PRESERVING THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH:

AN OBJECTIVE OF THE UNITED NATIONS

By
Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary
of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Welcome by
Mr. Pierre-Marc Johnson, Former Premier of Québec

Monday June 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., registration at 7 p.m.

Hotel Hilton Montréal Bonaventure, Room Le Portage, Lobby level

900, de la Gauchetière Street West, Bonaventure Metro Station

Dr. Djoghlaf has pursued a distinguished diplomatic career that has included
postings with the Algerian government and the United Nations Environment
Programme. He has been General Rapporteur of the Preparatory Committee of
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED),
better known as the "Rio Summit" in 1992. In 2003 he was appointed Deputy
Executive Director of UNEP after serving as Director and Coordinator of the
Division of Global Environment Facility (GEF). He is also Deputy Secretary
General of the United Nations and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Algeria. Mr. Djoghlaf took office as Executive Secretary of
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) January 3, 2006.

Free admission. Registration required.

E-mail at acnu@uqam.ca (please write "reservation Lecture June 7, 2010"); Phone 514-987-3000 ext 7621.
Presentation in French followed by a question period in English and French.

This lecture will discuss the important issues related to the Convention on Biological Diversity as part of the UN
system and its mission with regard to world heritage of biodiversity. The Convention is an international treaty
signed in Rio de Janeiro on June 5, 1992 to preserve life’s diversity on earth. To date, 193 States and the
European Union are Parties to the Convention. After the Rio Summit, Canada was the first industrialized nation
to ratify the Convention in 1992. The City of Montreal is host to the Secretariat of the Convention since 1996
and, through a unique partnership, it has incorporated the Convention into its strategic plan for sustainable
development. The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and has convened a
Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the
Convention.

Mr. Djoghlaf will discuss the many challenges to the implementation of the treaty, as well as the various
mechanisms implemented over the last twenty years to achieve tangible results for each of the objectives of the
Convention, namely: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and the
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. He will also discuss the UN’s principles
and practices influencing national and local heritage in biodiversity.

This lecture will be of particular relevance to professionals and students in natural sciences, and to members of
local and national associations promoting biodiversity, and the general public.
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C I C Montréal
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DU CANADA