Have you ever wanted to help biodiversity but lacked the means to do so? If so, then you are not alone. Local authorities may be critical actors in conserving biodiversity, but in times when biodiversity is repeatedly sidelined at all levels of governance, local authorities often lack sufficient implementation capacity and access to information to optimally manage their biodiversity.

This is why IUCN and ICLEI have developed a number of biodiversity-related training modules to further educate local administrators and practitioners from the width and breadth of each participating country. The modules are designed to foster political commitment and understanding of biodiversity conservation and enhancement, and to clarify the legal and policy framework for action. In practical terms, this should help you, as a local authority, to better integrate biodiversity into your planning and decision-making.

To ensure that the workshops are fully relevant to your municipality, local experts will be invited to speak, lead sessions and share their local knowledge.

The training modules comprise the following themes:

• Legal framework for biodiversity protection
• Biodiversity: introduction, trends and key issues (including international issues)
• Biodiversity in municipality planning and services
• Communication and biodiversity
• Climate change and biodiversity
• Fundraising for biodiversity

These modules will illuminate the funding mechanisms for local biodiversity and help practitioners to maximise the benefits of biodiversity to promote human well-being, safeguard ecosystem services, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The modules will be offered at regional one-day workshops taking place during the competitions in 2010 and 2011. Please click on your country flag to get to know more about venues, dates and topics.

In the morning sessions of most workshops there will be an opportunity to receive explanations on the concept and rules of the competition, as well as guidance on how to fill-out the pertaining Questionnaire and Monitoring System.