International Conference
on Biodiversity & Society

Columbia University and
the UNESCO Division of Ecological Sciences

May 22-25, 2001

How Humans Shape the Environment
is Focus of International Biodiversity Conference
at Columbia, May 22-25

Agenda

Tuesday 22 May

Opening Session

9:00 Welcome

• Dr. Michael Crow, Executive Vice-Provost, Columbia University

• Dr. Peter Bridgewater, Director, Ecological Sciences Division, UNESCO

9:30-10:00 Keynote Address

• Dr. Jose Sarukhan

• Commissioner for Social and Human Development, Mexico

Coffee Break (15 mns)

Theme I
Traditions and Changes in Biodiversity Conservation and Uses

• Dr. Christine Padoch (Chair)

• Dr. Benjamin D. Lane (rapporteur)

10:15-10:30 Introduction by Dr. Christine Padoch

10:30-12:00 Presentation of Case Studies

• Economic Development, Land Use and Biodiversity Change in the Tropical Mountains of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan (China) by Dr. Guo Hui Jun, (Dep. Dir. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens)

• A Tradition of Change: The dynamic relationship between biodiversity and society in Muyuy (Peru) by Dr. Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez (CERC)

• Biological Value, Conflict Mitigation and sustainable development alternatives within and surrounding Morro do Diabo State Park (Brazil) by Dr. Suzana Padua, Dr. Claudio Valladares-Padua, and Dr. Laury Cullen Jr. (Institute for Ecological Research, Brasilia)

12:00-12:45 Panelists Presentations

• Dr. Christine Padoch (New York Botanical Garden)

• Dr. Marcio Ayres (Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve, Brazil, WCS)

• Dr. Walter Lusigi (GEF)

• Dr. Peter Bridgewater (UNESCO, MAB)

• Dr. Toby Hodgkin (IPGRI, Rome)

Dr. Don Melnick Director (CERC)
announces the ELF poster session and invites participants to see them in the Faculty room.

Lunch Break (1 hour and 30 mns)

14:00-16:30 Discussion, Recommendations and Conclusions

14:00-15:00 Open Discussion

15:00-15:45 Discussants Remarks

• Robinson Rivadeneyra (Congressman, Peru)

• Dr. Brian Boom (New York Botanical Garden)

• Dr. Gaston Achoundong (Director, Herbier National, Cameroun)

• Dr. Nancy Peluso (University of California at Berkeley)

15:45-16:15 Recommendations for follow up

16:15-16:30 Conclusions
  Benjamin D. Lane, Christine Padoch.

16:30-18-00 Poster Session
by CERC and the Environmental Leaders Forum

Coffee and refreshments will be served in the Faculty Room
 

Wednesday 23 May

Theme II
Population Pressures and Conflicts, Urban/Rural Impacts on Biodiversity

• Dr. Roberta Balstad-Miller (Chair)

• Dr. William Solecki (rapporteur)

9:00-9:15 Introduction

  Dr. Roberta Balstad-Miller

9:15-9:45 Keynote Address

  Dr. Anna Tibaijuka
  Executive Director, United Nations Center For Human Settlements (Habitat)

Coffee Break (15 mns)

10:00-11:30 Presentation of Case Studies

• Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Fragmentation in the Chihuahua Grasslands (USA) by Dr. Charles Curtin (Arid Lands Project, Animas, New Mexico)

• New York City as a Biosphere Reserve? Assessing the ecological footprint of New York City Metropolitan area (USA) by Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig (Columbia University/NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies)

• Cultural Diversity, Biological Diversity: conflicting jurisdictions and trade-offs in the Sonoran Desert (Mexico) by Joaquin Murrieta (Sonoran Institute)

11:30-12:15 Panelists Presentations

• Dr. Roberta Balstad-Miller (CIESIN)

• Dr. Barbara Polla (MD and Member of Parliament, Switzerland)

• Dr. Rick Brusca (University of Arizona

• Dr. Bennet Brown (Animas Foundation)

Afternoon Poster Session exhibits available for viewing

Lunch break (1 hour and 30 mns)

14:00-16:30 Discussion, Recommendations, Conclusions

14:00-15:00 Open Discussion

15:00-15:45 Discussants Remarks

• Drum Hadley (Gray Ranch)

• Joseph Joaquin (Cultural Resources Specialist, Tohono O'odham Nation )

• Sid Goodloe (rancher)

• Dr. Stefan Klotz, (UFZ Center for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle Ltd, Germany)

• Thomas Esakin (Executive Director, Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Trust, Canada);

15:45-16:15 Recommendations

16:15-16:30 Conclusions

16:30-17:30 Poster session (Coffee will be served in the Faculty Room)

1. Ramsar Data Access: A multilevel, multidisciplinary data and information search tool, by Malanding S. Jaiteh, Antoinette Wanebo, Maarten Tromp, Chandra Giri, CIESIN (Center for International Earth Science Information Network)

2. Plant Biodiversity of the Rome region by Prof Sandro Pignatti and Dr. Giorgio Andrian (university of Padova);

3. Human Dimension of Rome Biodiversity by Prof Mirilia Bonnes;

4. Alien Plants in Argentina-Ecological Attributes of European species in South America by Dr. Stefan Klotz

5. BRIM: Biosphere Reserves Integrated Monitoring-Biodiversity Resources for Inventorying and Monitoring, by Dr. Roger E. Soles (U.S. MAB Program)

Thursday 24 May

Theme III
Environmental Governance and Environmental Security

• Prof. Charles Sampford (Chair)

• Christine Alfsen-Norodom (rapporteur)

9:00-9:15 Introduction

  Prof. Charles Sampford

9:15-9:45 Keynote Address

  The Honorable Mohammed Valli Moosa,
  South Africa Minister For Environment and Tourism

Coffee break (15 mns)

10:00-11:30 Presentation of Case Studies

• Biodiversity Conservation and Social Justice in the The Tonle Sap Watershed: The Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (Cambodia) by H.E. Dr. Mok Mareth (Minister for the Environment, Cambodia)

• Pastoralists Access to Land and Natural Resources in a transboundary region: "W" BR (Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso) by Dr. Bonaventure Guedegbe (Ministry of Environment, Benin);

• Collaborative Governance and Biodiversity Policy: Breaking new ground -- South East Queensland Forest Agreement (Australia) by A J Brown (Key Centre for Ethics, Law Justice and Governance, Griffith University)

11:30-12:15 Presentation by Panelists

• Prof. Charles Sampford (Griffith University, Australia)

• Seymour Topping, (Professor of International Journalism, Columbia University)

• Dr. Brad Allenby (Vice-President for Environment, Safety and Health, AT&T)

• Dr. Eduardo Fuentes, (UNDP/GEF)

• Dr. Christian Leveque (CNRS, France)

Lunch Break

13:30-16:00 Discussion, Recommendations, Conclusions

13:30-14:30 Open Discussion

14:30-15:15 Discussants Remarks

• Dr. Riyad Al-Soufi: The management of the Tonle Sap from the Mekong River Commission perspective.

• Prof. Kwi-Gon-Kim (Korea): The DMZ as a Biosphere Reserve.

• Prof. Marshall Murphree (Zimbabwe).

15:15-16:00 Recommendations

16:00-16:15 Conclusions and wrap up

  Christine Alfsen-Norodom and Charles Sampford

Coffee break

16:30-17:00 Adoption of the Declaration on Biodiversity and Society and Closing Ceremony

• Christine Alfsen-Norodom
  introduces the "Declaration on Biodiversity and Society"

• Dr. Roberta Balstad-Miller
  closes the Conference on behalf of UNESCO and Columbia University

Friday 25 May

9:30-12:00 Working Groups Meetings (restricted)

• Working Group One: Biosphere Reserve Concept and Ecosystem Approach
  Facilitator: Dr Kent Redford (Wildlife Conservation Society)

• Working Group Two: Conference Follow-up
  Facilitator: Dr Peter Bridgewater (UNESCO, MAB)

13:00 Luncheons followed by visits will be hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo and by the New York Botanical Garden

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