2010 has been designated as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations, with the theme "Biodiversity for Development" which focuses on the celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity. To celebrate the start of the IYB, an official launch and celebrations took place on 8 January 2010 in Curitiba, Brazil.
Minister Mah, delivering the opening address as Guest-of-Honour at the second Curitiba Meeting on Cities and Biodiversity.
Prior to the launch, Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan gave the opening address as the Guest-of-Honour at the second Curitiba Meeting on Cities and Biodiversity on 7 January 2010. He commended Curitiba for its efforts in incorporating biodiversity considerations in urban planning, and highlighted the city as a model for sustainable development.
Although Curitiba and Singapore have different historical and cultural backgrounds, Minister Mah said in his address that he was "struck by how similar we are in our aspirations to create an economically vibrant city with a high-quality living environment." He also urged cities to come together to share knowledge, adopt best practices and find solutions to common problems.
Biodiversity in the Urban Heartlands
Rio de Janeiro and Singapore are currently the only two cities in the world with major protected tropical forests within their city limits. NParks will be following up after Minister Mah’s visit to explore opportunities for joint collaborations in research, to better manage these forests and their associated biodiversity environments.
Closer to home, NParks has launched a series of activities to raise public awareness of the rich biodiversity in Singapore. Targeted at schools and the general public, these activities include special programmes on designated dates such as Earth Day (22 April), International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May), and World Environment Day (5 June).
Residents of Singapore can also participate in the celebrations by volunteering for NParks' nature conservation projects, or by signing up for guided walks in parks and nature reserves to learn more about Singapore’s flora and fauna.
For more information on other IYB activities, click here.
Minister Mah meets with Mr. Jamie Lerner, the renowned architect and urban planner. Mr Lerner was three times mayor of Curitiba (1971, 1979, 1989) and also served as governor of Paraná (1994, 1998). Minister and Mr Lerner exchanged views on urban planning, including public housing policies in the context of a city-state.
A local guide shows Minister Mah and the delegation a collection of hunting and gathering tools used by the natives.
The various uses of local products derived from the Amazon forest were explained to Minister Mah and the delegation during their visit to the Cultural Centre of the Amazonia.