2008

November: Organizational rearrangements with registration of Ecoropa as a registered tax-exempt association, Ecoropa e.V. at the District Court of Emmendingen, Germany, in the presence of nine founding members. Elections of the Board with Christine von Weizsäcker as President; Ricarda Steinbrecher, Florianne Koechlin and Diana Schumacher as vice-presidents, an Claus Biegert as treasurer.
November: Strategy Meeting on Ecoropa’s future involvement in the negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Emmendingen, Germany
May: Participation in the Meeting of the Friends of the Co-Chairs of the fifth meeting of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Bonn, Germany
May: Participation in the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (MOP 4) in Bonn, Germany
May: Participation in the civil society event Planet Diversity, paralell to MOP4, with a March for Diversity, a Civil Society Symposium, workshops on the negotiations, and press conferences, in Bonn, Germany
May: Participation in the Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9) in Bonn, Germany
October: Awarding of the German Environmental Award (Deutscher Umweltpreises) by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt to Ernst von Weizsäcker in Rostock, Germany
January: Lecture Series in preparation of COP9 in Bonn
 Lecture by Christine von Weizsäcker and Panel participation on Negotiating Nature – Introduction into the Procedures of a Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Natur verhandeln- Einblicke in den Ablauf einer CBD Vertragsstaatenkonferenz)in a lecture series organized by the University of Bonn Germany in preparation of COP 9 in Bonn „Das internationale Bonn- Politik für Pflanzen, Tiere und Menschen. Themen und Hintergründe der 9. UN-Konferenz über Biologische Vielfalt in Bonn", organized by the University of Bonn, Germany
June: Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (WGPA 2)
 Participation in the Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (WGPA 2) at the FAO in Rome, Italy; preceded by an NGO strategy meeting organized by the CBD Alliance
February: SBSTTA 13
 Participation in the Thirteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 13) at the FAO in Rome, Italy; preceded by an NGO strategy meeting organized by the CBD Alliance
February: VDW Conference "Sustainable Research on the use of fertile land compatible with nature"
 Annual Conference 2008 of Federation of German Scientists (Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler, VDW) Sustainable Research on the use of fertile land compatible with nature? (Wovon leben menschliche Gemeinschaften? Zukunftsfähige Forschung zur naturverträglichen Nutzung fruchtbaren Landes) at the Evangelische Akademie Villigst, Schwerte, Germany; chaire by Christine von Weizsäcker
March: Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress
 Participation in the Fifth meeting of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Protocol in Cartagena, Colombia.
March: NGO Workshop and press conference on Biosafety
 NGO Workshop and press conference on Biosafety in Bonn, Germany, organized by Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, with contributions by CHristine von Weizsäcker and Ricarda Steinbrecher
April: Political Dialog "Poverty Eradication and Biodiversity"
 Political Dialog Poverty Eradication and Biodiversity (Armutsbekämpfung und Biodiversität) in Bonn, Germany, organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
April: Meeting of the Chamber on Sustainable Development of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany
 Meeting of the Chamber on Sustainable Development of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany (Rat der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland) in Hannover, Germany with a presentation by Christine von Weizsäcker on COP 9
April: Lecture Series "Sustainable Politics in Global Environmental Change"
 Lecture Series Sustainable Politics in Global Environmental Change (Nachhaltige Politik im globalen Umweltwandel) at the University of Kassel, Germany, with a lecture by Christine von Weizsäcker on The CBD and Civil Society
April: Study Group on Global Future of the German Society for International Politics
 Meeting of the Study Group on Global Future of the German Society for International Politics in Berlin, Germany, with a presentation by Christine von Weizsäcker on Access and Benefit-Sharing, ABS and Intellectual Property Rights
May: NGO Preparatory Meeting for MOP4
 International NGO-Meeting in Preparation for MOP 4 of the Cartagena Protocol in Bonn, Germany, organized by the CBD Alliance, Deutscher Naturschutzring and Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung
May: NGO Capacity Building Day for COP9
 NGO Capacity Building Day for Convention on Biological Diversity with an introductory keynote and discussion by Christine von Weizsäcker, in Bonn, Germany, organized by CBD Alliance and the German NGO Forum for Environment and Development
May: Expert meeting on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice with regard to GMOs
 International Expert Meeting on good practices regarding Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice with regard to genetically modified organisms, Aarhus Convention and Cartagena Protocol, in Cologne, Germany, organized by the Aarhus Convention and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
May: CBD Alliance Board meeting
 CBD Alliance Board meeting with Christine von Weizsäcker as board member
May: „Community Conserved Areas as successful models of governance of protected areas“
 Meeting of TILCEPA and TGER on Community Conserved Areas as successful models of governance of protected areas in Bonn, Germany, with Christine von Weizsäcker and Helena Paul as invited participants; organized by TILCEPA, TGER and IUCN
May: Meeting of the German COP9 delegation with civil society organizations
 Meeting of Head of the German Delegation at COP9 with all representatives of Civil Society Organizations present at the negotiations, in Bonn, Germany, with an update by Christine von Weizsäcker on the negotiations of the regime on Access and Benefit-Sharing.
May: COP 9 side event "Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) – Consent or Consultation?”
 Side-Event at COP9 on Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) – Consent or Consultation? chaired by Christine von Weizsäcker; organized by the International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests (IAITPTF) and MISEREOR, Aachen
May: Press conference "Condemned to Succeed – NGO Demands to COP 9 in Bonn"
 Final NGO Press Conference Condemned to Succeed – NGO Demands to COP 9 in Bonn (Zum Erfolg verdammt – Anforderungen der NGOs an die UN-Konferenz in Bonn), presented by Christine von Weizsäcker as presenter and as interview partner on Access and Benefit-sharing, organized by COP-Project Office, Deutscher Naturschutzring, DNR (German Umbrella Organisation of Environmental NGOs) and D. NRO Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung (German NGO Forum Environment and Development
June: Regional Workshop on the German National Strategy on Biodiversity
 Participation in the Regional Workshop on the German National Strategy on Biodiversity in Frankfurt, Germany, organized by Ifok and the German Federal Ministry on Environment
September: International Workshop on Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction
 Participation in the International Workshop on Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction at the International Nature Protection Academy on the isle of Vilm, Germany, organized by the German Federal Agency for Nature Protection
October: Meeting of the Chamber on Sustainable Development of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany
 Meeting of the Chamber on Sustainable Development of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany (Rat der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland) in Hannover, Germany with Christine von Weizsäcker as member and expert for the publication on biofuels
October: Nuclear-free Future Awards 2008 Ceremony
 Nuclear-free Future Awards 2008 Ceremony in Munich, Germany, with Claus Bieger, President of the Foundation, and Christine von Weizsäcker as member of the Jury
October: Neckargemund Talks Women and Environment
 Meeting of Neckargemund Talks Women and Environment (Neckargemünder Gesprächskreises Frauen und Ökologie) in preparation of a book on Welbeing and Zero Growth (Wohlergehen bei Nullwachstum), with the Ecoropa members Joan Davis, Elisabeth Bücking and Christine von Weizsäcker
October: onsultation Area: Application of genetically modified organisms in developing countries
 Christine von Weizsäcker as panel participant in the Consultation Area: Application of genetically modified organisms in developing countries by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in Eschborn, Germany
November: WECF Board of Trustees
 Women in Europe for a Common Future Board of Trustees meeting with Christine von Weizsäcker as president, in Utrecht, Netherlands
December: Preparation of a European Network of Scientists
 Meeting in Preparation of a European Network of Scientists, in Borlin, Germany, with Christine von Weizsäcker giving an Introduction and Patron of the Meeting

Ecoropa at MOP4 and COP9 in Bonn
Strong Ecoropa involvement in the preparation for, organizing Civil Society at city of Bonn, national and international levels, communication with the German Presidency and the press and participation at the 4th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (MOP4) and the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP9) in Bonn, Germany. Participating international experts of Civil Society, e.g. Jessica Dempsey, coordinator of CBD Alliance and Patrick Mulvany, expert on agricultural biodiversity, used the Ecoropa Office in Bonn as their hub for informal consultations during the whole period of COP-MOP4 and COP 9 from 7-31 May 2008. Many were hosted by Ecoropa throughout their stay.
Below Ecoropa Members who – jointly with many other NGOs and delegates - were part of the „Strategy Teams“, and used the Ecoropa Office in Bonn. 20 people lived at the Weizsäcker home during that time and were catered for by a group of local students who fed us glorious meals from early breakfasts to past-midnight snacks.
Christine von Weizsäcker Ecoropa und CBD Alliance
Elisabeth Bücking Ecoropa
Ernst von Weizsäcker Ecoropa
Ricarda Steinbrecher Ecoropa und Econexus
Helena Paul Ecoropa und Econexus
Antje Lorch Ecoropa und ifrik
Hartmut Meyer Ecoropa and EED Hermann Hatzfeldt and Jup Weber, provided support and advice on forest issues.

Planet Diversity
Civil Society Event in parallel to COP-MOP4 „Planet Diversity“: Press Conference and Demonstration March for Diversity; CvW: Panel Participant at Press Conference and many interviews with a focus on the „Industry Compact“
Zeit: 12.5.08
Ort: Bonn, Civil Society Tent Rheinaue
Verantstaltungsträger: Planet Diversity Planet Diversity: Introductory Session of Civil Society Symposium, CvW: one of four keynote introductions
Zeit: 13.5.08
Ort: Bonn, Gustav-Stresemann-Institut
Verantstaltungsträger: Planet Diversity Planet Diversity: Workshop on the Biosafety Protocol negotiations, CvW: „Introduction to the three workshop topics and their relevance to the success of the Biosafety Protocol Negotiations
Zeit: 13.5.08
Ort: Bonn, Gustav-Stresemann-Institut
Verantstaltungsträger: Planet Diversity

Meeting with the MOP4 Presidency
Meeting with COP-MOP4 Presidency, Ursula Heinen, Undersecretary of State in the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protectio, (Staatsekretärin im Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz) with 6 representatives of Civil Society appointed by their regional groups:
Vandana Shiva, India, for Asia,
Soledad Vogliano, Argentina, for Latinamerica,
Christine von Weizsäcker, Ecoropa, for Europe,
Gebremedine Birega, Ethiopia, for Africa,
Bennny Haerlin for the NGO-Parallel-Event „Planet Diversity“,
Günter Mitlacher, as NGO Focal Point and, Facilitator:
CvW: Report and NGO demands on “Liability and Redress and the Industry Compact“
Zeit: unterwegs: 13.5.08
Ort: Bonn, Gustav-Stresemann-Institut
Verantstaltungsträger: Planet Diversity