UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

On the occasion of World Environment Day, several strategic organizations came together to disseminate an important environmental message to the Group of 8, and to put attention on the 2010 Biodiversity Target from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as they relate to biodiversity, climate change and development cooperation.

Press Conference and Message to the G8 summit

Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, presented the message to the G8 Summit, calling on G8 participants to take leadership on these issues and contribute to a strong political momentum for renewed commitments to combating climate change and conserving biodiversity.

Olav Kjørven, UNDP Assistant Director General, welcomed participants and called for a round of applause for the winners of the Equator Prize.

Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary for the Environment, Germany, said the message to the G8 will support Germany’s efforts in advancing the international climate change and biodiversity agendas.

Policy Dialogue - Panel I

Panel I addressed key policy issues relating to climate change and biodiversity conservation. L-R: Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary; Christain Ruck, MP, Germany; Michael Hofmann, BMZ; Camilla Toulmin, International Institute for Environment and Development; Michael Jenkins, Forest Trends; and Manfred Niekisch, IUCN.

Manfred Niekisch, Regional Councillor of IUCN and Chair of the Programme and Policy Committee, moderated the day’s first panel discussion.

Michael Jenkins, Forest Trends, said that forest protection contributes to combating climate change, maintaining ecosystem services and conserving biodiversity.

Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, said that the CBD needs to move beyond the conservation of species and habitats towards mainstreaming biodiversity into all sectors.

Camilla Toulmin, International Institute for Environment and Development, said environmental policies, such as subsides for biofuels, should not lead to negative impacts on development.

Dr. Christian Ruck, Member of the German Bundestag, stressed the importance of parliamentary hearings and decisions at the EU level in providing useful opportunities to have a positive influence. As impediments, he noted the division between national and international policy making and divergences among NGO policies and strategies.

Policy Dialogue - Panel II

Panel II addressed options for implementation. L-R: Martin Meister, GEO Magazine; Benson Venegas, ANAI, Talamanca Initiative; Sven Harmeling, Germanwatch; Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary for the Environment, Germany; Peter Seligmann, Conservation International; Olav Kjørven, UNDP; and Jeff McNeely, IUCN.

Martin Meister, from GEOMedia, moderated the day’s second panel discussion

Peter Seligman, Conservation International, said that today the main issue is not whether action is necessary, but how fast we can take action to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary for the Environment, Germany, said that industrialized countries have the responsibility to protect and restore their own biodiversity and to help poor countries protect theirs.

Jeff McNeely, chief scientist at IUCN, emphasized the need to raise awareness about economic threats and opportunities within the private sector can become an important supporter of environmental policy if there are clear opportunities.

Sven Harmeling, Germanwatch, described NGO activities related to avoiding deforestation and adaptation to climate change.

Martin Meister and Peter-Matthias Gaede, GEO Magazine, chatting in the Dinosaur Hall of the Museum for Nature Conservation.

GeoMedia Photo Exhibition

Noting that 2010 will also be the International Year of Biological Diversity, Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, commended the exhibition for bringing biodiversity to the people by raising awareness about biodiversity loss and related problems.

Visitors at the “Nature—Our Precious Net” photo exhibition study the selection of photographs taken for GEO Magazine depicting the astonishing array of biological diversity on Earth

Community representatives from the Village of Andavadoaka, Madagascar, observe the Equator Prize winners’ posters, which highlight their respective efforts towards achieving the MDGs

Equator Prize Award Ceremony and Dinner

Charles McNeill, UNDP, opened the Equator Prize award Ceremony and dinner, noting that all participants can learn from the success of the winners in finding local solutions to environmental challenges.

Designed by Zimbabwean artist, Morgan Chijumani, from the Shona people, the Equator Prize trophies were carefully crafted to capture the unique characteristics of each community project.

Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, presented the Equator Prize to representatives of the Village of Andavadoaka, Madagascar, for their success in sustainably managing octopus resources.

Peter Seligmann, Conservation International, presented the Equator Prize to Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, Bangladesh, for establishing a network of river-boat based educational resource centers to deliver information on sustainable agricultural practices and market prices.

Jeff McNeely, IUCN, presented the Equator Prize to Alimentos Nutri-Naturales, Guatemala, a local initiative that has resolved malnutrition, rural poverty and dependence on imported food stuffs by marketing Maya-nut-based school lunches to local school districts.

Gudrun Grosse-Wiesmann, BMZ, presented the Equator Prize to Asociación de Mujeres de Isabella “Pescado Azul, ” Ecuador, for marketing tuna smoked with guava wood as a way of promoting alternative uses of marine resources and controlling an invasive plant species.

Benson Venegas, ANAI, Talamanca Initiative, presented the Equator Prize to Shompole Community Trust, Kenya, for creating a robust, profit-driven eco-tourism venture, benefiting the Massai people, while conserving vast scenic grasslands and savannahs.

Ahmed Djoghlaf (left), CBD Executive Secretary, and Gudrun Grosse-Wiesmann (right), signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the CBD and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) for increased capacity development support to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity

Gudrun Grosse-Wiesmann, BMZ, lauded the winners’ contributions to biodiversity conservation and reiterated Germany’s commitment to contribute 0.7 percent of GDP to international development assistance by 2015.

In his closing remarks Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, thanked the winners and all partners of the Equator Initiative for their commitment to implementing the CBD.

The winners of the Equator Prize 2006

After receiving their Equator Prize award, the community representatives from Shompole Community Trust, Kenya, showed their gratitude by performing a traditional Maasai dance.

At the Equator Prize award ceremony, the community representatives from Kenya and Madagascar displayed their traditional dancing skills to contemporary jazz music.

Peter Seligmann, CEO of Conservation International, and Charles McNeill, UNDP Environment Programme Team Manager, at the Equator Prize award dinner

Christian Ruck and members of the GTZ team give their “thumbs-up” to a successful day of celebration and commemoration.

On behalf of UNDP and the Equator Initiative Board, we would like to thank all those involved for making the June 5 World Environment Day celebrations a success. The third Equator Prize award process has once more demonstrated the vitality of existing community efforts that aim to effectively reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.