21 February 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has reported on UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity Edward Norton’s visit to Rwanda. Accompanied by CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf, Norton met with Rwanda’s Prime Minister Bernard Makuza and other country officials to learn about national actions towards the sustainable management of biodiversity.

In his conversations with local UN officials, Norton stressed the need to mainstream biodiversity within the UN Delivering as One initiative. Rwanda is one of eight pilot countries under the initiative, which is a larger UN reform process that seeks to strengthen partnerships between the UN and the local governments. One of the aims of Delivering as One is to develop sound environmental management capacities to improve the sustainability of natural resources and expand biodiversity.

Rwanda also is implementing major conservation projects with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). These projects aim to strengthen the national protected area system in the montane forests, and to secure the conservation and sustainable use of critical watershed and wetland ecosystems. Further GEF funding will be made available for a forest landscape restoration initiative.

Upon the conclusion of his visit, Norton described Rwanda’s commitment and action for biodiversity as inspiring examples to draw on in his advocacy work. [CBD Notification]