SciDev.Net

Researchers have found that more than half the plants in west Nepal have medicinal use — higher than that reported in previous studies.

Cultivation of areca nut in India can help conserve biodiversity, with implications for other forms of tropical farming, say researchers.

Ecuadorian researchers disagree with an article in the new constitution that bans patenting products related to the country's biodiversity.

Scientists are proposing a set of guidelines to tackle developing countries' resistance to take up DNA barcoding for biodiversity mapping.

Protected conservation areas attract human settlement rather than drive people away, which could threaten biodiversity, finds a study.

South Asian nations have agreed on a three-year plan to lessen climate change impacts in the region.

Following the UN biodiversity conference, countries have agreed a roadmap to negotiate the access and sharing of genetic resources.

China's growing infrastructure is boosting the spread of potentially destructive animals, insects and plants, a new report warns.

Two environmental organisations have struck an investment deal that will help conservation and research in Guyana's rainforests.

A round-up of news from or about South Asia for the period 1–15 March 2008.

Using China's 'idle land' — often home to diverse species — to produce biofuels could post a threat to biodiversity, warn experts.

A round up of news from or about Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 25 February–12 March 2008.

Current efforts to locate biodiversity conservation areas do not consider future changes in climate, scientists say.

Researchers in Sri Lanka and Germany have developed a new method for measuring biodiversity that could help identify key tree species.

A newly opened global seed vault will preserve up to two billion crop seeds to guard against the loss of the planet's biodiversity.

Scientists have discovered a universal DNA 'barcode' to classify flowering plants, facilitating research in biodiversity.

India's sample-sharing laws are hindering biodiversity research and taxonomy in the country, say a group of botanists.

Two Latin American countries, Colombia and Costa Rica, have made the top ten of an environmental management rating.

High-quality images of Latin America's exotic plants will be available online as a result of an initiative discussed last month in Panama.

Costa Rica's tropical forest will benefit from a plan to swap debt owed to the United States for funds to be spent on forest protection.