…Conservation International lauds effortConservation International,Wholesale MLB Jerseys, which works on conservation projects here in Guyana, has welcomed the announcement by Japan that it will provide US$2 billion in three years starting in 2010 to help developing countries in their efforts to protect biodiversity.The announcement was made at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan.“Japan’s announcement is excellent news. We were already optimistic,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, but the 2 billion exceeded our expectations. We are happy to see the host country of this meeting dedicate so much money and commitment to moving things forward,” said Russ Mittermeier, President of Conservation International.“Japan showed great leadership by being the first nation to announce financial aid in this conference and we are particularly pleased to see that financial resources are being channeled to protected areas, which we consider the most effective way of tackling the current biodiversity crisis,” he added.The Government of Guyana has leased 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares) to Conservation International for conservation. The concession – the world’s first – was established in Guyana’s Upper Essequibo region in July 2002.This Conservation International photo shows the Black Caiman of the Upper Essequibo Conservation Concession. “The aquatic ecosystems of the Upper Essequibo Conservation Concession (UECC) are one of the most pristine, if not the most pristine, on the planet,” concluded scientist Dr. Philip Willink, of The Field Museum in Chicago, after a 2007 survey.According to an article carried by Conservation International,Authentic NHL Jerseys, this abundance of healthy fresh water supports an amazing diversity of species: 1,500 plants,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, 200 mammals,Kelly Olynyk Jersey, and 500 birds are found in the vicinity – as many bird species are found in all of North America.The report said that the Macushi and Wapishana indigenous groups depend on the area’s natural resources, and communities near the concession – in Apoteri, Rewa, and Crashwater – helped to demarcate boundaries to ensure that the UECC would not conflict with traditional claims.Representatives from 193 governments gathered at the CBD in Nagoya for the past couple of weeks to try to come up with a global plan to stop the extinction of animals and plants and conserve intact habitats over the next decade. Targets established eight years ago to “significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss” by 2010 were not met at a global level, despite individual progress by some nations.At the conference, actor Harrison Ford, who has partnered before with President Bharrat Jagdeo in helping Conservation International to bring global attention to the need for biodiversity protection, said developed and developing countries must look beyond their national interests and form a global alliance to stop the current environmental crisis.“This is a critical moment for environmental Ministers to work together to set bold ambitious targets to protect nature and the services it provides. Decisions made here will not only impact our planet’s environmental health, but the well-being of every person, family, and nation,” Ford said just one day before the conclusion of the talks last Friday.The purpose of Ford’s visit to the CBD was to urge world leaders to increase the coverage of protected areas to effectively stop the destruction of biodiversity.Conservation International is proposing that governments agree to put at least 25 percent of the Earth’s land and 15 percent of the oceans under protection by 2020. The proposed level of protection is not a target per country,Cheap Hockey Jerseys Official, but would cover specific places worldwide that are known for being home to important species, habitats and genetic resources.
