Born in Norway, Peter Schei grew up on a farm. He was always interested in nature and was often “out in the woods” with his father. But he started serious birdwatching first at the age of 19, when he was studying biology at the University of Oslo. He studied botany, mathematics, chemistry and biochemistry and graduated in 1971 with Cand. real. Zoology (between Master of Science and PhD)

Right after, Peter Schei joined Norway’s Ministry of the Environment as a scientific consultant and continued his career within the Ministry, taking various positions, including Head of Division. When he left the government, he was International Negotiations Director for Norway and was working with the Directorate of Nature Management, where he became Director General in 1989.

Starting in 1979 and on Peter was Head of the Norwegian delegation to many Conventions such as CITES, Bern Convention, Ramsar and “Biosafety” – protocol of negotiations. He was, and remains, closely involved with the Convention on Biological Diversity and is considered as one of its “founding fathers”. He has also worked with IUCN, as a member of the Commission on Parks and Protected Areas, the Species Survival Commission, and the Commission on Ecosystems Management. Peter was involved in various projects for the UN, among them the UN’s Millennium Project and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

He is currently the Director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, an independent foundation engaged in research on environmental, energy and resources management politics, and the Chairman of BirdLife International.

Curriculum Vitae

www.birdlife.org/worldwide/global/peter_schei_biog.html

www.fni.no/cv/cv-pjs.html