Our Goal: Conserving Edmonton's Natural Areas
The City of Edmonton works with many community and government conservation organizations to protect and manage Edmonton's natural areas and to engage the public in these activities. This allows us, together with our partners, to expand capacity and to seek inspiration in achieving our conservation goals.
The City of Edmonton is also a proud partner in a growing number of international biodiversity conservation initiatives. Being part of international partnerships encourages the City to stay on the cutting edge of biodiversity protection and to stay connected to best practices in the field as they are being implemented around the world. Examples of some of these commitments are below.
The Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity
As part of its commitment to the Local Action for Biodiversity project, the City of Edmonton has proudly endorsed the "Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity". This important Commitment acknowledges threats to urban biodiversity and the importance of its protection.
In signing the Commitment, Edmonton declares its intention to conserve and enhance urban biodiversity and to integrate biodiversity considerations into governance and planning. By endorsing the Commitment, Edmonton also expresses its support for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Countdown 2010 Declaration.
Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Sustainability
Report to the Transportation and Public Works Committee (TPW)
Supplemental Information Report to TPW
International Decade on Biodiversity
The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). The initiative was intended to be a celebration of life on earth, and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The City promoted the initiative through various programs, and through its involvement with the Local Action for Biodiversity project. The celebration of the IYB was administered by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Following 2010, the initiative was deemed of such continuing importance that it was extended to become the Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020). Countries around the world continue to take action to raise awareness about the value of biodiversity.