Brasília, September 23, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Beginning today, Brazil can count on an institutional forum to debate and stimulate initiatives to defend the country's biodiversity. The National Biodiversity Commission (Conabio), installed today by the Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, will integrate the National Biodiversity Policy with the principles of the Biological Diversity Convention, providing incentives for research, dissemination of knowledge, and sustainable use of natural resources.

"We are consolidating the partnership between the government, the scientific community, and society in the execution of policies for the conservation and sustainable use of our biodiversity," affirmed Marina Silva, underlining that greater participation by society in governmental decisions is a determination of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, the Conabio is composed of eight representatives of the federal government and eight from the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGO's). (DAS)