Introduction

World Environment Day (WED) is a day that stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and public action. The WED which is observed on June 5 of every year, was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was on 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition on the week that 5 June is on.

World Environment Day (WED), which aims to be the biggest global celebration for positive environmental action, is coordinated by UNEP.This year’s WED coincides with the International Year of Biodiversity which has also been declared by the UN. The IYB, was declared by the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly in 2006, and coincides with the date of the 2010 Biodiversity Target.
Rwanda has been selected to be the global host of World Environment Day 2010. As part of the global events, two key events are being lined up to mark both the WED and the IYB: the 2010 Gorilla Naming Ceremony popularly known as Kwita Izina, and an International Conference on Biodiversity.

The Theme of WED 2010

The theme of this year’s WED is “Many Species One Planet One Future.” It echoes the urgent call to conserve the diversity of life on our planet. Millions of people and millions of species all share the same planet, and only together can we enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
Through WED, we can employ our individual and collective power to stem the tide of extinction. Our conservation action has brought some species back from the brink, and has restored some vital natural habitats around the world. On WED, let us resolve to do much more, and much faster, to win the race against extinction!
The IYB provides opportunities to reflect on the achievements and failures in safeguarding biodiversity and to focus on the challenges before humanity.
The celebrations of the IYB provide unique opportunities to raise public awareness about the vital role of biodiversity in sustaining all life on earth, and providing the goods and ecosystem services that are vital for human wellbeing.
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In accordance with the objectives of the IYB, the specific objectives of the conference are:
1) Bring together and facilitate dialogue between key individuals from different institutions, in Government, Private Sector NGOs, donors and international agencies to exchange views and learn about programmes, challenges, and constraints of achieving the biodiversity targets and stemming the loss of biodiversity, globally and with specific reference to the ARR,
2) Report on the achievements and possible failures for not achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target,
3) Present, discuss and reflect on different approaches, and practices in biodiversity conservation and allow comparison of experiences and results;
4) Identify strategies and priority actions to meet long-term conservation needs of the ARR and its conservation areas and propose available opportunities for enhancing its contribution to human needs, livelihood and environmental security through the generation and application of knowledge,
5) Discuss the principles of large-scale biodiversity planning and their application to the management of the ARR as a unified ecological network,
6) Develop consensus on a common vision for future conservation of the ARR as well as the establishment of a Regional Ecological Network and Regional Centre of Excellence in biodiversity.

The Conference sessions will be designed to provide the best possible levels of participation and information relevant to conference theme. The conference will have an independent facilitator who will guide its conduct to ensure that timelines and objectives are fully met. It will be organized around plenary sessions, facilitated panel discussions and break-out groups that will address specific topics.
Conference papers and other contributions from the participants and relevant background materials will set the stage for subsequent debates, recommendations, resolutions action plan for the way forward.

Who should attend?
The two – day conference will bring together 150 –200 senior experts and other stakeholders; participation will be on invitation only. Participants will be representatives of governmental agencies, scholars, researchers, and experts from the private sector, NGOs, donors and international agencies, with experience or interests in biodiversity.
Participants will be invited either in their official capacity, with briefs to effectively represent their organizations, or in their individual capacities, based on relevant knowledge and experience. Invitations will be based on clear criteria: active in the conservation related development, committed and willing to contribute to its development, have relevant expertise and experience, and are interested and willing to contribute to the debates on biodiversity.

When and where will the Workshop place?
The one-day International Conference is scheduled take place on June 3, 2010 in Kigali. The venue and actual dates will be communicated in due course. All participants will arrive, at the Hotel on the eve of the workshop and depart in the morning of the fourth day.

1. Stronger and clearer process of regional co-operation as a vital tool of sharing experience and sharing lessons and developing and implementing programmes,
2. Stakeholders review existing programmes, issues, needs priorities and activities, and their contribution to achieving the 2010 biodiversity targets,
3. A Regional Consultative Committee set up to follow up on the conference resolutions and recommendations. Their TORs would include development of mechanisms that will facilitate regional exchanges on a regular basis.
4. Stakeholders and experts bring together diverse experience and knowledge, and provide key inputs for the development of appropriate approaches for the management of biodiversity
5. A series of status reports, background papers on key issues, and published workshop proceedings, resolutions and recommendation, record and document the experiences, achievements and lessons from the workshop for future reference
6. Definite proposals, resolutions, recommendation and inputs on for the post – 2010 targets and action plan developed to move forward with the new agenda.

The Conference

A professional Events Management Company will be hired to provide the logistics, translation and reporting services for the conference. The company will be supported by staff from REMA, RDB and other partner organizations.
The Event Manager will specifically be responsible for the following:
- Preparation and branding of the conference venue,
- Production of conference materials and their distribution to participants,
- Provide simultaneous translation ( English – French) during the conference,
- Registration of participants and provision of logistical support during the conference,
- Record all conference proceedings,
- Produce and circulate conference proceedings to all participants

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Francois Bizimungu Manager, Research and Monitoring, RDB
E-mail: bizifra@rwandatourism.com or bizifra@yahoo.fr
Telephone: (+250) 788525345

Or

Mr. Raphael Mpayana,
Coordinator, PAB Project, REMA
Email: rmpayana@gmail.com
Telephone: (+250) 0788355616