The Convention on Biological Diversity Year in Review 2009 The Convention on Biological Diversity YEAR IN REVIEW 2009 Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity ISBN: 92-9225-124-4 Copyright © 2010, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profi t purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source. Citation: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010). Year in Review 2009. Montreal, 42 pages. For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cbd.int The Convention on Biological Diversity: Year in Review 2009 was edited, researched and compiled by Johan Hedlund, CBD Secretariat Design & typesetting: Em Dash Design Cover Photo: Australasian gannet colony, Hawkes Bay area, New Zealand. Photo courtesy of the Ministry for the Environment New Zealand/Rod Morris. TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface: Time to Recognize the Services and Goods Nature Provides 2 Introduction: Building Momentum towards 2010 4 Key Biodiversity Developments in 2009 7 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 38 Epilogue: Signs of the Times 41 One of the 2,300 species of fl owering plants that can be found in Trinidad and Tobago (Photo courtesy The Tourism Development Company Limited of Trinidad and Tobago) Preface: TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICES AND GOODS NATURE PROVIDES was a real intersessional year for One of the three fundamental objectives of the the Convention on Biological CBD, however, the issue of Access and Benefi t-Shar- Diversity (CBD)! Following the ing (ABS), has still not been adequately addressed. 2009 decisions of the ninth meeting Thus a key instrument is missing in implementing of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) in Bonn, the principles of the Convention — the sovereign in 2008, a huge number of conferences, working rights of States over their natural resources in areas group sessions and expert meetings took place to within their jurisdiction while securing the interests deal with a broad range of important subjects on of indigenous peoples in the commercial and indus- the Convention agenda. trial use of biological resources and the marketing of Once again it was the intention of the Presidency their traditional knowledge. Of utmost importance to involve Bureau members in the process of in- to the Convention, a decision was taken in Bonn to JOCHEN FLASBARTH tersessional activities as far as possible — in order adopt, by 2010, an internationally-binding agreement Representative of the to make best use of their experience and to enhance on the ABS regime and the equitable sharing of their COP 9 Presidency; the opportunities for input from the various regions. benefi ts within the CBD framework. President, Federal Environment Thus in 2009, six Bureau meetings, and one joint Following international negotiations we saw sub- Agency (UBA), Germany COP-SBSSTA Bureau meeting, took place — in Paris, stantial progress made towards an international France; Nairobi, Kenya; Strömstad, Sweden; and in agreement against biopiracy during the seventh meet- Montreal, Canada. ing of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Weeping Capuchin monkeys are most often found in Trinidad’s Nariva Swamp. The swamp is a rich habitat for mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians (Photo courtesy The Tourism Development Company Limited of Trinidad and Tobago) North Saddleback juvenile and Bellbird by stream (Photo courtesy Ministry for the Environment New Access and Benefi t-Sharing (ABS-7) in Paris, France, impossible to sustain ecosystems services for future Zealand/Dick Veitch) in April, and at the ABS-8 meeting in Montreal, generations. Ecosystems are the foundation for all Canada, in November. Following ABS-8, the ABS- aspects of human existence on this planet. They Co-Chairs, Fernando Casas and Timothy Hodges, supply the capital stock for the world’s economy expressed their view that the negotiations should — fertile soil as the basis for food, intact seas for fi nally lead to a protocol on Access and Benefi t- stable fi sh stocks, forests with their capacity to store Sharing, which should then be adopted. Although carbon — to give just a few examples illustrating the a remarkable range of opinions still exist in this importance of well-functioning ecosystems. matter, none of the Parties challenged this view. Better protection for natural resources is more On this basis we expect an intense period of formal cost-effi cient for the world economy than continu- and informal consultations during the fi rst semester ously having to pay for the effects of the destruction of 2010 in order to have a sound draft ready to be of natural resources. They are also the best way decided on in Nagoya, Japan, at COP 10. to strengthen resistance to the impacts of climate Another focus of our work in 2009 was of course change and natural disasters, as they greatly help the preparation of the International Year of Biodiver- in contributing to food security, combating pov- sity, which provides a unique opportunity to highlight erty and aiding in economic development. Hence, the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services recognising and honouring the services and goods for the future of all life. The international community nature provides for society must be made a politi- will obviously not achieve its target to signifi cantly cal issue. reduce the loss of biological diversity by 2010, thus The unsatisfying outcome of the UNFCCC-COP 15 a new strategy is needed for the international pro- in Copenhagen reminds us again that our planet tection of biodiversity. In order to better prevent the is under risk and that solutions can be found only loss of biodiversity, the international community on a multilateral basis under the United Nations. should focus its political endeavours more on the And at the same time it becomes crystal clear that policy integration of biodiversity. the problems of our planet are highly interlinked Species protection programms and protected areas — without combating climate change we will fail remain important tools in halting biodiversity loss, to stop the loss of biodiversity, without protecting but they are just one part of the solution. In addi- ecosystems with their carbon storing capacity it will tion to that we need a substantive change in landuse be extremely diffi cult to meet climate change targets. practices, as well as a real and sustainable use of And without both of them we will fail in our efforts marine resources. Without this integration it appears to fi ght hunger in the world! 3 Introduction: BUILDING MOMENTUM TOWARDS 2010 he year 2009 was an important year for the November 2009 and the results will be submitted implementation of the landmark decisions ad- to the Parties in October 2010. opted at the ninth meeting of the Conference T of the Parties of the Convention on Biological “2009 was an important year for Diversity (CBD). It was also a crucial year for the the implementation of the landmark preparation of the Nagoya Biodiversity Summit which decisions adopted at COP 9, and a will coincide with the worldwide celebration of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity as well as the crucial year for the preparation of the assessment of progress achieved for the implemen- Nagoya Biodiversity Summit” tation of the Johannesburg biodiversity target “to achieve by 2010 a signifi cant reduction of the current At its meeting in Strömstad in September 2009, the AHMED DJOGHLAF rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and Bureau welcomed the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Executive Secretary, national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change Convention on Biological Diversity and to the benefi t of all life on Earth.” and mandated the Executive Secretary to submit it To this end, 2009 witnessed enhanced efforts to the UNFCCC COP 15 climate talks held in Co- to engage the scientifi c community and parties on penhagen in December 2009. This landmark report, the preparation of the third edition of the Global together with the report on ocean acidifi cation, was Biodiversity Outlook (GBO3), devoted to the 2010 presented at COP 15 by Germany and Japan. Biodiversity Target and beyond. The GBO3, to be The COP 9 Bureau also provided leadership in released on 10 May 2010, will provide an initial shaping the organization of the high-level segment assessment of progress so far, and the remaining of the 65th session of the United Nations General challenges in achieving the 2010 target. Preparation Assembly on Biodiversity to be held in September of the GBO3 was undertaken in close relation with 2010 with the participation of heads of State and the updating and revision of the Strategic Plan for government. Under the leadership of Germany, a the Convention on Biological Diversity for 2011- meeting of the Triple COP Presidency (Brazil, Germa- 2020, which will include new biodiversity targets ny, and Japan) was convened with the participation for 2020 and 2050. of partners to prepare the Business and Biodiversity Regional consultative meetings have been con- strategy which was endorsed by the Third Confer- vened, culminating with a global meeting to be held ence on Business and Biodiversity held in Jakarta in London early in 2010, organized by the United in December 2009.