AHEAD OF WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, WILDLIFE ATLAS UNDERLINES

VITAL ROLE OF ECOSYSTEMS IN REDUCING POVERTY, DELIVERING PROSPERITY

SECRETARIAT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES TREATY ASSESSES PROPOSALS

FOR CHANGING WILDLIFE TRADE RULES

GENEVA, 29 July (UNEP) -- The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has completed its provisional assessment of the 54 proposals submitted by member countries (Parties) to amend the Convention's lists of wild plant and animal species that are subject to trade controls or prohibitions.

$600 MILLION NEEDED FOR PROTECTING OZONE LAYER

OVER NEXT THREE YEARS, SAYS EXPERTS

New Needs Take Ozone Fund to $2 Billion Mark

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

UNEP WELCOMES EUROPEAN UNION RATIFICATION OF BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL

NAIROBI, 28 June (UNEP) - An international agreement called the Cartagena Protocol, designed to help countries assess the risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms, has been given a boost after a decision by the European Union to ratify it.

RIGHTS TO DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT STRESSED AS BALI PREPARATORY

MEETING CONCLUDES MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

Round-up

AFTER TWO WEEKS OF INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS, BALI MEETING SENDS IMPLEMENTATION

PLAN TO JOHANNESBURG FOR FINALIZATION

Final Preparatory Committee for World Summit

On Sustainable Development Concludes in Early Morning Session

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

WORLD SUMMIT POLITICAL DECLARATION SHOULD CONTAIN CLEAR, FORCEFUL,

COMPREHENSIVE COMMITMENT TO ACTION, PREPARATORY MEETING TOLD

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS TO FOSTER ACQUISITION, USE

OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTED IN BALI DISCUSSIONS

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES SHOULD NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS

TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SPEAKERS STRESS

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

LACK OF FUNDING, ACCESS TO SAFE WATER, HEALTH SERVICES AMONG ISSUES

HIGHLIGHTED AT BALI PREPARATORY MEETING

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)