Global Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity
The participation of local governments in the conservation of nature has just recently reached the heart of international discussions and it has been recognized by the international community as a key element to protect our planet. Back in May, the United Nations adopted a decision at the 9th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity on the importance of local and regional authorities. The decision calls for greater cooperation between the national and the local level and acknowledges that biodiversity is primarily a local issue. Therefore there is a need to work with and value the efforts of cities, regions and towns worldwide.
During the IUCN World Conservation Congress – a grand public event which brings together the global sustainable development community from governments, civil society, business, grass-root organizations and academia – several events discussed the involvement of local governments in biodiversity management and conservation while debating a possible new structure for the Union. This structure would enable local governments to actively participate in the work of IUCN. Through these events, it clearly emerged that cities, regions and towns in all the corners of the world are committed to protect their biodiversity and are already acting to improve their ecological corridors, promote scientific research, increase their green spaces, create municipal conservation areas, mobilise funds and increase the awareness of their citizens. In brief, they showed that they are close to biodiversity; they are close to the people and are committed to the cause of biodiversity.
For the first time in the history of IUCN World Conservation Congresses, local action was at the centre of the discussion in one of the only 6 high level Sustainability Dialogues organised during the Forum of the Congress and hosted by IUCN Director General, Julia Marton Lefevre. The Sustainability Dialogues explored the big-picture issues and innovations for a sustainable economy. At these events, special guests from around the world discussed what we need to change. The Sustainability Dialogue on “Local action for biodiversity: the ignore solution?” hosted a discussion between cities, national governments and international organisations, which built on the work of IUCN and Countdown 2010 with local governments around the world, including Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Berlin, Bonn, Paris, Madrid, Zagreb, Cape Town. This event saw a lively debate among high level speakers like the Lady Mayor of Bonn, Ms Dieckmann, the Secretary of State for the Environment of Portugal, Mr Rosa, the Mayor of Bamako, Mr Sangare, to name just a few, and the public.
The key outcome of this event witnessed the launch of a Global Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity. This partnership will reinforce the role of local governments in the conservation of urban nature and biodiversity. It brings together UN agencies, international organizations, including ICLEI and IUCN, and local governments. Cooperation and coordination will improve the management and conservation of biodiversity through technical cooperation, capacity building projects and communication campaigns.
