Resort Municipality of Whistler - Whistler Council endorses UN International Year of Biodiversity, creates own challenge

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Whistler Council endorses UN International Year of Biodiversity, creates own challenge

December 21, 2009 ... The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has become a local government partner in the United Nations 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, which is a unique opportunity to increase understanding of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth.

Whistler Council also signed on to Countdown 2010, which is one of many International Year of Biodiversity initiatives. The RMOW has committed to help reach the 2010 Biodiversity Target, which is to "achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.”

"Residents and guests are attracted to Whistler for its natural assets and thoughtful connection to nature," said Mayor Ken Melamed. "Protecting biodiversity will continue to enhance our ecological capital while protecting social and economic assets. Launching the Whistler 2010 Biodiversity Challenge can inspire other communities to join Countdown 2010."

As a local government partner in Countdown 2010, the RMOW is launching the Whistler 2010 Biodiversity Challenge, which will include:

A celebration of the UN 2010 International Year of Biodiversity during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
An education campaign focused on proving that adding to protected areas supports biodiversity and socio-economic viability in our resort community setting.
Collaboration with community partners to share Whistler's biodiversity story with the world in 2010.
Identification of areas with high ecosystem and socio-economic value as potential protected areas that could added as inventory.
Showcasing Whistler as a destination that not only values, but invests in, biodiversity to enable our community and visitors to enjoy ecosystem services and values in perpetuity.

A key component of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity will be continued education and understanding of the exceptional natural assets in the Sea to Sky corridor. In 2010, the Whistler Centre for Sustainability will work to develop and implement grassroots biodiversity legacies for the Sea to Sky corridor.

“RMOW Council has taken a leadership role in continuing to advocate for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity,” says Cheeying Ho, Executive Director of the Whistler Centre for Sustainability. “Through five years of long range community planning through Whistler2020, citizens throughout the Sea to Sky corridor recognize and understand the importance of biodiversity for the future success of our region – protecting our spectacular environment that visitors come from around the world to experience.”