Event: Fifth Session of the ITPGR Governing Body [viewed]
The fifth session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) will address, among other issues: implementation of the Treaty's Multilateral System (MLS) of Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS), including reviews and assessment under the MLS and implementation of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA); implementation of the ITPGR Funding Strategy; sustainable use of plant genetic resources; Farmers' Rights; implementation of the Global Information System; operation of the Third Party Beneficiary; and Work Programme and Budget for the 2014/2015 biennium. The meeting will be preceded by two days of regional consultations on 22-23 September 2013.
31 May 2013: The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) released its 2012 Annual Report on ‘Forests, Trees and Agroforestry,' which highlights activities carried out under the Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (CRP-FTA) through the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Bioversity International, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).
15 May 2013: A long-standing irrigation project implemented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Swaziland has reported results in increasing adaptation to climate change, conserving biodiversity and reducing land degradation through sustainable land management (SLM) practices. 
16 May 2013: The Government of Japan and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) have jointly signed an agreement to fund implementation of a large forest land rehabilitation project in Côte d'Ivoire. The financing, at the level of US$1.8 million, will support a project to rehabilitate Côte d'Ivoire's forest lands degraded during civil warfare in 2002-2005 and 2010-2011.
13 May 2013: The project titled 'Ridge to Reef – Community to Catchment', which is funded by the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) 'Implementing Sustainable Water Resources and Wastewater Management in Pacific Island Countries' project (GEF Pacific IWRM Project), has reported improved national coordination in the water and sanitation sectors and enhanced community involvement in water resource management in the Pohnpei and Chuuk states, part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
6 May 2013: The European Commission adopted a green infrastructure strategy designed to: promote green infrastructure in the main policy areas; improve research and data, strengthen the knowledge base and promote innovative technologies; improve access to finance for green infrastructure projects; and support EU-level green infrastructure projects. 
April 2013: The UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Environment and Energy Group (EEG) has released a report, titled ‘Towards Transformational Change: UNDP's Work in Environment and Sustainable Development 2008-2012.' The publication features a collection of stories from around the world in four strategic areas: mainstreaming environment and energy; mobilizing environmental finance; promoting adaptation to climate change; and expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor. 
March 2013: The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has released a report on great ape conservation and poverty alleviation. The report considers REDD+, tourism, human-wildlife conflict, and great ape biology.
30 April 2013: Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank has approved a US$4.2 million grant to support the Government of Burundi's efforts in promoting sustainable land and water management in coffee farms, within the pilot Sustainable Coffee Landscape Project.
