Forum on biodiversity in Curitiba (18-20 March 2006)

Objectives of the Forum

With the purpose of developing an initiative that is demand-driven, innovative and inclusive, the Decentralized Cooperation Programme of UNITAR, in collaboration with the World Conservation Union (IUCN), organized an initial consultation meeting for local authorities, back to back with the Eight Conference of the Parties (COP8) of the CBD, in Curitiba, Brazil, 18-20 March 2006. This Forum gathered around 70 participants from all around the world, including 50 representatives of local authorities and several representatives of the private sector and non governmental organizations.

The overall objective of this meeting was to identify the training needs of local authorities in biodiversity conservation in order to design training activities that are responsive to their specific needs.

More precisely, the Forum aimed at:
 Promoting the exchange of information and experiences between participants
 Gaining a broader understanding of their major concerns and assess their training needs
 Raising the importance of the role of local actors in biodiversity conservation at the 8th Conference of Parties of the CBD during a side-event organized on the opening-day of COP8, Monday 20th March 2006
 Encouraging the development of partnerships with the private sector and other organizations to support biodiversity actions at local level.

The Forum was a successful starting point for elaborating a strategy for capacity building activities for local authorities on biodiversity. The active involvement of the participants provided a broad insight of the major concerns, priorities and training needs of local authorities. It also revealed an extensive amount of knowledge and expertise at the local level. The next step of UNITAR’s initiative will include the gathering of these good practices and the development of strategic partnerships with key partners.

For further information on the Forum, please see below.