The Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research held a Side Event on "

" on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 from 13.15 to 14.45 in CR-3 Lower Floor at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi. A scrumptious lunch featuring local Kenyan agrobiodiversity was served to participants.

Speakers included: Joseph Ole-Simel, MPIDO (Mainyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organization), Kenya; Yator Kiptum, Sengwer Indigenous Development Project, Kenya; Maria Mayer de Scurrah, CIP (Centro International de la Papa/ International Potato Center), Peru; Saoudata Aboubacrine, Association Tin Hinan, Burkina Faso; Taghi Farvar, WAMIP (World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples), Iran; Paul Bordoni, Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research (PAR), Italy.

The side event showed how indigenous people and rural communities are using agrobiodiversity to help cope with climate change. Working with farmers around the world, the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research has collected information on the use of agrobiodiversity by farmers and communities as part of their response to climate change. A publication describing the findings of this work was released at SBSTTA 14 in Nairobi.

During the side event, PAR released a Synthesis Paper titled “The Use of Agrobiodiversity by Indigenous and Traditional Agricultural Communities in: Adapting to Climate Change“. Synthesis papers are published by PAR to summarise existing knowledge on a topic and to point to new research needed. Download your copy.

The PAR side event provided an opportunity for representatives of indigenous groups and rural communities to discuss their experiences related to the use of agrobiodiversity, its role in how to best contribute to adaptation and mitigation. The event also helped to stimulate interactions between scientists and farmers.

Other Major highlights of PAR at SBSTTA14 include:

• A formal statement on agrobiodiversity and climate change in the debate on the CBD Programme of Work on Climate Change reiterating our concern that agrobiodiversity conservation and use have been neglected in climate change discussions;
• Presentation of a poster “Climate Change and Agrobiodiversity: Strengthening adaptability and resilience";
• Participation in a series of Side Events to launch and International Partnership to support the Satoyama Initiative

In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, PAR, together with UNEP, National Museums of Kenya and Bioversity, held the first of its planned Nairobi Agrobiodiversity Debates, titled “Multifunctionality: the Unexplored Positive Side of Agriculture”.

For further information contact: e-mail: platformcoordinator@cgiar.org