Mexico City Commits to Protect and Enhance Local Biodiversity, at the ICLEI 20th Anniversary World Congress

05/10/2010

Incheon, Korea: Mexico City signed the esteemed Durban Commitment at the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability 20th Anniversary World Congress, which opened today (5 October 2010) in Incheon, Korea.

Ms. Martha Delgado, the Minister of Environment for Mexico City signed the Commitment, developed by ICLEI’s global biodiversity programme: Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB), committing one of the world’s largest conurbations to enhanced local biodiversity management.

Kobie Brand, ICLEI’s Global Biodiversity Coordinator congratulated Mexico City on becoming a signatory to this prominent pledge: “Mexico City has joined the ranks of leading local governments from around the world who realize the critical role local governments play to preserve global biodiversity by implementing good biodiversity management in their cities. Cities and local authorities are key stakeholders in the battle to preserve the planet’s precious biodiversity and at ICLEI we are delighted to have Mexico City as a signatory to the Durban Commitment, and on board our Local Action for Biodiversity Programme.”

The Durban Commitment was developed in 2008 by the Local Action for Biodiversity team and the 21 international cities who took part in the initial phase of the LAB Programme, in Durban, South Africa. It was initially signed by all 21 cities and since then local governments from around the world that are taking the lead in local biodiversity management have added their signatures.

By signing the Durban Commitment signatories acknowledge that biodiversity is under threat due to human activities, and that cities are a critical part of the solution to this challenge. Signatories commit to promote, increase and enhance biodiversity within their administrative areas and they recognize that their ecological footprint extends beyond their administrative areas. By signing the Durban Commitment local governments pledge integration and consideration of biodiversity in all aspects of governance and development planning.

The Durban Commitment cements Mexico City’s dedication to global biodiversity management, and the need for the city to continuously implement the objectives of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2010 biodiversity targets.