Nairobi 19
May 2008 - UNEP and UN-HABITAT, in collaboration
with ICLEI are both launching two publications
with selected case studies from around the
world on cities, ecosystems and biodiversity,
at the Mayors Conference - a parallel event
to the 9th Conference of the Parties of
the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
- in Bonn Germany on 28 May 2008.
Having occupied 2% of
the total land surface of Earth, cities
use 75% of the planet's natural resources.
This fact, combined with increasing levels
of urbanization and subsequent heavy reliance
on ecosystem services, has resulted in a
multitude of threats including habitat loss,
degradation and fragmentation, over-exploitation
of natural resources, invasion of alien
species, pollution and climate change.
Conversely, in the words
of Achim Steiner, UNEP's Executive Director,
"there are many shining examples of
intelligent management of the planet's nature-based
resources. The time has come to accelerate
and replicate them across the globe backed
by sufficient finance, creative market mechanisms,
and strengthening of efforts to achieve
the three objectives of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, including access to
genetic resources and benefit sharing, and
a new sense of urgency."
The two publications
titled 'Promoting Biodiversity in and around
the Lake Victoria basin' and 'Local Action
for Biodiversity, a Series of Local Cases'
highlight selected case studies from the
Lake Victoria basin and around the world
and describes how cities are cooperating
with national governments and other key
partners to utilize and conserve their surroundings.
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations and Executive Director
of UN-HABITAT states "these ongoing
initiatives demonstrate that local actions
aimed at achieving sustainable urban development
can effectively contribute to the attainment
of Millennium Development Goal 7 on environmental
sustainability and conservation of biodiversity."
The launch, expected
to convene Mayors and other key decision
makers of leading local governments in urban
biodiversity from around the globe, will
take place at the "Plaza of Biodiversity"
exhibition at 4.30p.m
For further information,
please contact: Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson,
Ms. Zahra Hassan, Press & Media Liaison,
Press & Media Relations Unit
Nick Nuttall, Spokesperson/Head of Media,
UNEP
