HYDERABAD READY TO HOST THE WORLD BIODIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Montreal, 11 October 2011 –The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ahmed Djoghlaf, paid a working visit to India from 5 to 8 October 2011 to discuss preparations for the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and its sixth meeting serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, from 1 to 19 October 2012. 

Mr. Djoghlaf met with India’s Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, on the margins of the Ministerial Dialogue on Green Economy and Inclusive Growth, hosted by India and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, in New Delhi on 3 October 2011. Mr. Djoghlaf and Ms. Natarajan discussed preparations for the high-level segment of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be hosted by India from 17 to 19 October 2012. 

Mr. Djoghlaf also held discussions with Mr. T. Chatterjee, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; Mr. M. F. Farooqui, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests; and, Mr. Hem Pande, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Meetings with senior officials included discussions on the events being organized by the Convention Secretariat in conjunction with the meeting, including the business forum, which will include high-level meetings between business leaders and government officials, and the Hyderabad Cities and Biodiversity Summit, which will feature governors and mayors from around the world and is tentatively scheduled for 16-17 October 2012.

On the occasion of the visit of the Executive Secretary, which comes exactly one year before the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of Environment and Forests of India, stated that India stands prepared to welcome the international community to India for the meeting.

Reiterating India's commitment to the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, she stated that the slogan of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, “Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita” (“Nature Protects if She is Protected”), appropriately reflects the reverence for biodiversity deep-rooted in Indian culture. She further highlighted that conservation of biodiversity is a national imperative for the country since livelihoods of millions of our people is dependent on it. Referring to the five issues identified by India for the high-level segment of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the Minister emphasized India's commitment as a megadiverse country to assume an important role in dealing with biodiversity agenda at the global level.

Mr. Djoghlaf also visited the Hyderabad International Convention Centre and had a series of meetings with local authorities from the State of Andra Pradesh, as well as municipal leaders. He met with the Chief Secretary, as well as Mr. M. Samuel, Special Chief Secretary to the Government in charge of the environment. The Hyderabad Cities and Biodiversity Summit to was discussed at a meeting with Mr. M. T. Krishna Babu, Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, as well as with Ms. Banda Karthika Chandra Reddy, the Mayor of Hyderabad.

Following his visit, Mr. Djoghlaf stated that: “India is ready to host the world biodiversity summit and to lead by example in promoting the biodiversity agenda at both the international and national levels.”