The ongoing International Conference on Biodiversity in Hyderabad known as CoP11 has decided to integrate Human Health issues with Convention on Biodiversity. United Nations Spokesperson David Ainsworth said, a Joint Group will be set up with representatives of the member countries to chalk out modalities to enable joint efforts by Health organizations and the biodiversity conservation organizations. Though there were discussions with World Health Organization earlier, he told All India Radio that this is the first time that human health related issues have been deliberated upon at the CoP level. He also said CoP 11 has decided to take up the matter threadbare during its next meeting to be held in 2014 in Korea.

In view of need for identification of living species and catalogue them and the CoP11 decided to encourage Global Taxonomy scientists to take up work in this direction. A contact group has been set up to work out modalities on this issue. Another contact Group has been set up to discuss methods to integrate Traditional Knowledge with the Biodiversity Convention. It was also decided to set up a scientific body to discuss ways and means to integrate Traditional Knowledge in fulfilling the objectives of the convention on biodiversity. Accordingly, High Level Inter Governmental Panel on Ecosystem Services will meet next year to chalk out an acceptable mechanism in this regard.