Announcement

Partnership Established between RCEN and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Montreal, November 10, 2009 - A strong partnership has been established between the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) and the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).

The new partnership aims to promote greater awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity amongst civil-society organizations in Canada and abroad and to support the Convention’s implementation.

To this end, the RCEN and the Secretariat have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will establish a collaborative framework that will facilitate cooperation in the following areas:

• RCEN will act as the host of the Canadian “Friends of the CBD” association for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and will support the SCBD in encouraging the establishment of similar organizations and promoting twinning arrangements;
• Communication and outreach on biodiversity including the International Year of Biodiversity, International Day for Biological Diversity and The Green Wave;
  
• RCEN’s mobilization of its Biodiversity Caucus to work with Canadians in reaching the objectives of the Convention within the context of current domestic needs and priorities;
• Ensure RCEN participation as an observer in relevant CBD meetings including the meetings of the Conference of the Parties;
• The SCBD will facilitate RCEN networking on biodiversity-related issues with civil society networks (e.g. youth, health, business and municipalities) and organizations located in other countries;
• Collaboration between SCBD and the RCEN Biodiversity Caucus through knowledge and capacity-building activities.

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention, said that “the signing of this Memorandum between the Convention and the representatives of Canadian civil society is of a high political significance. This agreement comes at time when the international community is engaged in the preparation of the International Year of Biodiversity aimed at establishing a universal global alliance for life on Earth. The establishment of the Canadian Friends of the CBD is an idea whose time has come and deserves to be emulated by other partners.”

“We hope that the signature of this Memorandum will enhance civil society’s awareness of the Convention within Canada and will ultimately help support the implementation of the Convention,” said Susan Tanner, RCEN Executive Director.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, based in Montreal since 1996, was established to support the goals of the Convention.