Peter Johan Schei

Peter Johan Schei, born in 1945, is Director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) in Lysaker, Norway (since 2004). He was International Negotiation Director at the Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management / Norwegian Ministry of the Environment (1995-2004), Deputy Director (1985-1989) and Director General (1989-1995) at the Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management. Before he hold various positions (including Head of Division) at the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment (1973-1985) and various research and teaching positions at the University of Oslo (1996-1971).

Furthermore Peter J. Schei was Chair of Biodiversity in WEHAB (Water Energy Health Agriculture and Biodiversity), development for UN's Secretary General for WSSD (World Summit on Sustainable Development) (2002), Chair of SBSTTA (Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice under CBD) (1996-1997) and member of Bureau for SBSTTA (1994-1999). He also was Chair of UNEP-Panel (The scientific and technical bases for implementation of CBD) (1992-1993). From 1979 till 2004 he was Head of Norwegian delegations to various conventions, including CITES, the Bern Convention, CBD, Ramsar and 'Biosafety'- protocol negotiations. He was also the initiator of and chairman for the Trondheim Conferences on Biodiversity, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 and series editor for CABI Publishing's Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms Series (from 2004) (see Vol 1 Vol 2). Since 2004 Peter J. Schei is the Chair of International Council, Birdlife International.

His main research interests are in sustainable development, nature conservation and biodiversity issues at local, national and international levels, strategic planning and EIA-work, mainstreaming of biodiversity into economic sectors, development and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, planning and implementation of protected areas, threatened species, sustainable use issues and issues related to invasive alien species as well as national and international management of environmental polar issues.