MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kyoto protocol will extend to Falklands

THE Falkland Islands is going to join the UK in ratifying the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

Before agreeing to do so, the government sought clarification of the implications of such a decision from the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

His Excellency the Governor reported, "Having been reassured by DEFRA that ratification will not place any significant burdens on FIG, Executive Council agreed that the UK Government should now be informed that the Falkland Islands wishes to be included in ratification of these international treaties."

Also approved by ExCo was the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted by Desire Petroleum in connection with its plans to drill exploratory wells to the north of the Falkland Islands. The EI was approved subject to the following conditions:

? that an operational addendum containing details of the drilling contractor and drilling unit when known should be submitted to the Mineral Resources Committee in consultation with the Environmental Planning Officer; ? that the addendum to the EIA should be published in the Gazette; ? that Desire Petroleum comment on and supply information as required by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment's External Review recommendations. (These latter are being published.)

Request refused

A request from an individual for the export of a significant quantity of animal parts - mainly from southern sealions, black-browed albatross, rockhopper penguins, southern giant petrels, and certain other birds - was rejected by ExCo.

Mr Pearce commented, "After careful consideration, members agreed the recommendation of the Environmental Planning Officer that the application should be refused.

"It was also agreed that the Endangered Species Protection Ordinance 2003 should be amended to include any species of albatross and petrels listed in the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels, in order to prevent their export, and moreover that the possibility of ACAP species being included on the CITES species list should be investigated by the Environmental Planning Officer." (PN)