30/04/2010 Session
The Assembly today called on Council of Europe governments to make the most of the many opportunities offered by the International Year of Biodiversity taking place this year. These require that policy-makers work towards promoting the conservation of biological diversity and reducing the impact of climate change upon it.
Following proposals by the rapporteur, Francine John-Calame (Switzerland, SOC), the parliamentarians also stressed the need to “step up the fight against illegal trading in fauna and flora” and expressed the importance of promoting “best practice in preventing biodiversity loss” and raising awareness among policy-makers and the general public about the value of biodiversity.
Not only is biodiversity affected by climate change, but it also affects the climate as seen in the alteration in the absorption and emission of greenhouse gases following forest fires or deforestation.