The 11th COP on the Convention on biological Diversity will take place from 8th to 19th October in Hyderabad, India. The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the Convention, and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings. To date the Conference of the Parties has held 10 ordinary meetings, and one extraordinary meeting (the latter, to adopt the Biosafety Protocol, was held in two parts).Last year the 10th COP took place Nagoya, Japan. On its conclusion, it was decided that the 2012 COP, the 11th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in India, Hyderabad. This will include a high-level ministerial Segment organised by the host country (India). The high–level segment will meet from 17th to 19th October.

The agenda of the 10 day conference is broad and will cover several important discussions related to Biodiversity, financial mechanisms, Biodiversity issues and programs specific to fragile ecosystems- coastal and marine Biodiversity, islands Biodiversity etc. Some of the topics on top of the agenda are the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization and carrying out a review on the implementation of the Strategic plan on biodiversity 2011-2020 (during the Decade on Biodiversity)and the Aichi targets set for Biodiversity Conservation.

The government of India has sanctioned Rs.300 crore for a capacity-building initiative to meet the obligations of access and profit sharing under Nagoya Protocol, a top official said. Under the initiative, which will become operational next year, the funds would be spent on People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) and on strengthening of state biodiversity boards and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). M.F. Farooqui, Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), said the Ministry of Finance has approved the initiative.

The stage is set for the United Nations conference on biodiversity beginning here Monday, with India for the first time since independence, hosting the international event of this scale, officials said. About 2,000 delegates from more than 150 countries will attend the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP MOP 6). The first of the two events will conclude Oct 5 while the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11) from Oct 8 to 19 is expected to see participation of delegates from over 190 countries, including some heads of states and governments. At the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), the venue of the conference, and the nearby Hyderabad International Trade Exhibition (HITEX), workers were busy giving final touches to the arrangements for the mega event.