COHAB Initiative : Co-Operation on Health & Biodiversity

Meetings and Events

A fine balance – pharmaceuticals in the environment: biological power to save life or destroy it – examination of the evidence

At the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, Tuesday 8th October 2008. Room CCIB 122 from 4.30pm.
Organised jointly by the Zoological Society of London, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Darwin Initiative, IUCN Species Survival Commission, the COHAB Initiative Secretariat and RSPB. A symposium on the current state of knoweldge on the environmental occurrence of pharmaceuticals and related products, and the associated risks to wildlife and ecosystems. Issues for discussion will include the Asian vulture crisis, veterinary and agricultural pharmaceuticals, impacts on aquatic ecosystems, and perspectives from the pharmaceitucal industry.

Biodiversity and Human Health - challenges beyond 2010

The COHAB Initiative Secretariat will host a stand at the IUCN Futures Pavilion during the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, on the morning of Tuesday 7th October 2008 from 9.00am to 10.00 am.

This will provide an opportunity for discussions on how international processes on health, development and nature conservation should address the importance of ecosystem integrity to human well-being. The report from the Second International Conference on Health and Biodiversity will be officially launched at the Congress, with opportunities to learn more about the Initiative and how organisations and individuals can participate.

Invisible Assets - A strategic approach to integrating health, environment and biodiversity.

Organised by the Irish Health Service Executive. Dunlewey, County Donegal, Friday 24th October 2008

This free one-day seminar highlights the importance and relevance of the interconnections between environment, biodiversity and health to our quality of life, sense of place, well-being, economic development and sustainability. It will provide examples of these interconnections and outline the potential benefits of integrating environment, biodiversity and health strategies at local, regional and national levels.

International EcoHealth Forum 2008

Merida, Mexico, December 1st to December 5th 2008

Organised by the Inernational Association for Ecology and Health

The main event on the ecohealth calendar for 2008, this conference will see the world's leading experts in conservation medeicine and ecosystem approaches to health converge for 5 days of discussions on current science, future research needs, and policy implications of the links between ecosystem sustainability and human well-being. Click here to visit the official website.

Future COHAB Initiative Events

Planning for Change
Athlone, Ireland, March 2008.

A national seminar on the challenges in urban and rural planning presented by climate change and the loss of ecosystem services. For details email the Secretariat at: sea@cohabnet.org.

COHAB Initiative Regional Workshops

A series of seven 2-day workshops for 2009 - 2010 are currently in planning, covering the following regions:

Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Carribean, North America, the Arctic Circle, Europe.

Details will be posted here in December 2008.

Third International Conference on Health and Biodiversity

Details coming soon....