity loss and ask for greater synergies in the measures adopted to tackle them. Moreover, adequate funding is requested for both the Natura 2000 network completion and the science-policy interface for biodiversity (IPBES). Finally, the Council highlighted the importance of integrating biodiversity concerns into sectoral policies.

Read the Council Conclusions