One of the twenty broad elements agreed by governments at the United Nations conference on biodiversity is a Plan of Action on Sub-national Governments, Cities and other Local Authorities and Biodiversity (2011-2020). It was formally agreed on the closing day of the tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD COP) in Nagoya, Japan. The plan provides guidelines for national governments to support their local authorities towards the mutually beneficial goal of achieving the objectives of the CBD.

Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said IUCN was increasingly recognizing the importance of the urban and local dimensions;
“Many decisions which affect biodiversity are taken at the local level, that’s why IUCN strongly supports efforts by local authorities towards biodiversity conservation. In this respect, IUCN supports the adoption of the CBD Plan of Action on Sub-national Governments, Cities and Local Authorities,” she said. “IUCN hopes that adoption of this Plan of Action will lead to a joint effort of national and local governments, and stands ready to support better management and conservation of our precious natural resources in cities, towns and other urban areas around the world.”

The acceptance of the Plan by the Parties is expected to move local governments up on the international biodiversity agenda and further facilitate the critical support needed for them to support their nations in the implementation of the CBD.
Source: ICLEI, 28 Oct