August 2009 Archives

Along with CDF, the Galapagos National Park (GNP) celebrated its 50th birthday in July.

To congratulate GNP on reaching this milestone of service in helping conserve Galapagos, CDF's executive director, Dr J Gabriel Lopez, presented a plaque from the Charles Darwin Foundation to the Ecuadorian Minister of the Environment and the Director of the GNP.

Earlier in the month, the British Ambassador to Ecuador, Linda Cross, hosted a celebratory reception at the British Embassy in Quito for the GNP director. Guests included the US Ambassador, Heather Hodges.

The United Nations has declared 2010 as International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). The initiative has three aims: to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity for our well being; to halt the loss of biodiversity; and to celebrate success stories.

The UN resolution urged member states to support the activities to be organised by developing countries, especially least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition.

There will be numerous events planned around the slogan of Biodiversity is Life. Some highlights planned are the launch of a WWF Living Planet Report and World Environment Day given over to IYB by UNESCO.

GCT is a partner in the UK IYB Partnership and more details of our involvement will be available later this year.