An inadequate response to early warnings and destruction of mangrove forests worsened the devastation of cyclone Nargis, say experts.

Today, the day before Europe Day, 'Wild Wonders of Europe' rolls into action. 55 of Europe's top nature photographers embark on 90 assignments to 44 countries.

The mission: To reveal the amazing natural heritage of Europe and to inspire a desire to save it. This project is endorsed by UNEP. To find out more, visit http://www.wild-wonders.com

The word "crisis" is much abused. But the current food price crisis constitutes a genuine emergency. Urgency in tackling it is essential....(read more)...

Research indicates that falls in Northern Hemisphere aerosol pollution will bring more frequent drought to the Amazonian rainforest.

Scientists sterilise malaria-carrying mosquitoes, farmers get their hands on brand new rice varieties, roll out of HIV drugs is urged, and more.

A new university programme in Ethiopia will develop low-cost ways to reduce post-harvest losses in agriculture.

Regional Workshop on Climate Change and Vulnerability of Mountain Ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayan Region from 12-13 June 2008.

The agricultural biotechnology industry has asked the Mexican government to avoid using discretionary measures to deliver permissions for sowing maize.

The Salvadorian parliament has approved the commercialisation of genetically modified (GM) seeds, as a measure to combat food insecurity.

Oli Brown - While many in the international community view development as a fundamental pillar to promoting human security, development may come with significant costs—environmental degradation among the most concerning. Do eco-sensitive practices promote environmental protection at the expense of individual well-being in developing countries?

As a participant in the 46th International Affairs Symposium at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Oli Brown sought to answer this question.

The session was a debate format with two speakers taking opposing sides of an issue, giving a 20-minute presentation each and then continuing the discussion in a question-and-answer session. Oli Brown's opponent was Paul Driessen.

Driessen is a senior policy adviser for the Congress of Racial Equality. A climate change skeptic and critic of the theory and practice of sustainable development, he used his presentation to suggest that western environmentalists have become “eco-imperialists” blindly imposing their own environmental standards on the rest of the world. He argued that western-imposed ideas of environmental protection have been bad for development by inter alia: banning DDT and so undermining the fight against malaria; inhibiting the capacity of the developing world to utilize their own cheap sources of energy; blocking the extension of biotechnology and so undermining food security; using the precautionary principle to halt the spread of new technology; and encouraging the spread of organic farming incapable of producing enough food to feed the world.

This IISD Commentary is an adaptation of Brown's response to Driessen's remarks at the symposium, organized by students of the Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.