18 June 2012. 08.30-19.00. Rio de Janeiro
The First BioTrade Congress is organized on the occasion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Conference) during the Days of Dialogue on sustainable development. The Summit seeks to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, and one of the two issues considered is the role of the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
Biodiversity, ecosystems, species, and genetic resources are the foundation of a sustainable/green economy and society. Global biodiversity of flora and fauna contributes to strengthening essential ecosystem services, such as fresh water, productive soils and clean air, which underpin sustainable economic development and quality of life for humankind.
Ensuring that development is sustainable, equitable and inclusive is key to a future that will provide opportunities for all. Innovative and promising solutions that balance a healthy and productive environment with the demands of growth for human development, are needed to accomplish this. The sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity resources is imperative and efforts to ensure this are underway by national and international stakeholders.
Sixteen years after UNCTAD launched the BioTrade Initiative with the aim of promoting trade and investment in biodiversity as a means of furthering sustainable development, a number of countries, regions and national and international stakeholders have made remarkable progress in embracing BioTrade concepts and principles as integral parts of their strategies. Furthermore, BioTrade is being recognized as a tool to address poverty alleviation and to support sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.
The First BioTrade Congress is a platform where BioTrade and biodiversity stakeholders can share their experiences and lessons learned, and establish further cooperation in implementing sustainable practices in the path to "greening" biodiversity-based sectors. The congress will present practical BioTrade examples that are implemented in a variety of sectors and regions with the aim to guide private actors, governments and civil society in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The outcomes of the event are also expected to be shared during the Rio +20 Conference.
The Congress is convened by the BioTrade Initative of UNCTAD, with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Yves Rocher and the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC). Additional partners include the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN), International Trade Centre (ITC), Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Peruvian Ministry of Environment, PhytoTrade Africa, Union of Ethical BioTrade, and the Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery of the United Nations Development Programme.
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