If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the BRIDGES staff to hbaumuller@ictsd.ch. Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcome (contact mgalvin@ictsd.ch).
WORLD MARKETS FOR ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), November 2001. The report encourages developing countries to increase their exports of organic produce in light of growing demand in industrialised countries, which is unlikely to be met through domestic production. To this end, the report outlines several recommendations, including establishing national or regional organic standards and regulations, increasing know- how on organic farming, and good post-harvest handling, infrastructure and logistics. For a copy of the report, contact: Ms. Daniela Piergentili, FAO, Rome, Italy; tel: (39) 06 5705 2864; email: daniela.piergentili@fao.org.
"The position of Via Campesina on biodiversity, biosafety and genetic resources," by Via Campesina in DEVELOPMENT 44 (4, 2001): 47-51. Via Campesina, an international coalition of farmer organizations, argues for the need to guarantee effective protection of local and traditional agricultural systems and food security together with human and collective rights. They maintain that biosecurity and agreed multilateral positions on environmental protection must over-ride trade agreements and policies.
"Deforestation, distribution and development, " by G. Kopp & L. Tole in GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS, 11 (3, 2001): 193-202. This paper investigates the role played by distributional factors in mediating the effects of growth and development on forest depletion in tropical developing countries. A key finding of the paper is that the distributional profile of a country significantly determines whether economic development will have either a positive or a negative effect on the rate of forest loss. In countries where levels of inequality are high, development will tend to exacerbate deforestation rates while in countries where distributional profiles are more egalitarian, the negative effects of growth and development on forest cover will be ameliorated.
"Transgenic crops and the environment: missing markets and public roles", by S. Batie and D.E. Ervin in ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, 6 (4, 2001): 435-457. According to the authors, the rapidity of change has left scant opportunity for investigation of the consequences of adoption of transgenic crops on long-term ecosystem or economic system functioning. Economic theory suggests that, if the "Biotechnology Revolution" is left to market forces alone, there will be neglected public goods. Theory and limited empirical evidence suggests that there are significant incentives for private firms to discount and neglect certain environmental impacts and to develop products that meet mainly the needs of those able and willing to pay. Negative distributional impacts on rural societies and economies will not normally enter the private calculus nor will the long-term problems of insect and plant resistance. Thus, there is a strong case for enhanced public roles with respect to the use of transgenic crops. The adoption of the precautionary approach in public policies addressing transgenic crops is one alternative to better reflect public concerns.
"Free trade and the environment-development system," by B. Liddle in Ecological Economics 39 (1, 2001): 21-36. The authors develop a simulation model to analyse the trade-environment-development system that contains a number of important advances over the earlier and current theoretical models. They found find that (1) the benefits of trade (i) can be either positive or negative, and (ii) depend on country endowments; and (2) the pollution effects of trade are closely tied to the benefits of trade.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, in collaboration with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, is offering six UNEP-WCMC Chevening Scholarships in Biodiversity, beginning September 2002. The scheme will draw scholars from all regions of the world to work for one year at the Centre in Cambridge. They will analyse an aspect of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management relevant to the policy needs of their region. This scheme aims to help young researchers to prepare for a role in national and regional policy development and decision-making to resolve biodiversity-related challenges. With support from the Centre’s staff they will select a subject for analysis and publish recommendations for action over a period of one year, from September 2002.
Candidates should apply on the Chevening Scholarships form attaching a CV, publications list and covering letter explaining why they wish to spend a year at the Centre. Application forms are available from, and should be submitted through, any UK Embassy, High Commission or British Council office, or the Head of Human Resources, UNEP-WCMC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. Tel: +44 1223 277314; fax +44 1223 277136; email brenda.gillian@unep-wcmc.org. Closing date for applications: 1st March 2002. Shortlisted candidates only will be informed by 1st April 2002. Further information about the Centre may be found at http://www.unep-wcmc.org.