Policy gap will have large consequences for biodiversity

The 2010 targets for biodiversity will not be reached under continuation of the present biodiversity policies. The absence of additional biodiversity policies could come at a considerable price, sometime in the future. That is because natural systems will no longer be able to supply valuable services, such as carbon storage in forests and the supply of sufficient amounts of clean freshwater. In short, this is the outcome of a research programme presented today at the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Bonn.