The Isle of Man may join the Convention on Bio-diversity in the not too distant future.
Over 150 countries, including the UK and many small and relatively poor countries such as St Kitts and Haiti, signed up to the convention held in Rio in 1992 in order to try and tackle the problem of decreasing bio-diversity and habitat loss.
A recent update of the UK's bio-diversity action plan included well over a thousand species including the hedgehog and fieldmouse . . which are regarded as being in danger.
However, the Isle of Man didn't sign up to the treaty so has no action plan, and therefore no comprehensive list of endangered species or habitats on the Island
Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne (pictured) says whilst he wasn't minister at the time, he believes there would be a variety of reasons, both financial and political, for not signing up at the time, and he hopes he can now remedy the situation:
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