Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Launches Initiative on Global Biodiversity Impact Indicators for Commodity Production

 

Pyeongchang, 16 October 2014. Understanding that the impacts of agricultural commodity production on biodiversity are immense and that food commodity production has the largest environmental impact of any human activity, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity launched the Initiative on Biodiversity Impact Indicators for Commodity Production on World Food Day. The initiative includes partners such as WWF, IUCN, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and others.

Incomes and consumption are projected to increase to the point that it is expected that the world will need to roughly double food production by 2050. This implies incredible pressures on land and water, which efficiency and technology solutions will not be able to reduce sufficiently. It is key to achieve sustainable agricultural commodity production with less impact on biodiversity.

The purpose of the initiative is to identify the major types of impacts on biodiversity caused by global agricultural commodity production and to measure progress towards more sustainable production.

Based on these impacts, the initiative will then focus on formulating corresponding performance indicators in order to track performance around the major impacts identified. This will be clear and consistent for producers across various sectors and applicable to different regions.

“With the hands-on guidance developed by the initiative, commodity producers will be able to identify their impacts on biodiversity and to apply practices to reduce these impacts. It will be a major move towards more sustainable agricultural commodity production” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“We will reach out to those commodity producers and companies that are not yet committed to sustainable business actions. It is a fact that a disproportionate amount of adverse environmental impacts from agricultural production is caused by only a few worst performing producers. If we can reach out to these companies by providing a basic guidance on how to reduce biodiversity impacts, we can really achieve major change” he said.

The initiative will also disseminate outcomes of this work to governments and standard bodies, and partners and networks who can take them into their own work. A number of initiatives on supply chains could make use of these indicators and guidance to urge that companies use them, contributing to broad mainstreaming of biodiversity on all levels.

The initiative allows for the integration and mainstreaming of biodiversity into agricultural commodity production activities on a wide scale - such that habitats and ecosystems are no longer threatened and such that food security in the near future can be achieved.

For more information on the initiative, please contact Kristina Neumann at Kristina.neumann@cbd.int

Governments Commit to Significant Funding Increase and Accelerated Action to Achieve Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development

Pyeongchang/Montreal 17 October: The Convention on Biological Diversity closed the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties today with Governments committing to step up actions to achieve, by the end of the decade, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets agreed four years ago, and contribute to the sustainable development agenda.

A key outcome was the agreement by Governments on the financial resources to support achievement of the Strategic Plan. Responding to the call initiated at COP-10 in Nagoya, governments today reaffirmed their agreement made at COP-11 in Hyderabad to double total biodiversity-related international financial resource flows to developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition by 2015, and at least maintain this level until 2020. The basis for calculating this is to use average annual biodiversity funding for the years 2006-2010 as a baseline.

Governments also agreed to increase domestic financing for biodiversity and identified a set of actions to allow the increased mobilizations of financial resources from all sources.

The decisions incorporate actions that demonstrate a re-commitment to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and achieve its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, agreed by the international community in 2010. The results of the meeting also respond to the conclusions of Global Biodiversity Outlook 4, which indicated that while progress was being made in conserving biodiversity, governments needed to increase efforts if they were going to end the loss of biodiversity.

Key decisions, including those on resource mobilization, capacity building, scientific and technical cooperation linking biodiversity and poverty eradication, and on monitoring of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, form the “Pyeongchang roadmap for the enhanced implementation of the strategic plan and achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.” These actions will strengthen capacity and increase support for countries and stakeholders to implement their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.

The decisions were bolstered by the call in the Gangwon ministerial declaration, the result of two days of high level talks, to link the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda to other relevant processes such as the UN Development Assistance Framework process and the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. The declaration emphasized the relevance and key contribution of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Vision for 2050 to the post-2015 development agenda at all levels, and invite the United Nations General Assembly to integrate them effectively in the post-2015 development agenda.

“Parties have listened to the evidence, and have responded by committing themselves to redoubling their efforts in support of the vision of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the financial resources needed to make this a reality” said United Nations Assistant-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias. “Their commitments show the world that biodiversity is a solution to the challenges of sustainable development and will be a central part of any discussions for the post-2015 development agenda and its sustainable development goals” he said.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme Achim Steiner, said, "From food and water security to livelihoods and disasters risk reduction, biodiversity is a powerful engine that underpins the delivery of current and future sustainable development objectives. The cost of inaction to halt biodiversity decline would give rise to increasing and cumulative economic annual losses to the value of around US $14 trillion by 2050."

"The decisions made at COP 12 here in Pyeongchang will leapfrog efforts to achieve the Aichi targets and put biodiversity on a stronger footing for decades to come. The outcome of this meeting shows that plausible pathways exist to realize a reduction in biodiversity loss and in turn address broader global priorities in the context of the Post-2015 development agenda," he added.

Mr. Yoon Seong-kyu, the Minister of Environment for the Republic of Korea, which holds the presidency of the COP for the next two years, said “The Gangwon Declaration has just been adopted during the High-Level Segment, reflecting a strong message from the Parties that the importance of biodiversity should be highlighted in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. We are planning to report and submit it to the UN General Assembly.”

Further, the Minister pledged that the Republic of Korea will fully assume its responsibility to bridge the gap between developed and developing countries by tapping into the creative economy approach in the field of biodiversity.

The Republic of Korea announced four new initiatives in support of the Pyeongchang roadmap and Parties’ efforts to implement these and other decisions of the Conference of the Parties: the Biobridge initiative in support of technical and scientific cooperation, the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI), and the peace and biodiversity initiative in support of transboundary cooperation, as well as further support for the Sustainable Ocean Initiative.

The outcomes of the meeting build on growing recognition of the critical role of biodiversity in the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Governments were encouraged to fully engage in discussions on the post-2015 United Nations development agenda and SDGs, with the goal of integrating and mainstreaming the objectives of the Convention and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 into relevant goals, targets and indicators.

Other decisions taken during the COP reinforced the contribution of biodiversity conservation to social and economic goals of the post-2015 development. A decision on health and biodiversity which will see increased collaboration between the CBD and the World Health Organization. Decisions related to disaster risk reduction and ecosystem restoration, will not only contribute to the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity but also goals related to sustainable development.

The meeting also adopted milestones for the full implementation of Aichi Biodiversity Target 3 on incentives. The decision includes a timetable and concrete activities for the elimination, phasing out or reform of incentive policies that are harmful to biodiversity, as well as the promotion of positive incentive policies.

Governments devoted considerable efforts towards the marine agenda, including: The COP reviewed the results of seven regional workshops for describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) and encouraged efforts and collaboration to address knowledge gaps and lack of scientific information regarding areas meeting the EBSA criteria. Together with the results of COP-11, nearly some 75% of the world’s oceans have now been assessed scientifically analysed through technical workshops to describe address the worlds’ most special ocean areas.

COP also took a decision addressing key threats to marine biodiversity, namely anthropogenic underwater noise and ocean acidification, and encouraged action to enhance knowledge regarding these threats and to mitigate their impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity. COP invited relevant organizations to advance their work on enhancing methods and tools for marine spatial planning. COP also requested additional capacity building workshops and partnership activities within the framework of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative to address priority issues identified for respective regions concerning the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas.

This decision also adopted priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems, focused on enhancing the resilience of these important ecosystems and facilitating the achievement of Target 10. Some of the actions include reducing land based pollution, promoting sustainable fisheries and improving the design of marine protected area networks for coral reefs, implementing poverty reduction programmes for reef-dependent coastal communities, and developing socioeconomic incentives for coral reef conservation.

Parties also adopted decisions to strengthen the role of business, subnational and local governments, and stakeholders, as well as how to more effectively consider gender in implementation of the Convention.

The meeting also agreed on ways to integrate the work under the Convention and the Protocols, including holding concurrent meetings of the Convention and its protocols, and established a subsidiary body on implementation, replacing the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, to serve all three instruments under the Convention.

The issue of traditional knowledge and the role of Indigenous and local communities under the CBD was also discussed extensively. The programme of work on this issue was endorsed, as was the plan of action on customary sustainable use of biological diversity. Parties also decided to use the terminology “indigenous peoples and local communities” in future decisions and documents under the Convention.

The Conference of the Parties addressed the issues of synthetic biology, urging Parties to have in place risk assessment procedures and regulatory systems to regulate environmental release of organisms, components or products resulting from synthetic biology techniques. It also urged Parties to approve organisms resulting from synthetic biology techniques for field trials only after appropriate risk assessments have been carried out.

In addition, it set out a comprehensive plan for further work on this matter under the Convention. The meeting also adopted decisions that related to the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing from the Utilization of Genetic Resources. With the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, the third objective of the Convention has now been fulfilled.

The meeting was conducted under a new paper management system, which resulted in a 60% reduction in the use of paper compared to previous COP meetings.

The documents that were presented to the final plenary for adoption are available at:
http://www.cbd.int/cop12/insession

Documents relating to the final plenary of the Nagoya Protocol, can be found at:
http://www.cbd.int/npmop1/insession

A press release on the outcomes of the Nagoya Protocol can be found at: 
http://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2014/pr-2014-10-17-np-cop-mop-1-en.pdf

At first meeting, countries adopt measures to strengthen and support implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

Pyeongchang, 17 October 2014 – Governments have agreed to a series of actions that will further bolster the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, facilitate its effective implementation, and ensure that countries have the necessary resources to take the next steps to implement the treaty, which entered into force earlier this week.

Among the decisions adopted at the first Meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (COP MOP-1), held in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea from 13 to 17 October 2014, are mechanisms to ensure compliance with the Protocol, measures to assist institutional capacities in developing countries, and a strategy to raise awareness of the international instrument.

“The Convention is finally standing on three legs with its three objectives now firmly addressed,” the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, said to the COP MOP-1, which took place under the umbrella of the 12th meeting of the Parties of the CBD (COP-12).

“Now we need to see how the provisions of the Protocol are taken up at the national level and how this facilitates access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits with those stakeholders and indigenous peoples and local communities who conserve and sustainably use those resources.”

The Protocol, which was agreed in 2010 and entered into force on 12 October with 51 ratifications, establishes clear rules for accessing, trading, sharing and monitoring the use of the world’s genetic resources that can be used for pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic and other purposes. As of today, 54 Parties have ratified the Nagoya Protocol.

Hem Pande, representing the government of India, which presided over COP MOP-1, said “With the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol six days ago, followed by significant advancements made on some key issues in this historic first COP-MOP, a new era of trust building and partnership among users and providers of genetic resources has indeed begun. This I believe will also give confidence to the non-Parties to ratify the Protocol at the earliest.”

Parties at the meeting emphasized the need to ensure that countries can implement the Protocol, and to this end they adopted a strategic framework for capacity building and development. They also adopted decisions on guidance to mobilize resources and ensure that developing countries including countries with economies in transition have sufficient resources to implement the Protocol.

In addition, countries agreed on procedures to establish a committee to promote compliance with the Protocol and address cases of non-compliance.

Countries also called for measures to guide them through the use of the Access Benefit- Sharing Clearing House (ABS-CH) – the online platform that will enhance transparency on the use of genetic resources –and ensure all available information is registered there.

The COP MOP stressed the importance of raising awareness of the Protocol and adopted decisions to support activities to that end. It also called on the Global Environment Facility to increase funding for this objective.

The implementation of the Nagoya Protocol contributes to the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 16. Target 16 provides that the Nagoya Protocol should enter into force and be operational by 2015. With the results of COP MOP-1, this target is poised to become the first of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be fully implemented.

“With the cooperative efforts and the collective work of this week, the COP MOP has established a firm foundation for the operationalization of the Nagoya Protocol,” Mr. Dias said.

GYBN- LAST DAY AT COP12

It’s the final day of COP12!!
Negotiations on most issues have already been concluded but there are still some outstanding issues and particularly on Resource Mobilization and Synthetic Biology negotiations have reached a gridlock.
Right now, the GYBN delegation is meeting to evaluate our activities here at COP and to strategize for the time after!
Stay tuned for more updates from the negotiations!

Korea launches forest initiative to help countries achieve global biodiversity goals

Montreal/Pyeongchang, 16 October 2014 – To assist countries in achieving the globally-agreed Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the Korea Forest Service launched the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI) on 14 October 2014, in the margins of the twelfth meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), being held in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, from 6 to 17 October 2014.

The Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative will provide support to Parties towards achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 11, 14 and 15 by maximizing restoration efforts through knowledge-sharing and implementation and technical support.

“I commend the Republic of Korea for its impressive large-scale forest ecosystem restoration success, which incorporated a social campaign to mobilize communities in the effort,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “Through the FERI, this expertise can be shared at the global level to help other countries to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 15 and related targets.”

The Republic of Korea, which plans to contribute USD6 million through the FERI to support restoration efforts, and will further its contribution depending on an assessment of project implementation, has substantial practical experience in forest restoration. Much of its territory was restored, with international support, from near-devastation forty years ago to today’s remarkable 64% forest cover. The FERI can therefore be thought of as a collaborative partnership which shares this experience in forest ecosystem restoration, recalling the support that the Republic of Korea received. The FERI draws upon the complementary strengths and advantages of each of its partners.

Envisaged to be a six-year initiative, the FERI would be a mechanism for assisting Parties to: Assess the potential costs and benefits of restoration; identify and assess areas with ecosystem and forest degradation; identify areas with high potential for forest and ecosystem restoration; implement appropriate restoration activities; and, manage the complex dynamics inherent in forest and ecosystem restoration.

The FERI would directly support developing country Parties as they operationalize national targets and plans for ecosystem conservation and restoration within the framework of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 11 and 15. These targets should emanate from or be integrated into updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and mainstreamed into broader national policies, plans and programmes.

The FERI takes up the torch lit at COP 11 in Hyderabad in 2012. The Hyderabad Call for a Concerted Effort on Ecosystem Restoration, made on the margins of COP 11 by concerned stakeholders, called for coordinated long-term efforts to mobilize resources and facilitate ecosystem restoration activities for the benefit of all. As one of the concerned stakeholders, the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Forest Service, launched the FERI which connects this earlier work, drawing attention to the importance of forest conservation and restoration in the context of sustainable development. The FERI can also support action within the Bonn Challenge, a global movement on restoration. The Bonn Challenge is a global aspiration to restore 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested lands by 2020.

The launch, co-hosted by the CBD Secretariat and moderated by the former Minister of the Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez (currently with Conservation International), received wide-spread support from countries across the globe, including high-level representatives from Uganda, Zambia, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Bhutan, Guatemala and Germany, as well as representatives from agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which indicated their interest to pair with the KFS in implementing the FERI, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the
Ramsar Convention, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), IUCN, the  International Union for Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Biodiversity International and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

UN treaty bodies renew partnership to save tropical forests’ rich treasure of biological resources

Pyeongchang, 13 October 2014 – The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) – the United Nations treaty-based organization uniquely focused on tropical forests – and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) renewed a partnership agreement to enhance biodiversity conservation in tropical forests and stem the loss of the planet’s richest treasure of biological resources.

At a special event titled “Achieving Forest-related Aichi Biodiversity Targets on the Ground: ITTO–CBD Collaborative Joint Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity”, the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding strengthening their organizations’ commitment to achieving the forest-related Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020. The signing ceremony was held at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, on Monday 13 October 2014.

“ITTO is proud of the work carried out under this initiative in collaboration with CBD colleagues to protect the biodiversity of tropical forests and manage forestry equitably and sustainably, ensuring conservation of one of the Earth’s most treasured ecosystems,” said Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization.

Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity said “the ITTO– CBD collaboration has provided concrete examples of carrying out actions on the ground that contribute significantly toward the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Renewing our partnership will further contribute towards concreted action in the sustainable use, restoration and conservation of tropical forest biodiversity.”

An earlier agreement, signed in 2010, gave birth to the ITTO – CBD Joint Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity, and spawned 11 projects to support efforts in sustaining tropical forest biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of the people living in and around tropical forests. The new agreement extends cooperation between the two organizations to 2020.

For more information on the ITTO–CBD Joint Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity visit: http://www.cbd.int/forest/tropical-forest.shtml and www.itto.int/cbd

GYBN thanks the German government

This morning GYBN had some interesting guests in the Youth Meeting Room: German Vice-Environmental Minister Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter along with Carsten Träger and Klaus-Peter Schulze (both members of the German Parliament) as well as Elsa Nickel and Nicola Breier from the German Ministry for the Environment took time to meet with GYBN to learn more about how young people are making a difference at COP12. Ms. Schwarzelühr-Sutter reaffirmed the German government’s commitment to support young people and their right to raise their voices in the negotiations under the CBD.

GYBN thanks the German government for their continuous support to our network and youth participation in the CBD from the very beginning! Thank you for standing behind us!!!

Historic UN biodiversity pact on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge comes into effect today!

Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol represents a milestone on the global sustainable development agenda

Montreal/Pyeongchang 12 October. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) enters into force today, providing the world with a mechanism to ensure that access to and the sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge, happen in a context of transparency and with equity.

The fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources is one of the three main objectives of the CBD, with the other two being the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components.

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing provides a legal framework to ensure that the access and utilization of genetic resources coming from plants, animals, bacteria or other organisms for commercial, research or other purposes, be created on the basis of access and benefit-sharing agreements between providers and users which entail prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms.

Benefits received in exchange for access to genetic resources can be monetary or non-monetary, including, for instance, technology transfer, joint research or capacity-building activities. Allowing Parties to fully benefit from their genetic resources generates new opportunities and incentives for conserve and sustainably use biodiversity The Protocol also addresses issues related to access to and benefit-sharing from the use of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources held by indigenous and local communities. In this regard, Parties are to take measures to ensure prior informed consent and fair and equitable benefit-sharing with these communities, keeping in mind community laws and procedures as well as customary use and exchange.

"The Nagoya Protocol is central to biodiversity for sustainable development. Its entry into force will create incentives for preserving genetic diversity, biodiversity in general, and associated traditional knowledge. It will provide the conditions for continuous research and development on genetic resources. But most importantly, the Protocol will give us the opportunity to develop an economy that is more sustainable and where the value of natural resources will be truly acknowledged” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“The entry of the landmark Nagoya Protocol into force with 51 ratifications, ahead of the Aichi deadline, opens up opportunities for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the utilization of genetic resources. At the same time, it offers a reminder that the Aichi targets are within reach,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

"The Protocol will create greater equity and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources which will enhance the contribution of biodiversity to development, poverty eradication and human well-being,"

“It is up to us - here and now - to build momentum to encourage further ratifications, strengthen political will and take decisive measures to keep the Aichi Targets on track," he added.

The historic treaty is the result of decades of negotiations, which culminated in the Protocol being agreed on 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan. However, 50 Parties to the CBD had to ratify before it could enter into force. The Protocol received its final necessary ratification on 14 July 2014. It now has 54 ratifications.

The implementation of the Protocol also contributes to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 16. Target 16 provides that the Nagoya Protocol should enter into force and be operational by 2015. “The entry into force of the Protocol will contribute to enhancing the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services and it represents a major step towards achieving Target 16 prior to our target date,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, at the opening of the capacity building workshop on the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABS-CH) this Sunday, in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. On this occasion, Parties celebrated the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol and the launching of the operational phase of the online platform.

With entry into force of the Protocol, the ABS-CH will also become operational. The ABS-CH will act as a platform where countries can exchange information which will enhance legal certainty and transparency on procedures for access and for monitoring the use of genetic resources. The ABS-CH will also help connecting users and providers of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State for Environment, Forests & Climate Change of India, who is expected to serve as president for the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP MOP 1) said: “By providing legal certainty on the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and by strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use, the Protocol will create incentives to conserve biodiversity, and sustainable use of its components, and further enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and human well-being.”

The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (COP-MOP 1), begins on 13 October and will last until 17 October. At its first session, Parties to the Protocol will discuss matters related to the ABS-CH; model contractual clauses, voluntary codes of conduct, capacity-building; awareness raising; the need for and modalities of a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism; cooperative procedures and institutional mechanisms to promote compliance and to address cases of non-compliance; and guidance on resource mobilization including to the financial mechanism.

Mr. Dias announced that “the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol represents a milestone not only for the Convention on Biological Diversity, but also in the history of global governance for sustainable development”. The Nagoya Protocol is strictly linked with the sustainable development agenda. “The sustainable use of biological diversity plays a key role in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Mr. Dias said. “In the same vein, the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol will certainly be of valuable importance in the achievement of the proposed Sustainable Development goals which are set to become part of the post- 2015 development agenda.”

GYBN at COP12

Another busy day for GYBN at COP12: Yesterday CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Dias took time to meet with all youth delegates to discuss about our role in the negotiations. Dressed in a traditional Korean costume, provided by our partners from KCBD, Mr. Dias said that “We need a change of attitude of people and it is good to start working with you.”

Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration- GYBN at COP12

Mirna Inés Fernández Pradel (Bolivia), Michelle Pazmiño (Ecuador), Kabir Arora (India)

The following intervention was made on agenda item number 26 of draft decision text in Working group II dealing with Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration.

Madam Chair, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to share our inputs in regard to this item. We are speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network.

With the current rate of biodiversity loss, we as youth are extremely concerned about the national commitments regarding conservation and restoration. We understand that it will not be possible to conserve earth’s biological diversity through the protection of critical areas alone. Therefore, damaged ecosystems need restoration activities to be recovered. We believe that the main efforts should focus on in situ conservation of natural areas, following  the Ecosystem based approach.

Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 shows that there is a tangible bias on the geographical patterns of restoration projects, with the highest investment levels in North America and Europe, and we are aware that high costs and technology requirements will limit its application in many developing countries. In addition, the complexity of tropical and subtropical ecosystems require strong scientific basis to implement restoration projects when damaged.

Therefore, we remind parties that the Preventive, Precautionary and the Polluter Pays Rio Principles, are crucial to ensure that restoration is additional to ongoing conservation efforts, otherwise it cannot count towards the Aichi target 15. We call parties to ensure that conservation of fragile ecosystems is the highest priority, while restoration strategies should be applied only on ecosystems that have already been damaged.

Also, we strongly believe that restoration must not be used as an argument to legitimize the degradation of natural areas in other places via biodiversity offsetting, and it is extremely important to recognize that plantations as a form of restoration is not acceptable.

We believe that Initiatives such as the Indigenous People’s and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) are very successful options and should be promoted. Tenurial security for indigenous peoples and local communities must be ensured, as well as the recognition of their customary practices and their free and prior informed consent (FPIC) in conservation and restoration initiatives. In this regard, national policies should make greater efforts to achieve the full scope of Aichi target 11.

Moreover, financial and human resources should be managed by local people. Science and technology should go in hand with all biodiversity values and the people’s needs. It must be ensured that restoration and sustainable use of inhabited ecosystems are led by communities taking the central role with support from governments , while civil society efforts, including the private sector, must be recognized but not prioritized as hinted in 2 & 3 (b) of the draft decision document.

We call on Parties to take the commitment of developing coherent strategies, programmes and policies at the national and subnational levels that combine conservation of fragile ecosystems with restoration of areas that have been degraded. These strategies must address at the first stage the direct drivers of biodiversity loss such as oil prospection, roads or mining on fragile ecosystems.

Please remember that the well-being of the world population in the coming decades will largely depend on conservation and restoration of ecosystems to maintain and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, thereby contributing to sustainable development while reducing environment related risks. Therefore, when taking any decisions we must ensure that the rights of the coming generations are fully respected.

Thank you Madam Chair.

“Speaking for a Species” GYBN

Today, the 9^th of October 2014, GYBN launched its “Speaking for a Species” Campaign by giving the first badge to Dr. Braulio Dias, the Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). Lemuel (Mexico) presenting the species badges to Dr. Braulio Dias, the Executive Secretary of the CBD The campaign aims to get party negotiators to represent a species for the entire duration of COP12. This is to serve as a reminder for the reason of their presence – which is not just to represent their countries, but also to represent these species. Moreover, that their decisions during the COPs is what will determine the future of species who are a crucial part of the planet’s biodiversity. GYBN is collaborating with the ECO newsletter who has given us the space to daily publish a fact accompanied by an image of a species for seven days. This is to aid in raising awareness of our campaign whilst affirming our presence and participation. In addition it will help us get our message across to all the readers and those who are in a position to influence the negotiations. In the next couple of days, our team will be cruising the halls and convention grounds, connecting negotiators to species whilst shedding light onto what their decisions will be impacting – so check us out!  Image from GYBN

GYBN Statement on Marine- and Costal Biodiversity

Yesterday Svana (Germany) and Rioko (Japan) delivered our GYBN Statement on Marine- and Costal Biodiversity, urging parties at COP12 to accelerate the process of recognizing EBSAs. GYBN reminded delegates that marine ecosystems are coming very close to a tipping point where irreversible damages would become inevitable. Ultimately, GYBN expects parties to overcome their differences and to work on the creation of Marine Protected Areas!

CBD COP12

CBD COP12 just started with the Korean Environmental Minister – the new COP-president – highlighting the crucial importance of mainstreaming Biodiversity in order to achieve the targets of the Strategic plan and expressing his hopes that the Pyeongchang Roadmap will help achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. 

He also said that he “Look forward to productive discussions that will not only serve the parties but also our grandchildren and children”.

GYBN will have a critical eye on this and will keep you posted about what’s going on here at COP12!

CBD COP12

CBD COP12 is only going to start tomorrow but already today over 30 youth delegates from 16 countries came together for the Youth Preparatory Meeting, which was jointly hosted by GYBN and KCBD!
The whole day the youth delegates learned about the CBD, decision-making processes at COP and planned their activities for the next two weeks! There’s a lot coming up now
So stay tuned for more updates and follow us when we rock COP!!

COP12 and GYBN

In preparation of COP12 we have launched a*dedicated information portal at gybn.org* that will hopefully help you to prepare for your participation!

A *summary of the agenda of COP12* is available here:
 http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/cop12-agenda/

 *Introductory Materials *for COP first-timers, *Links to official CBD documents *
 *AND a large compilation of background documents* on all COP12-agenda items can be found here:
 http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/background-documents/

 For information about*visa issues* go to (including contact details of the Korean visa focal point!):
 http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/visa/
 /(If you should experience any difficulties receiving a visa for South Korea, please contact the GYBN Focal Points as well as the coordinator of the CBD Alliance!) /

 To find information about *logistical aspects,* e.g. *accommodation* and the schedule of the*shuttle bus* from Seoul to Pyeongchang  go to:
 http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/logistics/

 *If you already have funding (!)* for your participation in COP12, *please register here *so that we can coordinate:
 http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/register-as-cop12-youth-delegate/

 GYBN will also be hosting a Youth Capacity-Building and Preparatory Meeting on the weekend before the COP. The date and time will be confirmed soon so stay tuned!

Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, here is the provisional programme as well as discussion notes for the High Level Segment of the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, prepared by the Government in consultation with the Secretariat.

The text of this notification is available on the CBD website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2014/ntf-2014-115-cop12-hls-en.pdf

NEW GYBN WEBSITE

The GYBN steering committee is very pleased to announce our new website www.gybn.org.  You may have seen it as we were building it over the last few months, but it is finally done, so go and check it out!

Some interesting features:

CBD COP-12 section - find information about the event, background documents, visa information and let us know that you’re planning to attend.  

http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/

International Youth Work section – send us a photo and information about youth biodiversity work you’re doing, and we’ll feature it on the website!  You can also use this section to network with other young people in your region of the world.

http://gybn.org/network-news/international-youth-work/

Thematic database – a database of information about issues being discussed in the CBD process. 

http://gybn.org/resources/thematic-database/

You can also find information about the steering committee, history of GYBN, see our past participation in CBD processes, and more!

www.gybn.org – GYBN’s new official website!

~GYBN Steering Committee

GYBN delegation to COP12

Final Reminder: Only 2 days left to apply for the international GYBN delegation to COP12!!
Submit your application now!! The application period closes on August 15 at 23:59 UTC!
GYBN and KCBD are wishing all applicants the best of luck!!

All applications are therefore subject to the availability of funding. All members of the KCBD-GYBN Task Force are currently working very hard to secure funding for you. Finger’s crossed that we’ll get a final funding confirmation soon!!

http://gybn.org/youth-participation-at-cbd-cop10/call-for-applications/

Discover how Dayna Noltie, Meds 2017, is engaging young people with biodiversity preservation

I’ve been working on raising awareness about biodiversity among young people since I was in high school – preserving biodiversity is crucial for the future because it maintains healthy ecosystems, provides goods and services, is of cultural importance to indigenous peoples, and for many other reasons.

I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to attend the Working Group on the Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, held June 16-20 in Montreal this summer.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is a United Nations convention that aims to stop the loss of biodiversity and raise awareness about it. The Working Group on Review of Implementation is a weeklong meeting at which parties review their progress, propose text on how to implement the goals of the Convention better, and negotiate the text.

I participated through the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, which is the official platform for youth participation at the Convention, along with other young people from Germany, Brazil, India, and Ghana. I was a founding member of this network (officially started in August 2012), and working on its growth and progress has been both difficult at times and rewarding. This is the first time a youth delegation has participated at this working group, so it was a milestone for us!

A big aspect of our participation at the working group was making interventions. An intervention is basically a speech a stakeholder group (such as youth, women, or non-governmental organizations) can make, if invited to do so by the chair of the meeting, on the text being negotiated. It might include broad recommendations about what parties to the Convention (countries) should include in the text, or paragraphs the stakeholder group wants inserted in the text. I made interventions with my colleague from Germany during discussions on cooperation between environmental conventions and engagement of stakeholder groups.

We also met with the Executive Secretary of the Convention to discuss progress that has been made by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, and received his recommendations on our future direction and how to continue growing the network.

We were excited to share that the Network now represents over 300,000 young people through both individual and organization members! We also held a side event (basically an hour long presentation held during the lunch time of the negotiations) about civil society participation in the Convention, which I facilitated.

Biodiversity is vital to the health of people because of the goods and services it provides through ecosystems, the potential for discovery of novel medicines, making beautiful spaces for exercising, purifying the air, and lots of other reasons!

As I progress through medical school, I hope to further integrate and grow my knowledge of biodiversity with my knowledge of medicine, and continue advocating both for young people to have a voice in international negotiations about biodiversity and for the loss of biodiversity to be stopped.

I believe through young people around the world working together, we can protect this vital aspect of our planet and create a healthy future for ourselves and generations to come.

-Dayna Noltie, Meds 2017

Rio Conventions Pavilion, COP 12

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in consultation with the Secretariats of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will convene the Rio Conventions Pavilion at the margins of the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 12) to be held from 6 to 17 October 2014 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.

With the kind support of the host Government, the Rio Conventions Pavilion will provide opportunities for Parties and organizations to highlight activities linking biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially at national and sub-national levels.

The Rio Conventions Pavilion contributes to enhancing awareness-raising, information-sharing and outreach in the framework of the Rio Conventions (CBD COP Decision IX/16) and to strengthening the collaboration between the Rio Conventions (UN General Assembly Resolution 64/203 of (14 December 2009).

The text of this notification is also available on the CBD website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2014/ntf-2014-104-RioPavilion-en.doc