URBIS The Urban Biosphere Network Launched!

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1 URBIS The Urban Biosphere Network Launched! The Stockholm Resilience Center/UNESCO Urban Biosphere Network, URBIS, was launched at the Urban Biodiversity and Design Conference URBIO, Erfurt May, and the 1st Mayors Conference on Local Action for Biodiversity, at the 9th Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Bonn, May The research agenda and methodology were presented to Mayors and local authorities and links were forged with scientists, local authorities, local government networks and international organisations working in the urban landscape. At the 2 nd Stockholm Resilience Centre workshop Urban Social-Ecological Systems and Globalization held in Stockholm in April 2008, participants agreed that the value added and niche of the initiative resided in the link between science, policy and planning. The common research framework agreed upon by the urban research nodes rests upon exploring urban resilience, i.e the capacity of an urban landscape to sustain ecosystem services and provide equitable access to them under uncertainty and change. Practice is grounded in the development of new methodologies, tools, semantics and learning arenas for governance of ecosystem services, urban design and ecosystem restoration at the appropriate scale. The need for a strong planning and policy link had been validated by the Madrid Action Plan adopted at the 20 th session of MAB-ICC in Madrid, February Delegates recognised that a number of areas are either considering or have applied the Biosphere Reserve principles within their jurisdiction, with the intention of using the concept as a tool for planning and managing sustainable urban development. Thus the Action Plan recommended the establishment of a mechanism for Biosphere reserves to address urban issues at a regional scale. The mechanism and policy edge is now provided by URBIS, the Urban Biosphere network, a global network of innovators integrating research, practice and policy and acting as a pressure group at all levels from the local to the intergovernmental for adaptive governance of the urban landscape in times of uncertainty and change. The network is a collaboration among sites but also a strategic partnership between SRC and UNESCO with the goals of 1) bridging the gap between science and practice, 2) developing innovative and adaptive systems of governance of the urban landscape at the appropriate scale and 3) create platforms for public interest that foster equity and resilience. Newsletter no 1 JULY 2008 URBIS - URBAN BIOSPHERE NETWORK URBIS is a joint initiative between UNESCO and Stockholm Resilience Centre with the aim of linking science with policy and practice for developing adaptive governance of urban landscapes

2 2 The Urban Biosphere Network, URBIS, aims to reestablish the connection between people and their natural environment through innovative forms of knowledge networking and governance of the urban landscape The Erfurt conference: The mission and vision of URBIS were presented by Thomas Elmqvist in Urban Ecosystems services and urban biospheres in a panel on Urban biosphere reserves and master planning for biodiversity moderated by Christine Alfsen. Thomas presentation highlighted the link between science, planning and policy through the Atlas on urban ecosystems which not only maps hot spots and cold spots of ecosystem services but also access to these services within an urban context. The planning and policy arena provided by the URBIS network is the arena for an informed discussion and adaptive governance of ecosystem services and ways and means to keep them functioning and accessible to all. Peter Marcotullio (CUNY Hunter College) presented a research prospectus for a two year project CUNY is proposing on Vulnerability in New York Social Ecological System. Ruida Stanvliet s presentation made on her behalf by Andre Mader presented the value added of the urban biosphere concept in the context of Cape Town and Stellenbosch.A panel discussion followed with Q & A session which made it obvious that the Urban Biosphere network concept has appeal for a number of cities /urban groups represented. Berlin insisted on the sustainability branding aspect of the concept while Rome remarked they were close to submitting an application to UNESCO. The Mayors Conference was organised by the City of Bonn and ICLEI with a view to presenting ministers and government representatives assembled at the COP 9 of the CBD the point of view, perspectives and aspirations of mayors and local authorities on biodiversity and other environmental challenges facing cities. Another important goal of the Mayor s Conference was to support the adoption at COP 9 of a Decision that would give the Cities a boost to implement the CBD at their level. The decision adopted by COP 9 (UNEP/CBD/COP9/WG.2/L3, see Annex) represents a mile-stone, for the first time cities are explicitly involved in the implementation of CBD. The decision recognises the critical role Cities and local authorities play in designing and implementing land use and zoning tools, urban development and infrastructure guidelines, investment promotion and consumer awareness campaigns, all of which have direct effect on biodiversity and also encourages parties to recognise the role of cities and local authorities in their national biodiversity strategies and actions plans. The SRC/UNESCO team presented the SRC urban research theme and the URBIS network as two sides of the same coins and emphasized the need for urban planning to be informed by multidisciplinary science, the need to bridge temporal and spatial scales for a better apprehension and management of the urban landscape and the need to invest in knowledge, expect changes and realise we may not control forces shaping urbanisation or urban growth. Thomas Elmqvist made a presentation in the panel on urban biodiversity while Christine Alfsen moderated a panel on urban ecosystems. Aaron Durnbaugh, Deputy Commissioner of Environment, Chicago presented Chicago biodiversity strategy based on a regional protection and acquisition of lands, a comprehensive research network (Chicago Wilderness) and a strong education and awareness campaign.

3 3 The Bonn Call for Action shaped and adopted by the Mayor s Conference offers local partnerships for biodiversity, emphasizes the role of ecosystems in supporting life and local economies and proposes a global framework for cities to collaborate at the global level through the establishment of: The Cities & Biodiversity Initiative. The Mayor of Bonn, Montreal and Nagoya gave a short presentation at the high level segment of COP 9 to present the Cities & Biodiversity Initiative and make the case for greater devolution of power and resources to Local authorities in implementation of the CBD principles of conservation, sustainable use and equitable access to biological resources. Local Authorities networks such as ICLEI, LAB, as well as networks such as Countdown 2010 and IUCN are very active in promoting the role of cities and their governments in biodiversity management. This comes from a growing realisation that knowledge, resources and innovation potential are mostly found in urban centers and thus the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities. The case for investing time, energy and resources in urban biodiversity rests on many arguments but one of the most compelling one is that urban biodiversity is, and will increasingly be, the only biodiversity people are exposed to. Thus an increased investment in education and awareness of that local biodiversity will have benefits much beyond city boundaries. Next steps and venues for networking: 1. IUCN World Conservation Congress Barcelona, Spain, 5-14 October ICLEI meeting in Edmonton Canada, June World Expo: Better City, Better life in Shanghai, China, May 1- October 31st Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 10 in Nagoya, Japan, October 2010 Secretary General of CBD, Ahmed Djoghlaf and Lady Mayor of Bonn, Bärbel Dieckmann, present the Mayors conference in Bonn 3

4 4 The URBIS network invites cities and groups to participate in developing science, policy and practice for resilience in urban landscapes Bangalore Current members of the URBIS network: Bangalore Canberra Cape Town Chicago Helsinki Istanbul Johannesburg New Delhi New Orleans New York City Phoenix Stockholm Contact: Christine Alfsen Senior Programme Specialist for Sciences UNESCO Office in New York 2 United Nations Plaza Room 900 New York NY Tel: (212) alfsen-norodom@un.org Thomas Elmqvist Dept of Systems Ecology, and STOCKHOLM RESILIENCE CENTRE Stockholm University SE Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 (0) , +46 (0) thomase@ecology.su.se Links:

5 IX/28. Promoting engagement of cities and local authorities The Conference of the Parties, Recalling chapter 28 of Agenda 21 adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, on the role of cities and local authorities, and objective 4.4 of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity ( Key actors and stakeholders are engaged in partnership to implement the Convention and are integrating biodiversity concerns into their relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes, and policies ), Noting that, while responsibilities for implementation of the Convention rest primarily with the Parties, there are multiple reasons for promoting the engagement of cities and local authorities in the implementation of the Convention, including the following: (a) The accelerated rate of urbanization, particularly in developing countries, increasingly concentrates decision-making and resources in cities, creating opportunities for managing better the consumption of resources that impact on biological diversity; (b) Urban experiences in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use can contribute to strengthening national policies, regional strategies, and global agendas on biodiversity; (c) Cities and local authorities play a critical role in designing and implementing land-use and zoning planning tools, urban development and infrastructure guidelines, investment promotion, and consumer awareness campaigns, all of which have direct effects on biodiversity, and in particular on water, climate change, protected areas, agriculture and forests, marine and coastal biodiversity and communication, education, and public awareness; (d) Cities and local authorities are in direct contact with, and have direct influence on biodiversity managers and users at the local level; Reiterating paragraph 8 (s) of decision IX/8, urging Parties in developing, implementing and revising their national and, where appropriate, regional, biodiversity strategies and action plans, and equivalent instruments, in implementing the three objectives of the Convention, to promote and support local action for the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, by integrating biodiversity considerations into subnational and local level assessments and planning processes, and, as and where appropriate, the development of subnational and local biodiversity strategies and/or action plans, consistent with national strategies and action plans; Noting the meeting on Cities and Biodiversity held in Curitiba, Brazil, from 26 to 28 March, 2007, which highlighted the crucial importance of the involvement of cities and local authorities in the global efforts towards the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention, Noting the contribution of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Urban Environment Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme, and other United Nations agencies and organizations, in mobilizing key cities and promoting the exchange of experience on urban biodiversity best practices, and the importance of voluntary initiatives such as ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and its Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Project, IUCN s Countdown 2010 initiative, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the World Mayors Council on Climate Change (WMCCC) and its biodiversity component, the World Association of Major Metropolises ( Metropolis ), and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, inter alia, in addressing biodiversity issues efficiently through local action, Recognizing the importance of the cooperation between key cities for the Convention on Biological Diversity, which also stand as global references for their initiatives on urban biodiversity, such as Bonn, as host of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Curitiba, as host of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Nagoya, as representative of candidate cities for the hosting of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and Montreal as host of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, /

6 UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29 Page 150 Acknowledging the contribution made by the Mayor s Conference on Cities and Biodiversity held in Bonn, Germany, on May 2008, organized by the City of Bonn, InWent and ICLEI, prior to the high-level segment of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1. Takes note of the Declaration on Cities and Biodiversity adopted in March 2007 in Curitiba, Brazil, by 24 cities and international organizations; 2. Welcomes leading international events to promote sustainable urbanization and biodiversity-friendly cities, such as the World Cities Summit ( Livable and Vibrant Cities ) in Singapore, 23 to 25 June 2008, and the World Expo 2010 ( Better City, Better Life ) in Shanghai, China, from 1 May to 31 October 2010; 3. Encourages Parties, in accordance with national legislation, to recognize the role of cities and local authorities in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, to facilitate the adoption by cities and local authorities of practices that support the implementation of these strategies and action plans, and to support the development of local biodiversity strategies and action plans consistent with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans; 4. Invites Parties, other Governments, regional and international development agencies and banks engaged in projects that include infrastructure development for cities and local authorities, to integrate biodiversity considerations into those projects, where relevant, and explore options for specific capacity-building and programmes on biodiversity for local officials responsible for their implementation and maintenance; 5. Invites Parties, other Governments and international development agencies to support and assist cities and local authorities in encouraging and promoting practices, activities and innovations of Indigenous and Local Communities that support the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and achievement of the 2010 biodiversity target; 6. Invites Parties to engage their cities and local authorities, where appropriate, in: (a) The application of relevant tools and guidelines developed under the Convention with a view to contributing to the achievement of the three objectives of the Convention and its goals and targets; and (b) The compilation of information on biodiversity status and trends, including communicating to National Governments any commitments and activities that will contribute to the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. /