Environmental

Edmonton's Global Conservation Commitments

The City of Edmonton is a proud partner in a growing number of international biodiversity conservation initiatives. Being part of international partnerships encourages the City to stay on the cutting edge of biodiversity protection, to stay connected to best practices in the field as they are being implemented around the world.

The Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity

As part of its commitment to the Local Action for Biodiversity project, the City of Edmonton has proudly endorsed the "Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity". This important Commitment acknowledges threats to urban biodiversity and the importance of its protection. In signing the Commitment, Edmonton declares its intention to conserve and enhance urban biodiversity and to integrate biodiversity considerations into governance and planning. By endorsing the Commitment, Edmonton also expresses its support for the IUCN Countdown 2010 Declaration.

Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Sustainability

Report to the Transportation and Public Works Committee (TPW)

Supplemental Information Report to TPW

IUCN Countdown 2010

The City of Edmonton has also joined the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Countdown 2010 initiative, an international network of government partners working to 'achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss’ by 2010. Each partner commits their own effort to achieve the target, and the secretariat - hosted by the IUCN - facilitates, promotes and assesses progress.

Edmonton's commitment to Countdown 2010 is part of an obligation made through the Durban Commitment, explained above.

For more information, visit Countdown 2010.

International Year of Biodiversity (IYB)

The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. The initiative is a celebration of life on earth, and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The City will be actively promoting through various programs, and through its involvement with the Local Action for Biodiversity project. The celebration of the IYB is being administered by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

IYB celebrations will culminate in the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.

For more information:

Office of Biodiversity

Telephone	311
Fax	780-496-1150
Email	naturalareas@edmonton.ca