Saint-Laurent and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to Cooperate on Promoting Urban Biodiversity

SAINT-LAURENT, QC, June 18, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Saint-Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa and Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed a letter of agreement today to promote their common vision on urban biodiversity. In more concrete terms, the agreement will materialize through the exchange of knowledge as well as through the development of activities and tools.

"Cities have a key role to play, through their enabling powers, in order to integrate sustainable development—including measures to promote urban biodiversity—into land-use planning as well as into their other areas of intervention, such as local services," stated Mayor DeSousa. "Through the exchange opportunities that will be created thanks to this agreement, Saint-Laurent and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity are laying the foundations of a new cooperation model that may become a source of inspiration for a number of municipalities all over the world."

"Here, at the CDB's Secretariat, we are very pleased to express our support for Saint-Laurent's numerous innovations to restore nature to the urban environment. We are willing to help Mayor DeSousa and his team to globally promote and share such initiatives as the Bibliothèque du Boisé, the Éco-campus and the Bylaw on greener parking facilities, in order to inspire a change in the way we live and appreciate nature in the city," stated Mr. Dias.

As a first gesture within its collaborative efforts, Saint-Laurent and the Secretariat have jointly published information sheets on the three above-mentioned projects. These fact sheets explain how these projects meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in addition to providing cities and organizations with possible ways and means of beginning the implementation of similar initiatives.

This signing event took place at the Bibliothèque du Boisé, recognized for its architectural quality and for its harmonious integration into the natural woodland alongside it. A real oasis of biodiversity in an urban environment, the Bibliothèque du Boisé is in fact the first library to have received LEED Platinum certification for green building in Canada.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future.

The conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of humankind. The Convention on Biological Diversity covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic resources. It also covers biotechnology including through the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In fact, it covers all possible domains that are directly or indirectly related to biodiversity and its role in development, ranging from science, politics and education to agriculture, business, culture and much more.

The CBD's governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and commit to work plans.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is based in Montréal. Its main function is to assist governments in the implementation of the CBD and its programmes of work, to organize meetings, draft documents, and coordinate with other international organizations and collect and spread information. The Executive Secretary is the head of the Secretariat.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent

Source: Direction d'arrondissement, Division des communications et des relations avec les citoyens; Information: Geneviève Bouchard, chargée de communications, Ville de Montréal, Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent, 514 855-6000, ext. 4058, ville.montreal.qc.ca/saint-laurent; Oliver Hillel, Programme Officer, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 514 287-7009, www.cbd.int