Bonn - Tuesday 27 to Friday30

The last couple of evenings in Bonn at CBD COP9 went by in a blur of all day sessions and very late night meetings, where I was involved primarily in the biofuels debate - hence lack of attention to my blog.

I just don't have the energy to describe those final negotiations in detail. Suffice to say that watching the EU and Brazil eventually reach a compromise agreement, the Chinese delegate, a very professional negotiator, sneak in for a touch down at the very last moment (12pm to 3am Friday morning), and the oil producing nations try to derail the whole agreement during the WG1 plenary later that morning and then 'compromise' during the final COP plenary in the afternoon was an absolute education for this first time 'negotiator'.

Here are a few pics taken during those last couple of days.



The BIOTA side event where unfortunately the South African NGO rep, from Paulshoek in the Tanqua Karoo, did not even get a chance to speak










Another kind of side event

I love Kolsch!

















Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity

















Somewhere close to 3am !!













The Norwegian delegate receiving a necklace from an NGO group who appreciated her efforts regarding Indigenous and Local communities

At one of the late night session I was given a seed bracelet from a young lady from Argentina for the same reason












My colleague Nonhlanhla from Department of Agriculture, Kwa-Zulu Natal


















Yours truly holding the fort while the other delegates were otherwise engaged











A WoodCentral sighting!

Forest biodiversity related I guess!













The Japanese delegation inviting everyone to COP10 in Kobe, Japan in two years time











In an earlier post I mentioned that I noticed the blue pleasure boat, the Moby Dick, and referred to it as a significant lapse in German good taste.

Well if you include the floating Chinese Restaurant - perhaps two lapses!








A model railway, complete with wind turbine, at Cologne railway station where I caught the high speed train 'flight' to Frankfurt Airport on Saturday about lunch time
















Whew - even a couple of woodturnings in a shop window at Cologne railway station












A solid wooden ball


















Not an unattractive burl bowl - though I have seen better











The roof over the platforms at Cologne railway station through which I could actually see the spire of Cologne Cathedral












Leaving Cologne over the Rhine on the first cold and wet day I had on the trip












A grey Rhine view













On board the high speed, approx 300kph, train

Smooth as a plane ride - if not smoother










The Chinese press delegate sitting opposite asked if I'd like my picture taken with my own camera

Nice guy that I am - of course I obliged and did the same for him

And then it was on to the plane at Frankfurt Airport and overnight to Cape Town arriving at 5am on Sunday morning

A quick sleep and off to a friends birthday party at lunchtime! Man am I glad that I took Monday as a days leave!

Bonn - Monday 26 May

IISD Coverage of CBD COP9

The IISD provides full reporting on the CBD COP9 Event. Click on the ENB or ENB On the Side links below for info on the main COP events and side events respectively.

IISD produces daily reports on each which are also linked to the relevant dates below.

ENB - 27 May - Covers info about the 26th

ENB On the side - 27 May - Info on the side events of 26th

MORNING SESSION

The first session was the meeting of the Africa Group.

Working Group I:

And some inputs were made to the Africa position specifically on Agricultural Biodiversity and more specifically with reference to Biofuels.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Working Group I:


While I reviewed:
CRP.6: 'Biodiversity of Dry and Sub-Humid Lands, and
CRP.4: 'Ecosystem Approach' for the delegation

EVENING SESSION

Friends of the Chair Group on Agricultural Biodiversity - 7pm to 9pm

Bonn - Sunday 25 May

Today I took a field excursion to Eifel National Park.

It was an absolutely fascinating day - so different to our South African National Parks.
The historical aspects of the Vogelsang Centre, formally 'Ordensburg Vogelsang' (see also here and here), an 'education camp' of the National Socialist Regime reminded me very much of the historical aspects of Robben Island - but more about that later.



Eifel National Park is the first national park in the North Rhein - Westphalia province of Germany. it is near the border of Germany, Neatherlands and Belgium.

We passed numerous wind farms on the way there.







Beautiful broad-leafed decidious foreats as we entered the park.












Delegates were recommended to wear stout walking shoes for the field trip.












Mmmmmm!













Our 'English Group' guide was Dr Michael Röös.

He was an excellent guide and kept us well informed and entertained at all times.










We were taken on a short walk through the 'Management Area' which was, for the last 60 years, has been military exercise area, heavily used by tanks, armoured vehicles, and troops.

The area is largely grassland, managed currently using grazing by domestic sheep, with largish pockets of Norway spruce.

The Norway Spruce is not indigenous but is a good timber species, grows well up on the 500m high plateau and is not browsed heavily by the primary large herbivores (Red deer, Roe deer, Muflon and domestic sheep). Some broad-leafed local species, such as beech are being introduced into some of the patches of forest but these patches have be surrounded by fences to keep out the large herbivores until these introduced trees have grown big enough.

A flock of domestic with their shepherd and his dogs.

He is due to retire this year as the park management is phasing out management by sheep grazing.








A real German Shepherd with his sheep dogs!


















And after the walk, off in the bus to Voegelsang.

Note the Black Lion emblem of the recently departed Belgian troops to the left of the gate.

The day was European Day of Parks on which all Nature Parks/Reserves celebrate.

The celebration at Eifel National Park included a craft fair, musical entertainment and stations (gazebos) manned by scientists working in the park where they displayed specimens and info about their work.

Mr Schröeder weaving baskets.


















Some of Schröeder's basketware.


















Wool spinning and weaving.

































































































































































































































































































































































































































My evening constitutional down to the Rhine

Just look at this beautiful vessel











... and another beauty ...














... and - arghhhh - no!!!













I admire the German's general impeccable taste

The Moby Dick must be one of that nation's notable lapses in this regard ...










... unless - well if you include the floating Chinese restaurant then maybe two notable lapses!!