Biological Diversity

250.000 to 300.000 different plants exist worldwide. Scientists estimate that approximately 1 to 10 species die of natural cause every year. This process has been accelerated due to human impact. Biological diversity is severely endangered caused by the overuse of natural resources and due to political and economical interests resulting in short time benefits. The Green Revolution is one among several examples of unsustainable development attempts.

Save our rice
Misereor has been involved in supporting development programmes with creative and innovative approaches toward food security and biodiversity conservation. At the centre of the approaches are the farmers and their empowerment. This is seen as central to the development and adoption of agricultural models that are sustainable. By compiling some of these initiatives into a booklet (Save our Rice 3.1 Mb), Misereor hopes to raise their visibility.

No patents on life
Patents as they have been manifested in the agreement on „Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) are an additional challenge for small scale farmers. Patents on genetic resources trample the rights of farmers over genetic materials that they have collectively developed and nurtured for centuries. Patents restrict the free exchange of seeds and will hinder farmers' innovations. Therefore Misereor calls for the prohibition of patents on all forms of life as they exist. Plants, seeds and genes are part of creation which cannot be claimed by intellectual property rights.