An international conference on biodiversity set to take place in Japan in October will attempt to set new targets for protecting organisms and conclude a global pact stating how genetic resources are to be used in drug development and other fields.
The talks are likely to be tough, however, because member countries are split on many issues, such as how people should conserve and use biodiversity in a sustainable way, as well as the use of a variety of living things that exist in an environment, according to people close to the negotiations.
The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP10, will be held from Oct. 18 to 29 in Nagoya. The last three days are scheduled for ministerial-level discussions, which are expected to culminate in agreements on the two major topics.