Introduction
- The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP-16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Cali, Colombia, has made notable strides in biodiversity conservation.
- Originally scheduled to conclude by November 1, the conference extended beyond its deadline as nearly 190 nations worked towards crucial agreements on biodiversity targets and funding.
- Building on the framework set by COP-15’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022, COP-16 sets the stage for ambitious targets to curb biodiversity loss by 2030.
Key Achievements of COP-16
- Cali Fund: The Cali Fund, a significant outcome of COP-16, is designed to ensure fair benefit-sharing from digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. Importantly, 50% of the fund will support the specific needs of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, with a focus on empowering women and youth in biodiversity conservation efforts.
- Permanent Subsidiary Body for Indigenous and Local Communities: A permanent subsidiary body dedicated to the representation of Indigenous groups and local communities in conservation efforts will be established, acknowledging the central role these groups play in ecosystem stewardship and biodiversity preservation.
- Strategy for Resource Mobilization: A key outcome of COP-16 is the agreement to develop a “Strategy for Resource Mobilization” to secure $200 billion annually by 2030, funding global biodiversity initiatives. This financial strategy supports a range of conservation projects and provides the necessary resources to achieve biodiversity targets.
- Guidelines for Managing Invasive Alien Species: COP-16 introduced comprehensive guidelines to tackle the growing threat of invasive alien species, which can severely impact local ecosystems. New measures include databases for tracking invasive species, improved cross-border trade regulations, and partnerships with e-commerce platforms to control the spread of these species.
- Improved Identification Process for Marine Areas: COP-16 also revised the process for identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) to enhance protection of critical marine biodiversity areas.
- Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health: Recognizing the link between biodiversity and health, COP-16 approved a Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health to address zoonotic diseases, reduce non-communicable diseases, and promote sustainable ecosystems. This plan reinforces the vital connection between ecosystem health and human well-being.
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What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, is a landmark global treaty focused on preserving biodiversity. Alongside the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), the CBD seeks to address biodiversity threats. With 196 participating nations, the CBD works through:
- Scientific assessments to monitor and manage biodiversity.
- Innovative tools, incentives, and processes for conservation.
- Technology transfer and knowledge sharing among member nations.
- Active participation from stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, NGOs, and the business sector.
- Objectives of CBD: The CBD’s core objectives are:
- Conservation of biodiversity
- Sustainable use of its resources
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources and traditional knowledge
- Protocols: The CBD includes two protocols aimed at supporting its objectives:
- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: Focuses on the safe handling of genetically modified organisms to protect biodiversity.
- The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing: Regulates the commercial use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
- The CBD’s primary decision-making body, the Conference of the Parties (COP), convenes every two years to evaluate progress and set priorities. The CBD Secretariat, based in Montreal, coordinates implementation efforts and international collaboration.
Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation
Population Growth and Resource Demand:
- Rising global population and increased demand for Convention on Biological Diversity resources are straining ecosystems, leading to deforestation and resource over-exploitation. The Amazon, in particular, faces severe biodiversity loss due to deforestation.
Habitat Loss and Degradation:
- Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation are accelerating biodiversity loss. Overexploitation, introduction of invasive species, and spread of diseases compound these threats, pushing species toward extinction.
Climate Change:
- Climate change, with its effects on temperature and sea levels, disrupts ecosystems and accelerates species extinction. For instance, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has lost significant coral cover due to warming seas.
Threat from Exotic Species:
- Invasive alien species, which are non-native to ecosystems, pose serious threats to biodiversity. According to CBD, invasive species have contributed to about 40% of known animal extinctions since the 17th century, highlighting the need for strong control measures.
Unsustainable Government Policies:
- Policies focused on development without adequate ecological safeguards can drive biodiversity loss. In the Amazon, for example, deforestation is often fueled by policies promoting land conversion for agriculture and infrastructure.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)
- The KMGBF, adopted at COP-15 in 2022, is an international treaty aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
- It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and builds on the lessons of the 2011–2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.
- Key goals include the restoration of at least 30% of degraded ecosystems across land, water, and marine areas. The KMGBF envisions a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Concerns Regarding the Global Biodiversity Framework
Weak Legal Language:
- Conservationists, including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), caution that the framework’s weak language around protecting critical ecosystems and regulating unsustainable consumption could undermine its goals.
Lack of a Mandatory Ratcheting Mechanism:
- Unlike the Paris Agreement, the KMGBF does not have a mechanism for regular review and enhancement of targets, which could limit the framework’s adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
Implementation Challenges:
- Achieving the KMGBF’s targets requires robust implementation mechanisms to avoid the unfulfilled promises of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
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Way Forward
- Stakeholder Participation: Protecting biodiversity requires cooperation from all sectors, including agriculture, energy, trade, and finance. Multi-sectoral engagement is critical to mainstream biodiversity conservation in decision-making.
- Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Sectors: Integrating biodiversity conservation into national economic, social, and policy frameworks can ensure it becomes a collective responsibility across society.
- Integrated Ecosystem Management: An ecosystem-based management approach, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of species and habitats, is key to sustaining biodiversity.
- Improving Governance: Good governance, especially in developing countries, is essential to enforce biodiversity regulations, prevent resource exploitation, and protect ecosystems.
- Aligning Financial Institutions with Biodiversity Goals: International financial institutions and development banks should ensure that their investments support biodiversity goals, favoring sustainable projects that conserve ecosystems.
