Editorial

Citation

Leal Filho, W. (2008), "Editorial", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 19 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2008.08319faa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 19, Issue 6

Welcome to another issue of MEQ. Readers will find on this issue a further set of papers handling matters related to the environment and environmental quality from various parts of the world.

This editorial is devoted to informing readers about the outcomes from the International Conference of the COmpetence NeTwork URban ECcology “Urban biodiversity and design – Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in towns & cities”, which was held on 21-24 May 2008 in Erfurt, Germany. The conference produced a document titled “THE ERFURT DECLARATION – URBIO 2008”, which states that because the increasing urban population, climate change and loss of biodiversity are all strongly connected and bearing in mind that since two-thirds of a considerably larger world population are predicted to be living in urban areas by 2050, the “Battle for life on Earth” will be lost or won in urban regions.

The role of urbanisation in the loss and degradation of global biodiversity was acknowledged in the local Agenda 21 processes and in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 and has been discussed in the subsequent eight Conferences of the Parties. Whilst cities pose major challenges for protecting biodiversity, the opportunities they offer have, so far, been understated.

A major step toward recognizing the potential of cities for biodiversity was made in Curitiba (Brazil) in March 2007, when a global partnership in “Cities and Biodiversity” was initiated by 34 mayors and numerous high-level officials from cities across all continents in order to engage local authorities to protect and sustain their unique contribution to global biodiversity.

At the Erfurt Conference, around 400 scientists, planners and other practitioners from around 50 countries summarized for the first time in a global context the current scientific and practical approaches of implementing the CBD in urban areas. This declaration reflects the views of the participants at the “Urbio 2008” conference that urban biodiversity is a vital part of achieving the aims of the CBD. The full declaration can be seen at: www.urbio2008.com

MEQ will report on developments related to biodiversity and keep its readers informed on the latest scientific development in this field. Enjoy your reading!

Walter Leal Filho