The International Symposium on Managing Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems convened from 8-10 November 2001 in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Building in Montreal, Canada. The Symposium was organized by the United Nations University (UNU), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). This three-day Symposium brought together approximately 140 participants from the academic, government, research and nonprofit worlds to share experiences, case studies, initiatives and ideas on the management of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems.

The Symposium was organized on a thematic basis covering the topics of: crop and livestock genetic resources; associated biodiversity and agro-ecosystem services; and landscape, scale and change. Each day addressed a different theme, with presenters offering their research in sessions focused on specific aspects within the broader topic. Poster displays outside the meeting halls further explored the thematic areas. The Symposium's objectives were to: advance understanding of the complex process and mechanisms for on-farm management of biodiversity and their relation with farmers' livelihoods; compare and exchange experiences in encouraging profitable management practices and systems of biodiversity on farm; identify lessons learned for policy and capacity building; and contribute to, and promote, the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Agricultural Biodiversity.