Friday June 12th marked the beginning of Urban Nature Forum 2009, a side event to the ICLEI World Congress 2009. The event was held in collaboration with ICLEI’s Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Initiative and IUCN’s Countdown 2010 programme. Speakers addressed the importance of conserving local urban biodiversity, accomplishments of the LAB Initiative and the vital role of local governments in biodiversity preservation.

 
Edmonton’s mayor, Stephen Mandel, and ICLEI president and deputy mayor of Vancouver welcomed participants. The event then began with equally high-level input from UN CBD Executive Secretary, Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf. The following two days included informative and participatory presentations and other forms of interaction, with twin foci on the global strategy-level and the hands-on practical level of biodiversity management at the level of local government.

For a brief summary of the content of the forum, please click here