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New administrator named for UN-managed treaty on biological diversity

New administrator named for UN-managed treaty on biological diversity

Ahmed Djoghlaf
The former assistant director of the United Nations environmental agency has been appointed new administrator of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), effective 1 January 2006, it was announced today.

The former assistant director of the United Nations environmental agency has been appointed new administrator of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), effective 1 January 2006, it was announced today.

As the new Executive Secretary of the treaty, which is administered by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has its headquarters in Montreal, Canada, Ahmed Djoghlaf of Algeria will help manage efforts to stem the destruction of endangered species and their habitats around the world, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

Mr. Djoghlaf, who takes over from Hamdallah Zedan of Egypt, has extensive experience in the field of the environment, biodiversity and multilateral organizations, according to UNEP. Since 1996, he has been Director of UNEP's Division of Global Environment Facility Coordination, based in Nairobi, Kenya, directing the agency’s activities related to the multibillion dollar global facility fund.

“It will be a great loss for UNEP to see Ahmed Djoghlaf go,” Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s Executive Director, said today. “He has truly transformed our role within the Global Environment Facility and he will be sorely missed. But our loss is the CBD’s gain. Mr Djoghlaf has the skills, the intellect and experience to take this important convention forward into the 21st century.”

The Convention on Biological Diversity was established at the so-called "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.