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Ahmed Djoghlaf Irina Bokova Masaru Onishi United Nations Assistant Secretary General; Director-General, United Nations Educational, President, Japan Airlines...... 31 Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Scientific and Cultural Organization ...... 20 Thomas Lovejoy Diversity...... 2 Helen Clark Chief biodiversity adviser to the President Ban Ki-moon Administrator, United Nations Development of the World Bank; Senior advisor to the Secretary-General, United Nations...... 3 Programme; Former Prime Minister of president of the United Nations Foundation; Achim Steiner New Zealand...... 21 President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment...... 32 United Nations Under-Secretary General; Kanayo F. Nwanze Executive Director, United Nations President, International Fund for Agricultural Sara Oldfield Environment Programme...... 4 Development...... 22 Secretary General, Botanic Gardens Yoshihiko Noda Luc Gnacadja Conservation International ...... 33 Prime Minister of Japan...... 5 Executive Secretary, United Nations Jeffrey A. McNeely James Alix Michel Convention to Combat Desertification ...... 24 Senior Science Advisor, International Union for Conservation of Nature...... 34 President of the Republic of Seychelles...... 6 Julia Marton-Lefèvre John Herity Lee Hong-koo Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature...... 25 Former Director, Biodiversity Convention Chairman of the Korean Organizing Office, Environment Canada ...... 35 Committee for the 2012 IUCN World Maurice Strong Conservation Congress; Former Prime Former Executive Director, United Nations Wen Lian Ting Minister, Republic of Korea...... 7 Environment Programme...... 27 Ambassador, Permanent Representative Felipe Calderón Liz Dowdeswell of Malaysia to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations...... 36 President of Mexico...... 8 President and Chief Executive Officer, Veit Koester Jean Charest Council of Canadian Academies; Former Executive Director, United Nations External professor, Roskilde University; Premier ministre du Québec, Canada...... 9 Environment Programme...... 28 Visiting Professor, United Nations Brian Mulroney Klaus Töpfer University—Institute of Advanced Studies...... 38 Former Prime Minister of Canada...... 10 Former Executive Director, United Nations Nay Htun Gro Harlem Brundtland Environment Programme...... 29 Research Professor, Stony Brook University, Former Prime Minister of Norway; Patrick Weiten State University of New York; Former Former Director-General, World Health Deputy Executive Director, United Nations President of the Moselle General Council, Organization...... 11 Environment Programme...... 39 France...... 30 Li Ganjie Vice Minister, Ministry of Environmental Protection, People’s Republic of China ...... 12 Caroline Spelman Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom...... 13 Gérald Tremblay Maire de Montréal, Canada...... 14 Luciano Ducci Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil...... 16 Monique Barbut Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility...... 17 Michel Jarraud Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization; UN-Water Chair-Elect...... 19

Satoyama 4 1 Ahmed Djoghlaf, United Nations Assistant Secretary General; Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity Fulfilling our promise to our children, and to all the children of the world

wenty years ago, at the United to the sustainable development question. well-defined, universally-accepted tar- Nations Conference on Environment The Convention on Biological Diversity is gets that are now accepted as the basis T and Development—the “Earth one of the main pillars of our future. for policies that protect biodiversity at Summit”, held in June 1992 in Rio de Of the 500 or so environmental con- local, national and global levels. With its Janeiro, the United Nations Convention ventions, the CBD is a unique multilat- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, its Kuala on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened eral environment treaty at the service of Lumpur Nagoya Supplementary Protocol for signature. It represented the strong the sustainable development agenda. It is on Liability and Redress, as well as the commitment of the international commu- first of all, a Rio Convention, thus incor- Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit- nity at the highest political level to save porating the principles of the Rio Decla- Sharing, it now has the tools needed to the diversity of life and build the founda- ration into a legally binding instrument. realise its three mutually supportive objec- tions for sustainable development. It has three mutually supportive objectives while contributing to the success- Ten years ago, in 2002, the World Sum- tives, namely conservation of biological ful implementation of the two other Rio mit on Sustainable Development was con- diversity, the sustainable use of biolog- Conventions, namely the United Nations vened in Johannesburg to review progress ical diversity, and the access to genetic Framework Convention on Climate Change made and to map out a way ahead towards resources and the fair and equitable shar- and the United Nations Convention to achieving the goal of sustainable devel- ing of the benefit arising for their utilisa- Combat Desertification. opment. In both the WEHAB concept and tion. It promotes the ecosystem approach Achieving the Aichi Targets by 2020 in the 2010 Biodiversity Target, biodiver- to protecting life on Earth and puts the is an obligatory first step if we are to ful- sity was recognised as one of the key well-being of mankind at the heart of its fill the longer-term 2050 vision adopted

Achieving the Aichi Targets by 2020 is an obligatory first step if we are to fulfill the longer-term 2050 vision adopted in Nagoya of a world where ‘biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.’ © Claude Hamel

elements for sustainable development, processes. It has 193 Parties and has in Nagoya of a world where “biodiversity with the full implementation of the CBD succeeded in forging a strategic partner- is valued, conserved, restored and wise- being seen as a sine qua non of realisa- ship with all major stakeholders including ly used, maintaining ecosystem services, tion of this future vision. local authorities, mayors, parliamentari- sustaining a healthy planet and delivering In June 2012 world leaders will once ans, business, indigenous people, non- benefits essential for all people.” again assemble in Rio de Janeiro at the governmental organizations, youth, and Achieving the 20 Aichi Targets calls “Rio+20” meeting to look at the global insti- the scientific community. for their urgent integration at nation- tutional order that underpins sustainable Indeed, this Convention, also known al and local levels through the revision development, and to look at the founda- as the Convention for Life on Earth, has of National Biodiversity Strategies and tions of the Green Economy. Biodiversity come a long way since its inception in Action Plans. Thanks to the leadership of represents the natural capital upon which 1992. It has come from being an idea with Japan, the Secretariat in 2011organized, the green economy is built. The Convention, the promise of protecting biodiversity and through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, 12 as one of the legacies of the 1992 Earth contributing to sustainable development, regional and sub-regional workshops and Summit, is one of the institutional responses to a well-developed legal instrument, with assisted 175 Parties to translate the Aichi

2 Satoyama 4 Targets into national biodiversity frame- diversity of life on this planet and recognise and need to be successfully implemented works. The challenge facing the biodiversity the intimate relationship between human by all Parties and their partners as soon as family is to ensure the successful imple- communities and the ecosystems in which possible, and no later than 2020. mentation at national and local levels of they live and thrive. It is one of our tools As world leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro the new generation of National Strategies in the struggle against the impacts of cli- to re-design a new road map to achieving and Action Plans. mate change. It is a unique agreed bio- sustainable development, I call upon all Indeed, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity diversity framework to ensure that our members of the big biodiversity family to for 2011–2020 is not just the concern of the children will continue to benefit from the take urgent action at all levels to ensure the Parties to the Convention. It is the founda- goods and services provided by nature. It successful implementation of the Nagoya tion of all protection of the natural capital is the commitment of the present gener- Biodiversity Compact. Indeed biodiversity of our world. It is the basis for models of ation to future generations. Therefore the is life, and biodiversity is our life... and the development that respect and protect the Aichi Biodiversity Targets cannot be missed life of our children.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations Message for Satoyama magazine on the Convention on Biological Diversity

wenty years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, the heart of economic and social develop- strain that they could reach tipping points the world made a commitment to a ment, and has begun to change the rela- beyond which they may not recover. T sustainable future. Nations agreed tionship between human societies and the The troubling reality is that our respons- that our future and the future of our chil- environments in which they live. es are still not commensurate with what dren rested on actions and commitments The world now has a global system of scientists, economists and people on the that would sustain the variety and biolog- protected areas that covers close to 13 frontlines are telling us about the state of ical richness of our world, upon which all per cent of Earth’s terrestrial area. We now biodiversity. We need heightened efforts life depends. They marked their promise understand the economic value of biodi- to ensure universal ratification of the Con- with the adoption of the United Nations versity in providing the goods and servic- vention and its two protocols. We must Convention on Biological Diversity, which es that make our civilization possible. We set aside more protected areas, in partic- now also includes protocols on biosafety are doing more to acknowledge the impor- ular the oceans and marine environments; and on access and benefit-sharing. tant role played by traditional knowledge continue pressing for climate change mit- Over the years, the principles and goals held by indigenous and local communi- igation and adaptation; and provide the of these three global instruments have ties. The new Nagoya Protocol on Access necessary financing for conservation and become integrated into national policies, and Benefit Sharing is a welcome example other activities aimed at implementing the the work of the development community of the world readiness to integrate equity Convention. We must also make the most and, increasingly, in the minds of citizens into the development process. of the crucially important UN Conference everywhere. Yet we also face tremendous But we also have to be honest and on Sustainable Development, which offers economic, environmental and social chal- acknowledge the shortcomings. The pres- a major opportunity to steer the world lenges, including the growing impacts of sures on biodiversity from convention- towards a greener, more sustainable and climate change. It is time to take stock al approaches to economic growth are more equitable path—a path that protects of where we are and where we are going. increasing. A growing global population the world’s biodiversity. To date, the 193 Parties to the Conven- has resulted in tremendous stress on spe- Business as usual has not been an tion on Biological Diversity, along with their cies and ecosystems. The extinction rate option for a long time. As the Convention partners and stakeholders, have undertaken is the highest in human history, and can marks its 20th anniversary and the world wide-ranging efforts to ensure the conserva- even be compared with the great extinc- reunites in Rio, my hope is that the famous tion and sustainable use of biodiversity, and tions of early history. Some of the grand- “spirit of Rio” will inspire us to change the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits est ecosystems of the planet—such as course, keep our promises and achieve from the use of the planet’s genetic resourc- the Amazon rainforest, coral reefs, and the goals that will ensure our shared sures. This work has brought biodiversity into lake and river systems—are under such vival and well-being.

Satoyama 4 3 Achim Steiner, United Nations Under-Secretary General; Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme Biodiversity and the Road to Rio+20

wenty years ago, the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil set the course for T contemporary sustainable development including the establishment of three landmark treaties on climate, desertification and biodiversity. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was agreed in response to growing concerns that the natural and nature- based resources underpinning all life on Earth were disappearing at an alarming rate and that the sharing of these resources was neither fair nor equitable. Twenty years on—as governments pre- pare for Rio+20 to review, reshape and re-engage on the future trajectory of sustainable development—the challenge of more intelligently managing the world’s biological diversity has become even more urgent than it was two decades ago. Rio+20 represents an opportunity to put in place the policies that can assist Assessment after assessment underlines nations meet the targets and timetables agreed in Nagoya. that without a serious change in course species are likely to be lost at escalat- ing rates and ecosystems—from forests to coral reefs and their vital services— rising to over nine billion people by 2050 conference indicate near universal support pushed beyond irreversible boundaries the way in which economies manage or for a transition to a low carbon, resource or tipping points. mismanage their natural resources will efficient Green Economy. Yet in the run up to the last meeting of in large part define their prosperity in a Meanwhile, there is now real and grow- the CBD in Nagoya, Japan it became clear resource constrained world. ing engagement on how the organization- that the 2010 target to significantly reverse This is one reason why the new set of al structure and architecture needed to the rate of biodiversity loss, affirmed eight targets and timetables, agreed as part deliver that economy might be reformed years before, would not be met. of the Strategic Plan for biodiversity in and evolved. But the global numbers and trends Nagoya in 2010 may indeed be realized. Rio 1992 and the establishment of often mask real progress among many That optimism is also buoyed by the the CBD was a landmark decision: the countries and communities to meet the fact that after some two decades of some- Convention has played a crucial role in aims and aspirations of the convention times fractious negotiations, governments focusing attention on one of the great and indeed the many other targets and also agreed on the Nagoya Protocol on challenges facing humanity while cata- timetables of the wider spectrum of mul- Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair lyzing positive action both politically and tilateral environment agreements. and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising practically. Whether it be the establishment of from Biodiversity and the rate of ratifica- Rio+20 represents an opportunity to marine protected areas in the Cook Islands tion since has been formidable. put in place the policies that can assist or the Bahamas; the reduced deforesta- There are other encouraging signs and nations meet the targets and timetables tion rates in Brazil and the restoration of signals as Rio+20 approaches under the agreed in Nagoya. the Mau forest complex in Kenya, posi- twin themes of a Green Economy in the It also represents an opportunity to tive action is happening. context of sustainable development and scale-up and to accelerate the transfor- There is also a new spirit perhaps poverty eradication and an institutional mations towards a Green Economy already inspired by a new realism—in part trig- framework for sustainable development. underway and an opportunity for a new gered by the ongoing economic and finan- Both the global and regional prepara- generation of world leaders to fulfill the cial crisis—that in a world of seven billion, tions and submissions by nations to the aims and ambitions of a previous one.

4 Satoyama 4 Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan Protect the web of life to ensure our future

he year 2012 marks the 20th anni- Conference of the Parties to the Convention Furthermore, we will move one step clos- versary of the adoption and opening on Biological Diversity (COP 10) was held er to achieving the Aichi Biodiversity T for the signature of the Convention in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, in October Targets at COP 11 to be held in the com- on Biological Diversity (CBD). At this 2010. Thanks to the efforts and coopera- ing October. opportunity, it is a tremendous honor for tion of all the participants, historic achieve- Japan, based on the Aichi Targets, is me to be able to extend this message as ment was made. preparing its new National Biodiversity and the COP 10 Presidency. One of the major achievements at Action Plans for the conservation and res- The loss of biodiversity is one of the COP 10 was the adoption of the new toration of the nation’s natural environment. greatest environmental issues the inter- global targets on biodiversity, the Aichi In addition, by collaborating with various national community is facing today. Our Biodiversity Targets. These targets clearly stakeholders, we will advance our efforts earth is made up of a web of numerous set out what actions the international com- to restore Satoyama, and thus to realize life forms, of which humanity is a part. munity should take over the coming 10 that, Crested Ibis and Oriental White Stork, Throughout its long history, mankind has years. Another achievement was the agree- now endangered but once-familiar birds survived through receiving various benefits ment of the Nagoya Protocol on access fly in our skies again. from nature, such as food, water resourc- and benefit-sharing of genetic resources, With a view to promote concrete actions es, timber, and medication. Biodiversity which had been the issue unsettled since by all relevant stakeholders in the inter- truly is the foundation of our livelihoods. the time the Convention was drawn up. national community, the United Nations However, with the world’s growing At COP 10, the long-term vision to cre- Decade on Biodiversity was launched human population and the expansion of ate a world “living in harmony with nature” in 2011. Now more than ever, we should human activities including development, was adopted. Human beings have accu- renew our commitments and take actions we destroyed the ecosystems and accel- mulated wealth upon benefits from nature. to tackle the loss of biodiversity. erated the extinction of many species, To realize sustainable development, it will Our earth is often referred to as a space which has driven us into the situation in be essential to maintain rich biodiversity ship floating through the universe. By pro- which we are unable to receive the ben- for optimizing the ecosystem services. tecting the life on earth, we can not only efit from nature. To coincide with the 20th anniversary ensure our own continued existence, but Spurred by this sense of crisis, of the “Earth Summit” where biodiversity also protect our children’s future. To hand the CBD was born out of the “United was discussed for the first time at the sum- over the beautiful earth to our children, Nations Conference on Environment and mit level, the year 2012 marks an impor- together we can consolidate our wisdom Development” (Earth Summit) held in Rio tant year to reaffirm such recognition. and exert our utmost effort. de Janeiro in June 1992. Today, twenty years later, the Convention has been joined by nearly all the world’s nations, To realize sustainable development, it will be essential to maintain rich and developed into one of the largest- scale environmental agreements. The biodiversity for optimizing the ecosystem services. CBD demonstrated substantial achievements by providing guidance to the key issues confronting biodiversity and promoting international cooperation. On the other hand, over the twenty years since the Convention was adopted, the loss of global biodiversity has proceeded at an unprecedented pace. If it continues at the current rate, the situation will become irreversible for future generations. Now is the time to take urgent actions to halt the loss of biodiversity and restore ecosystems. Under the theme “Life in Harmony, into the Future,” the 10th meeting of the

Satoyama 4 5 James Alix Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles Empowering the custodian of biodiversity through fairer global measures

s the world reflects and pre- countries to adopt unsustainable produc- conserving these resources. For this to pares for the Conference on tion patterns and practices. Today, poverty happen, however, there is a need for clear A Sustainable Development or and limited alternative livelihoods are two legal and administrative measures at both Rio+20 which is scheduled to take of the main anthropogenic driving forces national and international levels to be in place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, it behind the destruction of the natural envi- place. Amongst others these measures is important for us all to have very clear ronment in the developing world. Faced must also strongly facilitate the transfer expectations, which hopefully will trans- with the dire need to feed their families of green technology and knowledge back late into a greener world economy. For and meet other short term basic needs to these communities. It is this kind of too long the reports published by the farmers, foresters and fishermen in the agreement that the world needs if it is to United Nations agencies and also from developing world have limited choices create more incentives and empower the individual states and civil society, on the even when they know that their actions custodians of biodiversity in the develop- status of biodiversity, have been simply are destroying the very natural resources ing world to engage positively in the con- too depressing and alarming. So far the that they depend on to survive and pros- servation and protection of life on earth world has desperately failed to control the per. In many instances they are forced to as we know it today. underlying forces which are the driving adopt unsustainable production and har- At the regional level, Seychelles has forces behind the unprecedented joined forces with the Global Island and unparalleled loss of biodiver- Partnership (GLISPA) to actively sity that we are witnessing today. The cost of inaction today will be beyond promote the Western Indian Ocean While many governments across Coastal Challenge. This is in response the globe are prepared to negotiate our combined limited means tomorrow. to sea-level rise and climate change, and agree to international targets which threaten the very existence of and action plans, albeit with great low-lying islands and coastal zones difficulty and sacrifice, most of these vesting methodologies to obtain sufficient and their inhabitants and the biodiversity remain unfortunately unmet and in many goods and amounts of money because they rely on. Faced with such colossal cases translate into missed opportuni- they have to undersell their products at threats there is an urgency for the peo- ties. In October 2010, the Nagoya biodi- unfair prices. Recent reports indicate that ples and governments of the sub-region to versity summit adopted the 2011–2020 80% of the world’s fisheries are fully or form partnerships. Together, a clear strat- Biodiversity Plan or Aichi Targets aimed over-exploited, but countries with impor- egy and action plan should be developed amongst others at halving and reducing tant fishing grounds, like Seychelles, find and implemented to surmount challeng- the rate of loss of biodiversity of natu- it difficult to curb fishery permits due to es common to the region, which threaten ral habitats including forests. The Aichi the socio-economic impact on the coun- human, food and water security, biodiversity Targets provide us all with a very clear try. If, however, we were to earn a fair- and sustainable livelihoods. As co-chair I opportunity to change the self-destruc- er share of the financial reward our tuna am committed to engage with other gov- tive course of the world. brings we would not hesitate to make the ernments in the region, civil society and For this to happen, however, we will necessary change. international agencies to drive this impor- require strong individual and collective In addition to the Aichi Targets, Nagoya tant initiative because the cost of inaction commitment and the engagement of world provided us with another golden agree- today will be beyond our combined limit- citizens at all levels of society. A global ment and opportunity in the form of the ed means tomorrow. green movement or partnership of a mag- ‘Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit- We in Seychelles have long understood nitude never seen before with new and Sharing on Genetic Resources’. Such an that the main two sectors of our econo- innovative thinking, and practices that agreement, if implemented effectively, my, i.e. tourism and fisheries, are heavi- cut across world trade, fisheries, agricul- should improve local capacity and political ly dependent on the quality of our natural ture, industry, energy and business. For will to conserve biodiversity because, for environment or our ‘blue gold’. Although too long unfair trade patterns and agree- the first time, part of the benefits accrued having limited capacity and resources we ments have pushed governments, local from the use of such natural resources will are successfully conserving and protect- producers and communities in developing be channelled back to the communities ing the biodiversity within our jurisdiction.

6 Satoyama 4 Seychelles has already exceeded the well established and comprehensive edu- a Small Island Developing State we are Aichi Targets for terrestrial and inland cation and awareness programme our prepared to act as the conscience of the waters with over 51% of its terrestrial citizens are fully aware and participate in world and play an important role in halt- area soon to be declared as protected environment activities and events. During ing and reversing the alarming destruc- area. Similarly we are currently under- this Decade on Biodiversity, 2011–2020, tive trend which is resulting into the sixth taking consultative activities in an effort we hope to strengthen such programmes mass extinction of biodiversity on earth to extend our marine and coastal waters further and continue to play a meaningful caused purely by the negative actions of under legal protection. Today, through a role in the preservation of biodiversity. As humanity.

Lee Hong-koo, Chairman of the Korean Organizing Committee for the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress and former Prime Minister, Republic of Korea Conservation of biodiversity, our challenge to ensure the future and happiness of humanity

he year 2012 is expected to be a crucial year for the international The 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress is an opportunity to take a T efforts to halt the ongoing loss of leap forward towards conserving biodiversity. biological diversity and to promote its sustainable use. It marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Biological plant, animal or ecosystem is relatively nation nature conservation agenda. Among Diversity (CBD), and the 11th Meeting of tough, and their survival instincts have these are conservation of three ecosys- the Conference of the Parties to the CBD been honed over generations of evolution. tems on the Korean peninsula, such as will be held in October in India. However, human civilization has under- the Demilitarized Zone, Baekdudaegan The Rio+20 summit will also be held mined our environment and the funda- (White-head Great-ridge) and marine eco- in 2012, which will evaluate the achieve- mental natural infrastructure that supports system, and protection of plants and ani- ments in addressing various environmental our lives, communities, and economies for mals living in those ecosystems. Sharing challenges for humans and set our future the past years. green growth strategies in which Korea goals and strategies to fully overcome the The Congress will explore many of our has shown its leading role will also be challenges. most pressing environmental and devel- included in the agenda. In addition, the IUCN World Conservation opment challenges from this perspective In the face of rapidly decreasing bio- Congress will also be held in September and how strong and resilient nature is intri- diversity around the world, it is no sur- 2012 in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The cately linked to these issues. In particular, prise that the conservation and wise use Congress will help create a framework the issue of biodiversity conservation will of biodiversity has become our top prior- for international cooperation to seek and be discussed to keep ecosystems healthy ity to sustain the existence and wellbeing practice possible solutions to environ- and enhance the resilience of nature. of humanity. In addition, conservation and mental challenges such as biodiversity The upcoming Congress will also serve sustainable use of biological resources can and habitat loss. In addition, it will serve as an opportunity to examine the situa- be achieved only when countries around as a platform where government and non- tion facing endangered plants and animals the world work together. government participants from approxi- and measures to protect them, and it can In this regard, I hope that the 2012 mately 180 countries can discuss urgent also provide a channel to share experi- IUCN Congress will provide an opportuni- and emerging issues in the field of nature ences and know-how of each country to ty to bring together countries and relevant conservation. conserve biodiversity. organizations around the world and enable The theme of the upcoming Congress is The Republic of Korea, the host of the them to share experiences and efforts to ‘Resilient Nature’, which reflects the urgen- Congress, would like to play its part of the conserve biodiversity and discuss possi- cy facing nature today. Nature is inherent- role in strengthening international efforts ble solutions to tackling the issues of bio- ly strong. Even the most fragile-looking to protect biodiversity by advancing its diversity conservation.

Satoyama 4 7 Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico Mexico’s commitment to biodiversity and environmental conservation

he twentieth anniversary of the Earth ecosystems in Mexico. We currently have to come up with a comprehensive policy Summit gives us the opportunity to 25.38 million hectares as part of the Natural that covers a wide range of issues, from T assess the international commu- Protected Areas managed by the feder- energy saving and efficiency programs to nity’s compliance with the commitments al government. That is close to 13 % of the promotion of major clean energy proj- established in 1992 for biodiversity con- Mexico’s land area and equivalent to the ects. This has led to significant actions at servation, and to identify future challenges whole of the United Kingdom. both domestic and international levels. posed by changes in the economic, social Secondly: Sustainable management of At the domestic level, we have pro- and environmental arenas. the habitat and the flora and fauna in 36 moted the implementation of projects and Mexico is a country with a rich and million hectares. That is 18.4 % of our land programs to reduce our greenhouse gas extensive biodiversity. Therefore, we are area and equivalent in size to Germany. emissions, both on a large scale through fully aware of the value of protecting and Thirdly: Preserving the ecosystem ser- energy generation using renewable sources preserving our natural resources for the vices of forests, jungles and the vegeta- and by means of energy saving and efficien- well-being of Mexicans. We are privileged tion of arid zones through payment for cy programs. Thus, during my administra- to have this biological treasure, but with environmental services, reforestation, and tion we have commissioned seven wind this privilege also come great responsibility. soil conservation. Nowadays, 4.65 million generation plants, 14 more are under con- That is why Mexico proposed the creation hectares of forests in the country –an area struction, and in the near future we will start of the Group of Like-minded Megadiverse larger than Denmark– are preserved and the construction of another five plants. Countries, which is made up of the nations managed in a sustainable way thanks to By virtue of this, in 2011 Mexico became that together represent more than 70 % the support of ProÁrbol, the most suc- the country with the highest mean annual of the earth’s biological wealth and has cessful forestry program in the history of growth rate in its wind energy generation among its goals fostering an internation- Mexico. These actions have allowed us capacity. Likewise, we presented the Atlas al regime that promotes and protects to progress in the rational use of our for- of Wind and Solar Renewable Resources the fair and equitable distribution of the ests and jungles and to reward the com- of Mexico, which shows the great poten- benefits of the use of genetic resources. munities that work in their conservation. tial that our country has in clean ener- This effort was crystallized in the Nagoya These actions, among others, have con- gy generation. Also, we implemented the Protocol. Also, for twenty years Mexico tributed to reduce the deforestation rate in Green Mortgage program to give loans to has been actively involved in strengthen- Mexico, which according to the FAO went buy houses equipped with ecotechnolo- ing the Convention on Biological Diversity, down from 354 thousand hectares annu- gies that result in economic benefits for the most important global instrument for ally between 1990 and 2000 to 155 thou- the families and contribute to environmen- the conservation and sustainable exploi- sand hectares annually from 2005 to 2010. tal conservation. Thanks to the program tation of our natural capital. Under the current circumstances, it is Sustainable Light, the most ambitious of its However, we have not been active important to draw attention to a phenom- type in the whole world, we have already only in the international arena. In 2009, enon that might have an important effect replaced more than 14 million light bulbs we published Capital Natural de México on the loss of global biodiversity and affect with energy-saving lamps, and with the (The Natural Capital of Mexico), the most the quality of life of our people. I am refer- Home Appliances Replacement program, comprehensive summary of our country’s ring to Climate Change, a global challenge we have helped families replace nearly one biodiversity to disseminate its extent and that threatens our present and compromis- million 400 thousand refrigerators. Thanks promote its sustainable use and conser- es the future of humankind. It is an issue to these programs, we have achieved sig- vation. In my administration we are fully that the international community must nificant savings for Mexican families and convinced that the conservation of our bio- deal with decisively before it is too late. reduced greenhouse gas emissions. diversity relies on our knowledge of it and Mexico has assumed its responsibility In the international arena and as COP 16 its use for the benefit of society. Therefore, and has established a clear commitment hosts, we have acted as facilitators in the we decided to implement a series of strat- to respond to the challenges posed by settlement of the Cancun Agreements, egies, and three of the most important are: this phenomenon. We were the first devel- especially the implementation of the Green Firstly: The consolidation of the National oping country to implement a program to Climate Fund, and in Durban, during the System of Natural Protected Areas to ensure address Climate Change, to put in place recent COP 17 conference, we pushed the conservation of the most representative voluntary emission reduction goals and to make this fund operational as soon

8 Satoyama 4 as possible so it can start giving funds, and of reinforcing the climate change fight, economic and social development and mainly to developing countries, to car- in Rio+20 we must be proactively involved respect for the environment. ry out actions to mitigate climate change to push for the agreements required to The stakes have never been higher. We and to adapt to its effects. establish a framework for the work and are only just in time to act and Mexico will Being fully aware of the importance of international cooperation necessary to continue to implement actions in favor of preserving the natural wealth of our planet achieve greater congruence between the environment and in favor of humanity.

Jean Charest, Premier ministre du Québec, Canada Le Québec voit grand

’environnement fait dorénavant autour de 5 grandes théma- mettre à l’abri 50 % de la superficie du partie de ce que tiques : la représentativité, la consolidation, la territoire du Plan Nord pour les consacrer L nous sommes. Au gouvernance du public et des communautés à des fins autres qu’industrielles, à la pro- même titre que notre héritage culturel, notre autochtones, les enjeux socio-économiques tection de l’environnement et à la sauve- patrimoine naturel nous définit. Il nous nour- et les connaissances scientifiques. Ces garde de la biodiversité, et ce, dès 2035. rit, nous soigne et contribue à notre bien- orientations stratégiques nous guideront Il s’agit d’un engagement de très grande être par les nombreux services écologiques dans l’atteinte de notre objectif actuel, qui envergure, voire unique au monde de par inestimables qu’il nous rend, tout à fait gra- est de protéger 12 % du territoire québé- son ampleur. On parle en effet d’une éten- tuitement. Collectivement, nous sommes cois d’ici 2015. Notre réseau atteindra alors due de 600 000 km2, soit l’équivalent, en tributaires de la diversité biologique et c’est quelque 200 000 km2, soit une superficie superficie, d’un pays comme la France. pourquoi les efforts de conservation doivent qui équivaut à deux fois celle de l’Islande. Déjà, des projets de parcs nationaux être déployés sans ménagement. Avec le Nos efforts, bien sûr, ne s’arrêteront sont en cours de réalisation et la gestion temps, les enjeux liés à la sauvegarde de pas là. Le Québec entend également pour- de plusieurs d’entre eux sera confiée à la biodiversité évoluent, et la Convention suivre les objectifs fixés en octobre 2010 des communautés autochtones du Nord sur la diversité biologique s’y adapte en lors de la 10e Conférence des Parties tenue québécois. Je crois que cette façon de proposant des objectifs de conservation à à Nagoya, au Japon, et porter la propor- faire reflète bien notre volonté de dévelop- la fois toujours plus précis et plus grands. tion des territoires voués à la conserva- per ce territoire avec les gens et les col- Fort heureusement, une part croissante tion à 10 % du milieu marin et à 17 % du lectivités qui y vivent, dans le plus grand de la communauté internationale est sen- milieu terrestre, d’ici 2020. respect de leurs connaissances, de leurs sibilisée à ces enjeux. Partout à travers le L’atteinte de ces cibles sera entre autres activités et de leurs valeurs traditionnelles. monde, des réseaux d’aires protégées se facilitée par l’un des plus grands projets Le Plan Nord est un projet de société consolident et s’agrandissent. Le Québec de développement social, économique et stimulant. Pour l’ensemble des Québécois, se fait un point d’honneur à se hisser au environnemental de l’histoire du Québec : c’est le chantier d’une génération. Un chan- rang des gouvernements les plus proac- le Plan Nord. Nous voulons faire de ce tier dont l’envergure nous rappelle toute tifs à ce chapitre. plan, qui couvre un territoire de 1,2 mil- l’importance des enjeux qui entourent la Notre réseau compte plus de 2 500 aires lion de km2 au nord du 49e parallèle, une sauvegarde de la biodiversité. protégées qui répondent aux plus hauts référence mondiale en matière de déve- En effet, les défis actuels et à venir en critères de protection de l’Union interna- loppement durable. matière de conservation de la nature sont tionale pour la conservation de la nature. À toutes les étapes de planification et grands, et pour les relever avec brio, nos Le Portrait du réseau d’aires protégées au de réalisation des projets mis de l’avant actions doivent l’être tout autant. C’est Québec période 2002–2009 illustre l’évo- dans le cadre du Plan Nord, la protection pourquoi j’invite tous les dirigeants qui parti- lution de notre réseau, qui est passé de de l’environnement, des écosystèmes et ciperont à la Conférence des Nations Unies moins de 1 % à plus de 8 % en à peine 7 de la biodiversité sera au cœur des déci- sur le développement durable (Rio+20), en ans, pour atteindre plus de 135 000 km2. Ce sions. Ces projets devront non seulement juin prochain, à réitérer leur engagement portrait exhaustif nous a permis d’évaluer se conformer à l’ensemble des lois et des envers la protection de l’environnement. Il la qualité de notre réseau sur le plan de la règlements en vigueur au Québec quant au nous incombe à tous de trouver l’équilibre représentativité des milieux naturels et des respect de l’environnement, mais devront entre les occasions qui nous sont offertes espèces, de mesurer son efficacité à préser- également se soumettre à des analyses aujourd’hui et celles que nous lèguerons ver la biodiversité, et d’établir de nouvelles environnementales rigoureuses avant d’ob- aux prochaines générations. C’est le défi orientations stratégiques pour le Québec. tenir l’aval du gouvernement. de notre temps : croître aujourd’hui en Nos efforts de conservation s’articuleront Un autre de nos engagements est de harmonie avec demain.

Satoyama 4 9 Brian Mulroney, Former Prime Minister of Canada “We do not inherit the world from our fathers, we borrow it from our children”

’m honoured by the opportunity to share sustainable development and conserva- my reflections on this 20th anniversa- tion of the world’s forests. And in March Iry of the United Nations Convention 1991 in Ottawa, the first President Bush on Biological Diversity and the upcom- and I signed the Canada-US Air Quality ing Rio+20 anniversary of the 1992 Earth Accord, which has resolved the problem Summit. of acid rain. On the road to Rio 2012, it may be The next steps at Rio were the Climate helpful to recall the legacy of Rio 1992, as Change and Biodiversity Accords. The the most important environmental event Climate Change Convention established since the landmark Stockholm Conference the framework agreement that would even- of 1972. tually lead to the Kyoto Accord of 1997. The enduring importance of the Earth More achievable targets were adopted at Summit is not that leaders from 130 nations the Copenhagen Conference of the Parties and 30,000 delegates and media attend- in 2009. But the point remains that at Rio ed from around the world. in 1992, the world’s leaders recognized The lasting achievement of Rio was climate change and global warming as the universal acceptance of sustainable an imminent threat to the future of plan- development as the central tenet of envi- et Earth. Since then, we have also recog- ronmental policy. As I put it in my keynote nized that there is no solution to climate address to the Summit on June 12, 1992: change without the participation of emerg- “Economic development and environmen- ing economies such as China and India, tal protection are mutually reinforcing, not which account for much of the increase mutually exclusive.” in greenhouse gas emissions. As I also said that day: “This is not just The world also recognized at Rio that about the atmosphere. It is not just about conserving biological diversity had become the environment. It is about the future of an urgent global issue. Biodiversity nurtures the planet itself.” life and produces a wealth of environmental Two major UN conventions were signed by-products upon which our ecosystem, by 130 nations at Rio, the Climate Change our health, and our prosperity depend. For Accord and the Biodiversity Accord, which example, it is a well-established fact that Framework Convention on Climate Change Canada was the first country to endorse, one-fourth of all North American pharma- were all landmark events. over the opposition of our good friends in ceutical products have ingredients derived Twenty years on, the United Nations the United States. from plants. In Canada alone at the time, has declared 2011–2020 as the Decade These historic global accords marked more than 200 animal and plant species, on Biodiversity. Nothing could be more the culmination of nearly a decade of including wetlands and old forests, were appropriate. Nothing could be more urgent. environmental action by the Canadian acknowledged to be at risk. Protecting As you look ahead to Rio+20 in June government. First, in 1985, we negoti- habitats was one of the keys to protecting 2012, two of the challenges for the United ated an agreement with our provinces biodiversity. As the first leader to sign the Nations Conference on Sustainable to reduce acid rain emissions by 50 per- Biodiversity Accord at Rio, I also commit- Development will be the issues of a green cent. Then Canadian leadership result- ted Canada’s Parliament to ratifying the economy and eradicating poverty, espe- ed in the Montreal Protocol of 1987, the agreement by the end of 1992. cially child poverty, in the world. UN agreement on ozone depletion. At The Rio Conference not only raised As citizens of the world, and of our own the G7 Summit in Toronto in 1988, we the awareness of environmental issues countries, we are all responsible for build- endorsed sustainable development as rec- worldwide, it also resulted in Agenda 21, ing a sustainable planet. ommended by the Brundtland Commission. an ambitious environmental Action Plan The Inuit of Canada’s North have a say- At the G7 Summit in Houston in 1990, for the 21st century. The Rio Declaration, ing: “We do not inherit the world from our Canada called for measures to promote the Convention on Biodiversity and the fathers, we borrow it from our children.”

10 Satoyama 4 Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway, and former Director-General, World Health Organization The real value of biological diversity

n 1987, when I delivered the report of target to achieve a significant reduction in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation the World Commission for Environment the rate of loss of biological diversity has and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is anoth- I and Development (WCED) to the played an invaluable role for policy devel- er mechanism based on sustainable man- Secretary General, we were five billion opment in this field. At the moment sev- agement of biological resources. Primarily people living together on this planet. Last eral initiatives and developments show a mechanism to mitigate climate change, year we passed seven billion. In 1987 we promise to reinforce CBD’s work. it also has the potential to deliver “co-ben- recommended that the rich part of the The project “The Economics of efits” such as poverty alleviation. population limit and modify their consump- Ecosystems and Biodiversity” (TEEB) show REDD+ will channel large funds to devel- tion and contribute to a better life for the the global economic benefits of biodiver- oping countries for their deliveries of the poor and for future generations. Today sity, and the growing costs of biodiversity ecosystem service of climate regulation we are happy to see that the number of loss and ecosystem degradation. TEEB is produced by forests. There are challeng- comparatively wealthier people who have essentially a “Stern Review” on biologi- es to overcome with this concept, but I risen out of poverty has increased sub- cal diversity and has been an eye opener nevertheless see REDD+ as one of the stantially. However, resources are limited for public and private decision-makers. few available mechanisms that have the and the earth cannot support all seven An example of the value of genetic diver- potential to combine the monetization of million with today’s consumption patterns sity is the discovery of the drug Cyclosporin. forest carbon with the needs of local com- of the rich. The environmental challeng- The soil fungus Tolypocladium inflatum, munities that manage the forests. es have reached a more dangerous lev- found in soil samples from Norway’s Twenty-five years have now passed el than in 1987. I am still optimistic that Hardangervidda National Park in 1969, since the Commission on Environment we will manage to transform our societ- turned out to produce a compound called and Development delivered its conclu- ies towards sustainable patterns, as we Cyclosporin A, which is now used in organ sions. This June we will again meet in Rio recommended in 1987. transplants to reduce the risk of organ de Janeiro to discuss our common future. The Rio Conference on Environment rejection. In 1997 the annual sales rev- We know that business as usual will and Development in 1992 created great enue from Cyclosporin-based products not do and that inclusive green growth hopes. The world succeeded in achiev- totalled US$1.2 billion. In the absence and low-emission economic strategies ing global agreement on the establishment of benefit sharing legislation at that time, are needed. It is my firm belief that the of conventions for biological diversity, cli- Norway was not able to capture a share of elements of biological diversity that lie mate change and desertification as well as these financial benefits. This is a situation behind TEEB and REDD+ will be a back- an agenda for local actions (Agenda 21). many developing countries find themselves bone of green growth strategies. The need for sustainable management in today. A global instrument to regulate I remain convinced that the Convention of biological diversity in order to achieve the access to such genetic resources and on Biological Diversity, through its efforts the Millennium Development Goals is by the benefit sharing from their use is now to secure sustainable management of bio- now well documented. in place through the Nagoya Protocol to logical resources, will continue to play a Biological diversity represents the nat- CBD. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a key role in developing a more just and ural wealth of the earth and the lifeline of successful financial instrument for many sustainable world. the poor. Poverty reduction programs rely developing countries that have abundant I salute you on the occasion of the 20th on biological resources and restoration of genetic resources. anniversary! degraded ecosystems, given that the poor are the most vulnerable to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, now increasingly caused by climate change. The drivers of degradation of biological diversity are much more related to over-consumption by the wealthy than to the needs of the poor. Good environmental management boils down to a question of good governance to address this issue. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been the main global instrument to secure sustainable management of biological resources since its adoption twenty years ago. The value of CBD’s 2010

Satoyama 4 11 Li Ganjie, Vice Minister, Ministry of Environmental Protection, People’s Republic of China Conserving China’s rich and unique biodiversity: Led by government, participated by the public

iodiversity in China is rich and Government issued the China Action Plan and identified 10 priority areas, 30 priority unique. China takes up about six for Biodiversity Conservation. Since then, actions and 39 priority projects. It is a pro- B percent of the total land area in China’s work on biodiversity conservation grammatic document for the conservation the world. It has around 10% known spe- has received clear direction and guidance on and sustainable utilization of biodiversity cies in the world. Among them, 34,984 actions. In 1998, the Government released over the next 20 years and indicates the species are higher plant species, rank- the Report on China Biodiversity Country new era for biodiversity conservation in ing third in the world; and 6,445 species Study and basically grasped China’s bio- China. At the end of 2010, the policy on are vertebrates, accounting for 13.7% diversity baseline. zoning the major functional areas nationwide of the world total. There are over 10,000 The second stage: Making break- was implemented, which put the key eco- species of identified fungi, accounting for throughs in key areas (2003–2009). Species functional zones including nature reserves 14% of the world total. China has 594 var- are the main structure and functional unit into the category of prohibiting from devel- ious kinds of terrestrial ecosystems such of biodiversity. To enhance the conserva- opment. Meanwhile, innovative measures as forest, shrubs, meadow, grassland, tion and management of the resources of have also been taken to further enhance d esert and wetlands; and four marine biological species, China in 2003 estab- the management of nature reserves and ecosystems including the Yellow Sea, lished the inter-ministry joint meeting mech- better conserve species resources. In June East China Sea, South China Sea and anism for the conservation of biological 2011, the China National Committee for Kuroshio Basin. China is also rich in bio- species resources with the former State the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity logical genetic resources. It is the origin of Environmental Protection Administration as was officially renamed the China National important crops such as rice and soybean the lead agency and 17 other agencies as Committee on Biodiversity Conservation. and main origins of wild and cultivated fruit members. The National Expert Committee The conservation of biodiversity in China trees. China’s biodiversity resources are for Conservation of Species Resources was has been uplifted to a more important stra- not only rich, but also have the charac- also established. The forces of different tegic position. Conservation efforts have teristics of originating from ancient times; stakeholders have been gathered together been further deepened. complex and diversified spatial pattern and to jointly push forward the conservation of With the efforts for biodiversity con- rich unique species and geneses. China species resources. In 2007, approved by servation in the past 20 years, the legal plays a unique role in global biodiversity. the State Council, the Outline of National system was established initially, the work- Since China’s ratification of the Plan for Conservation and Utilization of ing mechanism was gradually improved, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Biological Species Resources (2006–2020) and the capacity of baseline investiga- with the great importance the Government was released, which identified the objec- tion, scientific research and monitoring attached, extensive participation and pro- tives, key areas and tasks of the conser- and management was enhanced contin- active action of the whole society, fruit- vation of species resources. uously. Great progress was also made on ful achievements have been obtained on The third stage: Comprehensively deep- international cooperation and exchanges. biodiversity conservation. Looking back ening the conservation action (2010—). In Significant ecological projects have been to China’s fulfillment of the Convention 2010, the China National Committee for carried out, such as returning farmland to over the past 20 years, the conservation the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity forest, returning pastureland to grassland, of biodiversity in China has undergone was established. Over 20,000 biodiversity returning cropland to lakes, the conser- three stages: conservation activities were carried out vation of natural forests, conservation of The first stage: Consolidating the across the country with the guidance of wild fauna and flora, and development of basis (1993–2002). In order to imple- National Committee, which greatly aroused nature reserves. These projects have effec- ment the CBD and strengthen the con- the enthusiasm of the communities and the tively conserved 85% types of land eco- servation work on biodiversity, China public to participate in biodiversity con- systems, 47% of natural wetlands, 20% set up the Coordination Group for the servation. In September 2011, the China of natural forests, most of the natural rel- Implementation of the Convention on National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy ics, 65% types of higher plant communi- Biological Diversity with the former State and Action Plan (2011–2030) was promul- ties and most of the rare and endangered Environmental Protection Administration gated, which defined the guiding ideas, wild animals and plant species. In par- as the lead agency. The working mech- basic principles and milestone targets for ticular, in-situ conservation has obtained anism for biodiversity conservation was biodiversity conservation, delimited 35 pri- remarkable achievements. By the end primarily established. In 1994 the Chinese ority regions for biodiversity conservation; of 2010, 2588 nature reserves had been

12 Satoyama 4 established, with the total area taking up and plant resources is still outstanding to national ecological safety and sus- 14.9% of the land area of the country. The and the habitats of some important spe- tainable development, as well as for the number of key wild animal and plant species are under threat. Incidents of inva- future of the world. The next 10 years will cies remains stable with some increase, sion of alien species occur with frequency, be a key period for biodiversity conser- distribution areas get wider and the habi- and genetic resources are subject to sig- vation. Only through the joint efforts of tat environment is improved continuously. nificant drain and loss. In addition, the international communities and by further Although remarkable achievements have laws and policy system are far from per- strengthening conservation efforts can we been made in biodiversity conservation, fect, the basic situation is not clear and fundamentally reverse the trend of biodi- we recognize that biodiversity conserva- investment for conservation is not suffi- versity loss and achieve the 2020 biodi- tion in China is still facing a grave situation. cient. Management capacity needs to be versity targets. Conserving China’s rich The tendency of biodiversity loss cannot further improved. There is also uneven and unique biodiversity resources need be reversed within a short period of time. distribution of nature reserves, imperfect the attention and support of the world. Due to climate change and the impact of management institutions, the lack of man- China will adhere to the scientific devel- human activities, some ecosystems have agement and conservation infrastructure, opment; implement the China National been degraded; and the functions of forest and insufficient capacity in addressing Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and ecosystems are relatively weak. The area new issues on biodiversity conservation. Action Plan (2011–2030) in an all-around of grassland and wetlands is reduced and There is still a long way for China to go to way, and strive for the achievement of a suffering from serious degradation. The conserve biodiversity. society with great harmony between man state of over-consumption of wild animal The conservation of biodiversity matters and nature.

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom The Convention at 20: No time for complacency

he odds were stacked against last tirelessly with individual countries in the showed us the trends in global biodi- year’s summit in Nagoya. Previous run-up to the event. At the event itself, versity, spelling out the urgent need for T biodiversity targets had failed; and he appointed facilitators from all over more action. The science overturned after the disappointing climate change the world, ensuring roles of equal weight the political difficulties, especially in the talks in Copenhagen, doomsayers had for the different interest groups. During wording of the ambitious yet achievable decided that global environmental gov- those long and difficult days of negotia- new ‘Aichi’ targets in the Strategic Plan. ernance was dead. tion, Japan’s diplomatic skills kept sav- We also welcomed the agreement that The doomsayers were confounded. ing the day. a new Intergovernmental Platform on Out of the ashes of Copenhagen, Nagoya It also took the tenacity and sheer hard Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services produced a groundbreaking agreement. work put in by government officials. Their (IPBES) should be established. So what did it take? weeks of complex negotiations before min- The really big breakthrough was the Firstly, it took political will. There were isters arrived cleared the way for a narrow- protocol on access to, and benefit shar- big differences to overcome, big compro- ing of focus onto the three thorniest and ing of, genetic resources. The draft promises to be made. But when the world’s most crucial tasks. These were: agreeing tocol had taken 18 years of negotiation, environment ministers sat down round a Strategic Plan to 2020, with targets to and there was still disagreement between that table in Nagoya, it became clear that succeed the failed 2010 targets; agree- countries on key issues. Developing coun- the will was there. Copenhagen had not ing a Resource Mobilization Strategy to tries wanted greater protection for their defeated us; it had hardened our resolve. ensure all countries had the capacity to genetic resources. Developed countries We were absolutely determined to succeed. meet these new targets; and finalising the wanted to ensure that such protection Mobilising that political will were the text to a legally binding protocol on the would not stifle scientific work that would outstanding leadership capabilities of our use of genetic resources. not only benefit society but also encour- Japanese hosts. Japan’s Minister of the Crucially, it took science. Science age biodiversity conservation. Environment Ryo Matsumoto appointed an is critical to the elaboration of biodi- Negotiations were tense and there were ambassador for the summit, who worked versity policy. At Nagoya the science many twists and turns. As time started to

Satoyama 4 13 Gérald Tremblay, Maire de Montréal, Canada

run out, the Japanese hosts told us they would have to present a take-it or leave- Montréal souhaite it text. Time and time again we tried to e resolve differences. Late on the final night un joyeux 20 of the summit there was still fundamental disagreement; but there was also trust, anniversaire à la and on trust you can build compromise. The dedication of the Japanese came to the fore. Their unwavering attention Convention sur la throughout every detail of the negotiations meant they were able to table a precise- diversité biologique ly balanced text that, although not ideal to anyone, was acceptable to everyone. The gong was banged at 2am and we got to our feet and cheered. Nagoya was a breakthrough. But there’s no time for complacency. We need to keep the momentum going. COP 11 in Hyderabad will be the CBD’s 20th birthday: a time for celebration, and a focus for resolve. By then, it’s hoped that countries will have prepared their new national biodiversity strategies and action plans. All plans will be vital for the achievement of the Aichi Targets. In the UK we’ve already published our new biodiversity strategy for England, and are working with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to produce a UK-wide strategy. In December 2011, with EU colleagues, I agreed a way forward for the new EU biodiversity strategy. Nagoya set the direction. Hyderabad must drive us forwards. The slogan for La région métropolitaine de territoire alors que les milieux forestiers Hyderabad is Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita: Montréal exprime son très grand et humides occupent respectivement intérêt pour la protection de la Nature protects if she is protected. The 19,2 % et 4,6 %. Cœur du réseau hydro- diversité biologique. logo symbolizes the cycle of life, with ani- graphique, le fleuve Saint-Laurent, avec mal forms circling a human being holding En 2012, nous célébrons le 20e anniver- un débit moyen de 9 000 m3/s, se classe a basket of grain. This powerful image sig- saire de la signature de la Convention sur au dixième rang des plus grands cours nals the criticality of our work on biodiver- la diversité biologique, une belle occasion d’eau du monde. Occupant 12 % du ter- sity; and the need to go wider the CBD d’évaluer l’évolution de la situation durant ritoire métropolitain, les plans d’eau sont and its targets. Environment ministers ces deux décennies, d’émettre des sou- ponctués de plus de 325 îles, dont cer- need to extend their influence, and help haits pour l’avenir, en somme de faire le taines sont toujours à l’état naturel, et the world understand the links between point quant à l’atteinte des objectifs fixés s’étirent sur plus de 1 800 kilomètres de biodiversity, climate change and pover- et de rappeler l’importance des enjeux qui berges. En milieu terrestre, quatre monté- ty. Defeating poverty, stopping climate sont sur la table. régiennes présentent des caractéristiques change, and protecting nature are all the géologiques différentes de leurs milieux, same fight, and for victory we need unit- La diversité biologique du Grand contribuant ainsi à la diversité biologique ed global action. Montréal : une richesse à la du territoire. Le dernier inventaire métro- rencontre de deux climats Between now and Hyderabad, there’s politain, réalisé en avril 2009, révèle que Rio+20, the UN summit on sustainable Le Grand Montréal couvre une superficie le couvert forestier occupe seulement development. This is a key opportunity to totale de 4 360 km2 dont plus de la moitié 19,2 % du territoire terrestre du Grand get the world on track to green economic est occupée par des terres agricoles proté- Montréal. Or, il est généralement admis growth: growth that enhances rather than gées (57,8 %). Distinguant le territoire des qu’une baisse significative de la diversité impedes the cycle of life; that protects all autres régions métropolitaines, les plans biologique est observée lorsque le couvert life on Earth. d’eau occupent 12 % de la superficie du forestier d’une région passe sous le seuil

14 Satoyama 4 de 30 % de la surface d’un territoire. Étés citoyens et organismes de bonifier le projet Canada, Québec, Montréal… et la chauds et hivers froids, caractéristiques de de PMAD au cours des 55 heures qu’ont diversité biologique notre climat continental, ont façonné les duré les séances dans tous les secteurs Les gouvernements du Canada et du écosystèmes de l’archipel de Montréal qui du Grand Montréal. Principal constat envi- Québec adhèrent aux objectifs de la abritent une richesse faunique et floristique. ronnemental : « La biodiversité du territoire Convention des Nations Unies sur la diver- doit être au coeur des préoccupations du sité biologique et ont élaboré des stratégies Une Communauté permettant PMAD et elle doit être protégée et mise en en faveur du maintien de la biodiversité. Au le développement d’une vision valeur par la mise en place d’une ceinture Québec, cela s’est traduit notamment par métropolitaine ou d’une trame verte et par des objectifs une augmentation des superficies d’aires Créée le 1er janvier 2001, par le gouver- révisés ». Plus de la moitié des mémoires protégées, passant de 1% du territoire de nement du Québec, la Communauté présentés rappellent aux instances métro- la province en 2003 à 8,12 % en 2009. Le métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) est politaines l’importance de protéger et de Grand Montréal se situe dans le sud du un organisme de planification, de coordi- mettre en valeur les milieux naturels à titre Québec, soit le territoire qui accueille le nation et de financement qui regroupe 82 de contribution à l’attractivité du territoire. plus grand nombre d’espèces végétales municipalités, soit 3,7 millions de personnes Les médias sociaux, plus particulièrement et animales. Le PMAD fixe des objec- réparties sur plus de 4 360 kilomètres Facebook et Twitter, ont également été mis tifs ambitieux, malgré l’urbanisation du carrés. La Communauté a notamment com- à contribution, notamment au moment territoire, contribuant ainsi aux objectifs pétence en matière d’aménagement et de des audiences publiques, afin de relayer de protection des milieux naturels. La développement du territoire. Pour assu- rapidement les informations circulant sur Conférence des parties de la Convention mer cette compétence, elle doit adopter le Web et de susciter l’intérêt des usagers a déjà reconnu l’importance du rôle des et maintenir en vigueur, sur l’ensemble de de la Toile pour la consultation. administrations locales et régionales en son territoire, un plan métropolitain d’amé- adoptant un plan d’action dans le but de nagement et de développement (PMAD). Un projet de plan métropolitain les impliquer dans l’atteinte des objectifs amélioré de la Convention. Il s’avère donc essen- Un plan métropolitain alliant Devant une telle unanimité exprimée à tiel de poursuivre les initiatives amorcées, développement et protection des l’égard de la protection et de la mise en car ce sont les villes et les métropoles qui milieux naturels valeur des milieux naturels de l’archipel, gèrent au quotidien l’aménagement du Le PMAD définit des orientations, des le PMAD vise dorénavant un objectif de territoire. Des outils méthodologiques, objectifs et des critères aux fins d’assurer protection de 17 % (9,6 % en 2009) de son financiers et autres doivent être à leur la compétitivité et l’attractivité du Grand territoire en exigeant des mesures concrètes disposition pour assurer la mise en place Montréal dans la perspective d’un aména- d’interdiction d’abattage d’arbres, de de projets concrets de protection et d’in- gement et d’un développement durables protection de milieux humides, de rives, tégration des espaces de vie en milieu du territoire métropolitain. Sur un horizon de berges et des plaines inondables. En urbain. Plus de la moitié de la popula- de 20 ans, le PMAD porte, entre autres parallèle, des initiatives de reboisement tion mondiale vit en milieu urbain. Outre choses, sur la planification du transport contribueront à porter à 30 % le couvert l’habitat des populations, les industries, terrestre; la protection et la mise en valeur forestier actuellement évalué à 19,2 %. commerces, institutions doivent égale- du milieu naturel, des paysages et du patri- Enfin, un fonds permettra d’appuyer ment trouver leur place. Plus que jamais, moine; la définition de seuils minimaux financièrement les initiatives municipales il est primordial d’impliquer et d’appuyer de densité, etc. Par opposition à certains d’aménagement, de protection et de mise les efforts des administrations locales et exercices de planification du même type, en valeur de milieux naturels lorsque la régionales dans la protection et le main- les orientations, les objectifs et les critères capacité d’accueil des écosystèmes le tien de la diversité biologique. du PMAD s’appliqueront sur l’ensemble permettra. Reliant plans d’eau, grands Montréal se réjouit d’être le siège du du territoire par le biais de la réglementa- espaces verts, réseaux cyclables (loisir Secrétariat de la Convention sur la diver- tion municipale à la suite d’un rigoureux et utilitaire), navigables et de transport en sité biologique. J’en profite pour le féliciter exercice de conformité. Le 28 avril 2011, commun et intégrant de nombreux points pour son action. Cette présence représente le conseil de la Communauté métropoli- d’intérêt du patrimoine bâti et des pay- pour nous une fierté mais également une taine de Montréal a adopté, aux fins d’une sages, une trame verte et bleue offrira aux exigence, celle de nous montrer bon élève, consultation publique, un projet de Plan citoyens du Grand Montréal une multitude de montrer l’exemple. En 2010, Année métropolitain d’aménagement et de déve- de points d’accès à un réseau d’espaces internationale de la biodiversité, nous loppement (PMAD). bleus et verts, proposant une multitude avons fait nôtres les objectifs d’Aichi qui d’activités sportives, culturelles, de détente proposent de Vivre en harmonie avec la La population s’exprime et de loisir. Le Plan métropolitain d’amé- nature, et nous comptons bien continuer Participation étonnante en comparaison nagement et de développement du Grand sur cette voie! Il nous revient maintenant aux exercices similaires tenus au cours Montréal fut adopté par le conseil de la d’assumer pleinement notre rôle durant des dernières années, 17 séances de Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal la Décennie des Nations Unies pour la consultation publique ont permis à 389 le 8 décembre 2011. biodiversité.

Satoyama 4 15 Luciano Ducci, Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil A common objective for a fairer and more sustainable world

he greatest challenge for cities and principles for the use and conserva- However, solutions are being built by many around the world is to reconcile tion of biodiversity on the planet, the pos- hands and range from simple strategies T their natural dynamics and develop- sibility of responding to the existing issue that can be adapted and used in multiple ment. While the world’s population grows was glimpsed. From there, the idea that a ways in articulation between the differ- continually—and, in the same propor- single goal is essential, coupled with the ent scales of action at national, regional tion, so do their demands—environmental diversity of solutions that include respect or local levels. issues are revealed, that, local conditions for local peculiarities. The dissemination of the concept of respected, are common in spite of appear- In this context, the guidelines of the “biodiversity” in the different segments ing in different scales. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of society shows that its conservation In order to meet this challenge, the have reinforced decisions at the nation- has become part of the agenda not only understanding that continuity of life with al level and contributed to alternatives for experts but also for managers, econ- quality is intrinsically linked to biodiver- for deployment at the local level in tack- omists, researchers and citizens. sity conservation is crucial. ling issues. Based on technical and finan- We are convinced that we must work Since the very first conventions on the cial cooperation, the CBD has driven the through biodiversity issues globally, and also environment, there has existed doubt with establishment of spaces for recognition of simultaneously and tirelessly, locally. In this respect to our ability to reconcile devel- the importance of biodiversity conserva- context, the city of Curitiba has sought to opment with the conservation of nature. It tion and design strategies in implement- put into practice, throughout its history, a must be understood that there is a close ing the necessary policies. public policy that reconciles urban devel- connection between the social and envi- Twenty years after Rio, we are getting opment and environmental preservation. ronmental crises. However, the main obser- ready for a new historic meeting, when In 1989, Curitiba pioneered selective vation is that we are experiencing, above the results generated by the agreements garbage collection in Brazil. Today, the all, a crisis of perception, of being sepa- established in a not too distant past will municipality is 100% covered with col- rated from the natural world. be evaluated. lection of organic household and recycla- During Rio 92, when 175 countries We cannot deny that there are imminent ble waste, with a 23% rate of separation, agreed on the need to establish standards risks for the conservation of biodiversity. one of the highest in the country.

16 Satoyama 4 Monique Barbut, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility

Curitiba also stands out in the conservation of green areas. Today, we have Twenty years of 51.5 m² of green area per inhabitant, and a consolidated system of conservation areas consisting of 36 parks and forests. partnership We have also sought tools that support the maintenance and expansion of our green space. Recently, we created he Convention on Biological which the CBD aspires. GEF pro- the Private Reserves of Natural Municipal Diversity (CDB) celebrates its 20th vides support to all GEF eligible Heritage (RPPNM), a way of motivating T Anniversary in 2012. This tenure has countries under the CBD. owners of private green areas to preserve been characterized by a series of singular • Articles 6a and 6b of the CBD serve them through incentives and tax breaks. achievements in the field of global biodi- as effective tools to accelerate the We have also prioritized the recovery versity policy-making and biodiversity con- integration of biodiversity into non- of our rivers. A good example is the Viva servation many of which can be traced to environmental sectors, a prescient Barigui Project, which includes infrastruc- the work of the CBD and its strong collabo- recognition of the importance of ture works, implementation of new linear ration with the Global Environment Facility biodiversity mainstreaming. The parks, activities in Environmental Education (GEF) over the course of two decades. National Biodiversity Strategy and and inspection, and the transfer of fam- Let’s step back for a moment to cel- Action Plans (NBSAPs) have become ilies living on the banks of rivers to safe ebrate and recognize the distinguished established as mainstreaming pol- and decent housing. accomplishments that the CBD and its icy tools with more than 50 parties Ongoing investments in modernizing Parties have achieved as governments already developing their second plan the public transportation system to make the world over embark on the implemen- and 146 countries receiving GEF it more efficient and comfortable are other tation of the CBD’s new strategic plan for support for strategy development. concrete examples of our environmental the next 10 years. • The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety focus. The renewal of the fleet, the use of came into force in September 2003 biodiesel and biofuel and commitment to • The Convention on Biological and seeks to protect biological diver- implementing new modals—like the sub- Diversity was the first multilateral sity from the potential risks posed way—are some of the actions designed environmental agreement that put a by living modified organisms result- to attracting more users and contributing distinctly environmental concern— ing from modern biotechnology. With to good air quality in the city. biodiversity—into a sustainable GEF support 123 countries have We are also betting on actions in envi- development framework through the developed and implemented bio- ronmental education, which have dissem- formulation of the CBD’s three objec- safety frameworks. inated the need for widespread adoption tives: conservation, sustainable use, • A precursor to the Millennium of sustainable practices in our society and and access and benefit sharing. This Ecosystem Assessment and the called for shared management with the gov- framework laid the conceptual foun- TEEB study, GEF’s investments in ernment, a strategy for good results. This, dation for the advances that we have the first generation of Payment for indeed, is one of the major differences in seen in the conservation and main- Ecosystem Services (PES) projects Curitiba. Over the past decades, our pop- streaming of biodiversity. GEF’s piloted this innovative biodiver- ulation has adopted the best practices biodiversity program has been sup- sity financing mechanism in Latin proposed by the government, a stance porting the implementation of these America. Iterations of these origi- of those who believe that each one of us, objectives since the establishment of nal schemes have been replicated every day, is central to the task of making the GEF pilot phase in 1991. throughout the world as a proven Curitiba a better city to live. • Since the GEF became the financial biodiversity financial mechanism We believe it is in cities, with local mechanism of the CBD, unprece- and demonstrated that the ecosys- actions, that we reveal our power to inno- dented financial support to advance tem services provided by biodiversity vate. We believe in solidarity and coop- the biodiversity agenda has materi- have an economic value that can be eration, which reflect the true meaning of alized: more than $3.1 billion of GEF translated into cash when buyers being “human” and the ongoing mobili- resources has leveraged $ 8.3 billion and sellers can be brought together, zation of the collective towards the con- in cofinancing to support implemen- a true demonstration of synergy. solidation of a quality environment for tation of more 1,000 projects in 155 • The GEF-supported Millennium all of us. countries to conserve and sustain- Ecosystem Assessment supported The recognition of a common fate with ably use biodiversity. thousands of scientists around the all other living beings opens up the pos- • The CBD enjoys almost universal world to collaborate on a global sibility of reinventing life, reconciling us participation with 193 Parties hav- effort to conceptualize biodiver- with nature, and endeavoring to achieve ing ratified the CBD; a demonstration sity through a completely different equality among peoples. of wide support to the objectives to lens: biodiversity as a provider of

Satoyama 4 17 biodiversity strategy responds to the CBD strategic plan and the Aichi Targets, a demonstration of the increased strategic cohesiveness between the CBD and the GEF that began at COP 9. • At COP 10, Parties agreed on a way forward for the development of national strategies for resource mobilization to help achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, a first for any MEA. GEF is providing support to drafting these strategies as part of the ongoing NBSAP revision process. • With the approval of the Nagoya Protocol in Japan, the third objective of the Convention has been made operational, setting the stage to unleash the economic potential of biodiversity. The GEF-5 biodiversity The expansion of the global protected area network is arguably the single strategy includes a discrete objective most measurable result of the CBD, and GEF’s biodiversity program to support capacity-building in ABS and GEF established the Nagoya provided substantial support to achieve this goal. Protocol Implementation Fund with donations of $12.2 million from Japan, $1.2 million from Switzerland, ecosystem goods and services the single most measurable result of and a pledge of $1.3 million from essential for planetary function- the CBD, and GEF’s biodiversity pro- France, to catalyze implementation ing thus accentuating the direct and gram provided substantial support of concrete ABS agreements. indirect use value of biodiversity to to achieve this goal. Since the GEF’s • Marine areas beyond national juris- society and economic development. inception, more than $1.9 billion diction (ABNJ) have gained increasing • The Akwe:Kon Guidelines and have been invested in the creation attention given the wealth of marine the Code of Ethical Conduct pro- or management of over 2,302 pro- biodiversity located therein. In 2011, mote consideration on indigenous tected areas covering more than 634 the GEF supported a large pilot pro- and local communities in sustain- million hectares. gram (US$ 45 million which has able development and biodiversity • The CBD was the first MEA to have leveraged $223 million in cofinancing) management. GEF’s new Policy a Gender Plan of Action which on ABNJ to advance this aspect of on Agency Minimum Standards acknowledged the importance of the marine biodiversity agenda. on Environmental and Social gender considerations in biodiversity Safeguards ensure that these issues conservation. GEF’s new Policy on Going forward, the roadmap agreed at are now uniformly and comprehen- Gender Mainstreaming furthers the the COP 10 is clear and the objectives sively addressed across all the GEF goal of gender equity in the context ambitious as defined in the Aichi Targets. agencies in all GEF projects and of GEF operations. Producing a similar list of success stories programs. • Global policy makers painstakingly in 10 years’ time as I have provided above • The global community achieved the developed a series of Programmes will require a concerted effort on the part 10% target of protection of terres- of Work over time on specific the- of all key stakeholders. The GEF is com- trial ecosystems and buoyed by this matic areas of great importance to mitted to building on the strong ethos of success, it set an audacious pro- biodiversity management (protected collaboration that we have established tection coverage target at COP 10 areas, forest biodiversity, invasive with the CBD under the leadership of its for both terrestrial (17% of terrestrial alien species, etc). These techni- current Executive Secretary, Mr. Ahmed and inland water ecosystems) and cally robust Programmes of Work Djoghlaf, to help our clients achieve the marine ecosystems (10% of coastal laid the technical foundation for the Aichi Targets. Together, the GEF and the and marine ecosystems) going for- development of the Strategic Plan CBD have set the standard for another ward. The expansion of the global for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the 20 years of partnership characterized by protected area network is arguably Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The GEF-5 achievement.

18 Satoyama 4 Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization; UN-Water Chair-Elect Weather, climate and water for sustainable biodiversity

would like to thank Mr Ahmed Djoghlaf, scientists to determine that human activ- CO2 emissions have been absorbed by the Executive Secretary of the Convention ities were putting biodiversity at risk by oceans, so corals are now under the dual I on Biological Diversity (CBD), for the gradually reducing the thickness of our siege of ocean warming and acidification. kind invitation to contribute to this special invisible UV radiation shield. Mounting climate change impacts in the edition of Satoyama magazine. In 1976 WMO issued the first author- form of more severe and/or more frequent As we approach Rio+20, it becomes itative statement on the accumulation of droughts and floods, higher average tem- increasingly relevant to recall that the CBD carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and peratures, precipitation pattern changes opened for signature during the historic the potential impacts on our climate. and sea level rise, are projected to affect June 1992 Rio “Earth Summit”, where the Subsequently, WMO and the United the future availability of water resources international leadership concurred on the Nations Environment Programme jointly and to further deteriorate water quality, an need for a comprehensive and sustainable established the Intergovernmental Panel issue which is expected to predominant- development agenda to meet the needs on Climate Change in 1988, which has ly affect the poorest and most vulnerable of our future generations, whilst ensuring since regularly provided successive and societies, in particular in LDCs and SIDS. that we would also be bequeathing them increasingly authoritative assessments Water resources and how they are a healthy and viable world. Accordingly, of climate change science, impacts and managed will impact on almost all this CBD anniversary is an exceptionally policy options. societal aspects and on the economy. auspicious occasion, for which I wish to In 1979 and 1990 WMO organized with Water issues are highly relevant to the congratulate you wholeheartedly on behalf partners the First and Second World Climate ultimate achievement of several of the of the World Meteorological Organization Conferences, thereby also contributing to Millennium Development Goals, and climate (WMO), as well as on my own behalf. the establishment of the World Climate change is adding up urgency for action; For millions of years, generation and extinction of biological species has been a continuous process, occasionally per- Climate change threatens to overwhelm our adaptive capacities and turbed by major extinction periods (which, incidentally, some theories have attributed those of the biosphere over the coming decades, but it is encouraging to climate tipping points). At a much more that key stakeholders have recognized the need to address it in urgency. recent point in our evolutionary scale, the presence of man began to be perceived as a habitat loss, in particular through hunt- ing, fishing and deforestation, as well as Research Programme, the Global Climate however, without improved water resourc- his introduction in some areas of local- Observing System and the present United es management, progress towards poverty ly exotic species. Even more recently, an Nations Climate Change Conference con- reduction targets and sustainable devel- additional emerging issue is anthropogen- vention process. The Third World Climate opment is likely to be jeopardized in all of ic climate change. Conference (WCC-3) was a UN System- its dimensions. The threat to ecosystems has never wide event which unanimously agreed in Water is a key constituent of the WMO been greater in mankind’s times and bio- 2009 on the need for a Global Framework mandate, as well as those of several oth- diversity extinction presses forward at an for Climate Services (GFCS), in particular er UN System Organizations. To cope with alarming rate, in particular since climate to support natural disaster risk reduction present and future impacts of natural disas- change occurs so rapidly that some spe- and climate change adaptation by reinforc- ters and climate change on water issues, cies with limited mobility are unable to keep ing the climate information and services which threaten sustainable development pace with their habitat’s geographic shift. knowledge-base required by decision- markedly, many vulnerable societies are WMO had a key facilitating role in anoth- makers to provide enhanced socioeco- turning for guidance to the UN mechanism er biodiversity threat when it contribut- nomic benefits for all sectors. established to facilitate inter-Agency coher- ed to the process leading to the Vienna The oceans span 70 percent of our ence in water issues: UN-Water, which I Convention for the Protection of the Ozone planetary surface, forming our largest bio- will have the honour to chair for two years Layer and its landmark Montreal Protocol. diversity preserve, including in particular from February 2012. From this perspec- In the early 1970s, the WMO Global Ozone coral reefs, which are home to about 25 tive, I would like to offer you my commit- Observing System, established for the 1958 percent of all marine species. However, ment to consider CBD priorities highly. International Geophysical Year, allowed close to one-quarter of anthropogenic Sustainable water management practices

Satoyama 4 19 Irina Bokova, Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

will contribute significantly to future climate change resilience and water securi- From green economies ty in all societies. Innovative technologies and integrated solutions will be required at the appropriate scales, but they must to green societies: firstly be well assessed to prevent any inadvertent adverse effects, in particular UNESCO’s commitment to on health and the environment. However, I am pleased to reassure sustainable development Satoyama readers that there is unani- mous commitment to proceed with GFCS development and implementation as a he 2012 United Nations Conference loss. The complexity and diversity of the major issue in 2012–2015 and beyond, on Sustainable Development— range of services that flow from biodi- for which the four initial priorities will be T Rio+20—offers an versity are often unknown or disaster risk reduction, food security, extraordinary opportunity to undervalued. The impact of health and water. reset the world on a path to the increasing loss of biologi- Furthermore, the GFCS will provide sustainable development. cal and cultural diversity is ris- the opportunity to strengthen the linkages The United Nations Edu- ing on the ability of ecosystems between three vital issues: i) natural disas- cational, Scientific and Cul- to provide critical services for ters risk reduction; ii) climate change adap- tural Organization (UNESCO) human well-being. tation; and iii) water resources management. will bring a contribution to Twenty years after the this conference that makes adoption of the Convention the most of the transforma- on Biological Diversity (CBD), © @UNESCO/Michel Ravassard tive power of education, the UNESCO commends the sciences, culture and media. Our vision achievements of collective efforts to raise is clear: sustainable development calls awareness around the world about the fra- for more than green investment and low gility of our ecosystems and the need to carbon technologies. Beside its economic protect them. and environmental dimensions, the social The Conference of the Parties (COP and human dimensions are central factors 10) to the CBD in Nagoya in 2010 made a for success. Ultimately, we must focus our major contribution by defining a compre- efforts on building green societies. This is hensive framework for collective action. the message we must bring to Rio. To be Countries now have a renewed agenda lasting, sustainable development policies through the Biodiversity Strategic Plan for must take into account all facets and sec- 2011–2020. From addressing the underly- Therefore, on behalf of WMO, I would tors of society. ing causes of biodiversity loss, to building like to inform your readership that we look This revolution starts in the schools. knowledge and capacity for efficient biodi- forward to enhancing key partnerships with Education brings sustainability to develop- versity governance, UNESCO is commit- the Convention on Biological Diversity in all ment efforts—it is the way to make green ted to translating the Nagoya outcomes the relevant areas. Climate change threat- economies and societies possible. As the into tangible action and to take forward ens to overwhelm our adaptive capacities lead agency for the United Nations Decade the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and those of the biosphere over the com- of Education for Sustainable Development, (2011–2020). ing decades, but it is encouraging that key UNESCO works across the world to devel- Rio+20 is a first major opportunity to do stakeholders have recognized the need to op education and public awareness on so, and UNESCO will spare no efforts to address it in urgency; for example, the UN biodiversity. raise the profile of biodiversity conservation. Secretary-General, who in his Priorities for The loss of biodiversity is a main bat- Science must drive the green transition. Action has acknowledged reducing pover- tleground for sustainability. Biodiversity The new UNESCO Biodiversity Initiative ty and minimizing the risks of dangerous is the foundation for healthy ecosystems will make our expertise more accessible to climate change as two of the most press- and sustainable human development. It Member States. We need to pursue coming challenges of our time. touches on all aspects of our lives—from prehensive assessments of biodiversity Yes, some changes will be unavoid- our security to our welfare, from our social and ecosystem services, involving scien- able, but it is not too late to prevent them relations to our health. tists and including also local and indige- from becoming even more serious threats Global and national efforts to conserve nous communities. to our biodiversity and—paraphrasing the biodiversity remain insufficient. Policy At UNESCO, we believe that cap- historic Brundtland Commission Report— responses must be as multi-faceted as italizing on the link between cultural to our common future. are the challenges posed by biodiversity and biological diversity is a prerequisite

20 Satoyama 4 for sustainable development. Culture At UNESCO, we believe that capitalizing on the link between cultural and is an accelerator. It is a priority for UNESCO and we will take forward the biological diversity is a prerequisite for sustainable development. joint Programme with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to use of biodiversity and natural resources. threat. The “blue economy” of the ocean enhance this link. We are determined to The only designated areas within the United is central to our daily lives, and we must make the most of all World Heritage sites. Nations system dedicated to demonstrat- ensure that the “green” includes the “blue”. In 2012, we celebrate the 40th anniver- ing a balanced relationship between man All of this calls for strengthening the sary of the World Heritage Convention, and nature and to responding to climate interface between biodiversity science with a focus on the role of local com- change, Biosphere Reserves are plac- and policy. In this respect, UNESCO will munities to foster sustainable develop- es for innovation—for taking forward on continue to play an important role with the ment. This is just one example of the the ground the concepts of sustainable Intergovernmental Science-policy platform synergies we are building between cul- living, sustainable tourism, and organ- on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. ture and science. ic agriculture. Rio+20 must be remembered as a Our Biosphere Reserves are another UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Ocea- turning point—the beginning of a global unique global network for testing green nographic Commission is coordinating green transition. Drawing on UNESCO’s economy initiatives for sustainable develop- the United Nations inter-agency Report profound belief in human creativity and ment—for instance, through payments for on Oceans (known as the ‘Blue Paper’) to resilience, I am confident that—if we con- ecosystem services to avoid deforestation strengthen international ocean governance solidate our efforts in this area—we can and forest degradation, and through pub- as well as the national capacity to monitor build a more sustainable future. But we lic-private partnerships for the sustainable marine biodiversity, which is today under must start now. © @UNESCO/Michel Ravassard Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme; Former Prime Minister of New Zealand UNDP and the Convention on Biological Diversity: Partners in advancing biodiversity for sustainable development

n the twenty years since the UN Confer- The CBD prioritized poverty reduction in its work at a time when much of ence on Environment and Development I in Rio de Janeiro and the creation of the conservation and development communities occupied different worlds. the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the world has witnessed significant progress across the pillars of sustainable well-being. Concerted action is needed to world, with more than 175 initiatives under development, not least in the achievement reverse these trends and to find lasting implementation in 120 countries, many of a number of the Millennium Develop- and sustainable development solutions. of them supported by funding from the ment Goals (MDGs) on health, poverty, The CBD prioritized poverty reduc- Global Environment Facility. and education. tion in its work at a time when much of Among the important outcomes achieved This progress is tempered, however, by the conservation and development com- at the Tenth Conference of the Parties to increasing disparities in wealth distribu- munities occupied different worlds. Since the Convention on Biological Diversity tion, gender and social inequalities, food then, there is much more awareness of was the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol and energy crises, and by losses in glob- the direct link between biodiversity con- on Access and Benefit Sharing and the al biodiversity and the undermining of our servation and development. A biodiversity Aichi Targets. New and innovative finance planet’s ecosystem. target was included in the MDG frame- which mixes and matches public and pri- The realities of global biodiversity loss work. The United Nations Development vate resources will help the world meet and ecosystem decline are well document- Programme has prioritized biodiversity those targets. The UNDP is committed ed, as are the implications of those losses in its own work, and now oversees one to assisting governments to access, cat- for economies, communities, and human of the largest biodiversity portfolios in the alyze, combine, and sequence multiple

Satoyama 4 21 Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development

sources of environmental and development finance to help fund biodiversity Agricultural management needs. The CBD has been far-sighted in setting a high standard for engagement and development consultation with civil society and indigenous peoples’ organizations in the imple- and biodiversity mentation of its work plan. This progressive leadership mirrors UNDP’s own commit- —the vital link ment to working with those on the front lines of environment and development challenges. Through the UNDP/GEF- he twentieth anniversary of the action. We are particularly concerned that Small Grants Programme, over US$450 adoption of the United Nations the needs and the challenges of the people million in grants have been delivered to T Convention on Biological Diversity who work on the world’s 500 million small local and indigenous communities in 122 (CBD) comes at a time of renewed atten- farms are addressed. They are responsi- countries, 7,500 of which have focused on tion to agricultural development, as well ble for feeding a large part of humanity, biodiversity conservation and sustainable as mounting concern about the future of as well as being custodians of a signifi- use. Through the Equator Initiative, local our planet. The world’s population has cant share of the world’s ecosystems. In best practices in biodiversity conserva- reached 7 billion and is projected to top fact, the areas of richest biodiversity are tion and poverty reduction are identified, 9 billion by 2050. Pressure on finite and in developing countries. and local and indigenous voices are posi- often fragile resources continues to grow; The International Fund for Agricultural tioned to inform national and internation- the rates of environmental degradation Development (IFAD) is both a United Nations al policymaking. and loss of biodiversity are accelerating. specialized agency and an international finan- Conservation and sustainable manage- Whether we are able to feed present and cial institution. Our mandate is to enable ment of biodiversity and ecosystems is future generations, lift 1.4 billion people poor rural people to overcome poverty. Of essential for building equitable, inclusive, out of extreme poverty, and preserve the the 1.4 billion people in the world who live and sustainable economies, particularly incredible diversity of life on this planet on less than US$1.25 a day, around 70% for poor and economically marginalized are interrelated challenges. are in rural areas and rely directly on eco- communities. For these individuals, bio- There is another anniversary that is systems for their food, water and fuel. Poor diversity and ecosystem services provide very much in our minds today: the twenti- rural people are disproportionately affected more than a lifeline; they are the founda- eth anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit by the depletion of natural capital, just as tion of livelihoods, the basis of food secu- which launched Agenda 21, charting a vision they bear the brunt of climate change. They rity, and the source of health. Half of all for sustainable development. When the often inhabit highly marginalized and fragile malnutrition worldwide is attributable to United Nations Conference on Sustainable landscapes, including hillsides, deserts and environmental factors, such as water pol- Development takes place in Rio de Janeiro, floodplains. Climate change multiplies the lution and drought-driven food scarcity. Brazil, in June 2012, agriculture will need threats facing smallholders, endangering Climate change presents new and addi- to be at the centre of the debate—and of the natural assets they depend on. tional challenges to the poor by altering Agriculture and ecosystem health are ecosystems and their services, disrupt- inseparable. The productivity of agricul- ing growth, livelihoods, and food pro- tural ecosystems depends on numerous duction, changing disease patterns, and species, such as soil micro-organisms, increasing vulnerability to natural disas- pollinators, predators of agricultural pests ters. UNDP works to ensure that biodi- and the genetic diversity of crops and versity conservation and sustainable use livestock. Agricultural ecosystems serve can be an effective vehicle for delivering as important habitats for many wild plant inclusive, climate-resilient development and animal species. Biodiversity enhanc- and economic growth. es poor farmers’ and indigenous peoples’ However challenging the global con- resilience to climate change, pests, dis- text is, we must address the drivers of eases and other threats. environmental degradation, poverty and At IFAD we have long recognized that social inequity. The upcoming Rio+20 con- poor rural people are important custodi- ference offers an opportunity to focus on ans of biodiversity, and have found ingen- the challenge of securing growth which is ious ways of conserving it, for instance inclusive and equitable, halts biodiversity through sacred groves. However, we need loss, and conserves the ecosystems upon to ensure that rural smallholders can ben- which all of our lives depend. efit from both traditional (or indigenous)

22 Satoyama 4 © Mitchell UNEP Alpha Presse

We have found that local knowledge about biodiversity differs between the genders, and this has important implications for poverty reduction, biodiversity management and conservation, and agricultural development. Women make up a large proportion of smallholder farmers. Thus, women’s empowerment is closely linked to preserving biodiversity.

knowledge and knowledge from research Sustainable agricultural practices can of Parties in Nagoya, Japan, as well as sign- and technology, such as drought- and help enhance ecosystem services and ing the MoU on the implementation of the flood-tolerant seed varieties. achieve multiple benefits for poor rural Strategic Plan and the Achievements of the We have also found that local knowl- people. To ensure future food securi- Aichi Biodiversity Targets. We support the edge about biodiversity differs between ty, we need to disseminate knowledge, Benefit Sharing Fund of the International the genders, and this has important impli- employ less destructive and input-inten- Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources on cations for poverty reduction, biodiversity sive methods such as low-till cultivation Food and Agriculture, as well as projects management and conservation, and agri- and integrated pest management, and managed by Bioversity International and cultural development. Women make up a be more efficient harnessing of precious Oxfam that focus on addressing the nex- large proportion of smallholder farmers. water resources. Sustainable agricultur- us between biodiversity and rural pover- Thus, women’s empowerment is closely al intensification is a key focus of IFAD’s ty reduction. linked to preserving biodiversity. work. In addition, the blending of Global Agriculture’s potential to do environ- Cross-cutting problems need to be Environment Facility (GEF) initiatives with mental good is still too often ignored. But addressed through coordinated and com- IFAD-sponsored interventions has helped policy-makers and donors are beginning prehensive responses. This calls for work- IFAD to prioritize biodiversity issues within to prioritize agriculture after at least two ing in partnership. IFAD has funded some project design and mainstream conserva- decades of relative neglect. Agriculture is 80 investment projects and grants that refer tion, rural sustainable development, inte- a key motor of the global economy, and to biodiversity, with a cumulative value of grated land management and combating particularly relevant to poverty reduction in more than half a billion dollars. We work land degradation within our activities. IFAD developing countries. The main challenge in conjunction with many partners, includ- also promotes the conservation of indige- for the agricultural sector is to simultane- ing governments, NGOs, CGIAR centres nous crop varieties, and approaches that ously secure enough high-quality agricul- (such as ICRAF and Bioversity), other UN blend traditional and new knowledge and tural production to meet demand; conserve agencies, the International Treaty on Plant technologies, in particular those that main- biodiversity and manage natural resourc- Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, tain biological processes and ecosystems. es; and improve human health and well- and the private sector. Our most impor- IFAD supports the CBD process, and being, especially for poor rural people in tant partners are rural people themselves. actively participated in the CBD Conference developing countries.

Satoyama 4 23 Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Can we afford to wait another decade or two?

hat a difference a decade or two makes in the field of The first decade of the 21st Century will perhaps be remembered as the W environment! The Stockholm enlightenment period of the global ramifications of desertification, land Conference was convened nearly a decade after Rachel Carson published degradation and drought… will we wait for another decade for public The Silent Spring drawing attention to awareness and political will to catch up with the science and ground the environmental threats for humanity. By the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, com- experience before reaching consensus on a target to contain land degradation, memorating two decades since the 1972 or shall we act before the cost becomes too high? Stockholm Conference, the threat to biodiversity was undeniable, leading heads of state and government to readily adopt the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rio de Janeiro as a commitment to contain the high rates of biodiversity loss. Contention remained, however, among policy-makers over the significance of climate change for humanity and the polar bear, while many questioned the global relevance of desertification, land degradation and drought. In the last two decades, both the science and experience have exposed the dangers of climate change to humanity and biological diversity, thus, the desire for international collaboration has grown. The first decade of the 21st Century will perhaps be remembered as the enlightenment period of the global ramifications of desertification, land degradation and drought. The question is, will we wait for another decade for public awareness and political will to catch up with the science and ground experience before reaching transfer and funding support. areas seems particularly pertinent to the consensus on a target to contain land Thanks to the efforts of the CBD, the achievement of these global objectives. degradation, or shall we act before the value of the Earth’s biological diversity is First, addressing biodiversity loss is cost becomes too high? now a priority matter for all; from policy- contingent upon preventing land degra- © flickr.andriesoudshoorn The UN Conference on Sustainable makers, to scientists and local communi- dation and rehabilitating, restoring and Development (Rio+20) will assess what ties as well. The adoption of the Nagoya recovering degraded land because biodi- has been achieved and the challenges Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing versity loss marks the first step towards that remain. Commemorating the twentieth (ABS) last year moves the agenda one step land degradation, which with time, evolves anniversary of the adoption and opening of closer to benefit-sharing. The celebration into a mutually-reinforcing downward spi- signature of the Convention on Biological of these developments is well-deserved, ral. Considering that 23 hectares of land is Diversity is thus, also a moment to reflect but we must not lose sight of the fact degraded every minute through desertifi- critically on the progress and challenges. that the conservation of biodiversity for cation and drought alone, and that glob- The Convention’s objectives are to con- posterity is far from sure if our measure ally 1.5 billion people are affected by land serve biological diversity, to sustainably of success is a healthy life-web. These degradation, the impacts on biodiversity use its components, and to ensure the achievements mask the global disparities conservation are self-evident. Simply put, fair and equitable sharing of the benefits in the valuation of biological diversity, the sustainable land management is a pre- arising from the utilization of its genetic priority measures financed and the ben- requisite for biodiversity conservation. resources, including through technology eficiaries. Going forward, action in three Second, increased attention must be

24 Satoyama 4 Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature

given to the conservation of the biological diversity in the drylands. Drylands habitats have a high species diversity of From Rio to Nagoya and large mammals and are a sanctuary for some migratory birds. They are also a bio beyond: CBD at twenty reserve or the natural bank of many of the plants not only under cultivation today, but that underpin global food security; wenty years after its birth at the Rio from wheat to barley, oat to rye, potato Earth Summit, the Convention on to tomato, olive and cabbage. However, T Biological Diversity (CBD) is today according to Conservation International, of a nearly universally ratified global agree- the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world, ment that brings together governments eight are in the drylands. For the conser- and non-government partners from every vation of these resources, greater atten- corner of the planet to work together for tion is needed to ensure the benefits from conservation of biodiversity, its sustain- the ABS accrue to both the world’s indig- able use, and the fair and equitable shar- enous and pastoral communities and the ing of benefits arising from the utilization poor who both preserve and live off these of genetic resources. habitats and their resources. The Convention’s objectives and IUCN’s Third, the synergies in implementing vision of “a just world that values and con- the desertification, biodiversity and cli- serves nature” are remarkably close, and mate change agreements must be max- this is no mere coincidence. with the CBD Secretariat and the Japanese imized. The time overlap in the United The main elements of the CBD were Presidency in preparing for the CBD Nations Decade on Biodiversity (2011– identified at the General Assembly of COP 10, and were proud to bring our 2020) and the United Nations Decade for IUCN held in Christchurch, New Zealand in science-based contribution towards the Deserts and the Fight against Desertification 1981, which called on IUCN’s Secretariat success of Nagoya. (2010–2020) present an opportunity for to “analyze the technical, legal, and eco- The next challenge is to turn the Nagoya joint awareness-raising. To rehabilitate nomic and financial matters relating to commitments into meaningful action on the the nearly two billion hectares of degrad- the conservation, accessibility and use of ground during this 2011–2020 UN Decade ed land with potential for restoration is to genetic resources with a view to providing on Biodiversity. As the latest update of recover some of the lost biological diver- the basis for an international arrangement the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species sity. The pursuit and diffusion of sustain- and for rules to implement it.” reveals, the global biodiversity crisis shows able land management and promotion of In the years that followed, the Convention no sign of abating. In fact, in some cases a goal to become land degradation neu- has become one of the heartland issues it is threatening to reverse the conserva- tral are crucial strategies for biodiversity for IUCN Members, and for the organi- tion achievements of the past decades. conservation. And a systematic approach zation as a whole. It would be fair to say Thanks to Nagoya, we have the new at the national level to mainstream gen- that the CBD is the international instru- deadline for saving life on Earth: 2020. der and indigenous and rural local com- ment in which IUCN has invested most And we also have the new Strategic Plan munities in the national development plans throughout the years, and remains deep- for Biodiversity 2011–2020 with 20 Aichi are essential. ly committed to its further development Biodiversity Targets to help us meet this We know the negative impacts that cli- and implementation. deadline. How can we best equip the mate change and biodiversity will have on IUCN played a key role in many of the Convention, and the global biodiversity © flickr.andriesoudshoorn the long-term productivity of the land in Convention’s milestones and achievements. community as a whole, to achieve these many regions. Given the relative costs of For example, after the Convention’s entry objectives? How can we overcome chal- action versus inaction today and in light into force in 1993, IUCN assisted over lenges that question the ability of the of the heightened rates of land degrada- 75 countries in developing their National Convention to respond effectively and tion, can we afford to wait out one more Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans rapidly to the biodiversity crisis? decade before establishing the mech- (NBSAPs). The 2003 IUCN World Parks First, we must urgently address the anisms needed to prevent land degra- Congress laid the foundations for the adop- implementation gap through the revision dation and restore degraded land? We tion of the Convention’s highly successful of NBSAPs, the development of nation- cannot and we should not. We need to Programme of Work on Protected Areas al targets and indicators of progress. It is establish an instrument to address land in 2004 and our Union has been a driving clear that we do not lack the knowledge degradation in all ecosystems and agree force behind its implementation ever since. or the means to revert the negative trends; on a goal of becoming land degradation IUCN was present and active at eve- what we lack is more effective ways to neutral urgently. Will we make it happen ry CBD meeting over the past 20 years. mainstream biodiversity into economic in Rio in 2012? Most recently, we have worked closely and political decision making and to build

Satoyama 4 25 partnerships for action. geo-engineering, biofuels, genetically at all levels and sectors and building upon Second, if we are to achieve the 2020 modified organisms, and other rapidly ongoing initiatives. targets, finance is perhaps the tough- advancing technologies and techniques The Convention’s twentieth anniversa- est challenge facing us. The analysis of which seek to improve human livelihoods ry is a joyful occasion and we must take development finance trends over the past and well-being but may not have always advantage of returning to its Rio origins. decade shows that less than 3% of glo- been sufficiently tested for their envi- IUCN is thus bringing a positive message bal ODA is directed to biodiversity. What ronmental impacts. Here, the interface to the Rio+20 Summit. First, that healthy is more, ODA represents but a fraction of between the Convention’s science advisory and robust nature is at the heart of sus- global financial flows that impact biodi- body, SBSTTA, and the Intergovernmental tainability, and second, that nature-based versity conservation. Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity solutions to the most pressing challenges The study on The Economics of and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will in of our time such as climate change or food Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) has many ways determine the way the CBD security are both possible and desirable. given us the much-needed economic responds to the constantly changing envi- All of this is, of course, needs to be argument to challenge the status quo— ronmental context. based on a renewed model of environ- we must now press ahead with making it I am nevertheless optimistic that the mental governance which is inclusive of happen. It is high time for countries to act Parties to the Convention will find the civil society’s needs and concerns, is bot- collectively on the widely shared objec- way forward to implement the numerous tom-up, follows the principle of subsid- tive of reforming the economy so that it commitments made under the CBD. The iarity, and ensures the protection of the supports—rather than undermines—pov- adoption of the Strategic Plan gives us rights of the most vulnerable. erty reduction, ecosystem functions, and reason to be hopeful. The Plan and its 20 IUCN is ready to “roll up its sleeves” sustainable development. targets provide a global, comprehensive, and join forces to take the Convention to Third, in order to effectively halt the ambitious yet flexible framework to chan- a next level as it enters its third decade of loss of biodiversity, the Convention needs nel common efforts towards the effective existence with a bold framework of action to keep abreast of the latest scientific implementation of the Convention while which does not shy away from the chal- advancements, such as synthetic biology, mainstreaming biodiversity conservation lenges ahead.

It is clear that we do not lack the knowledge or the means to revert the negative trends; what we lack is more effective ways to mainstream biodiversity into economic and political decision making and to build partnerships for action.

26 Satoyama 4 Maurice Strong, Former Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme Strengthening the CBD is a priority

012 marks an important milestone degradation that led to the agreement at I am persuaded that nothing is more on the road to a secure and sustain- the Earth Summit in 1992 to establish the important to ensuring the security and 2 able future for the human community Convention on Biological Diversity. With sustainability of life on earth and the pro- and the opportunity to give much need- modest resources, a small but very ded- tection of its biological resources. The ed new impetus to our progress along this icated and effective Secretariat, in coop- Convention on Biological Diversity is the road. No event is of greater consequence eration with other Convention Secretariats principal means by which this can be than the adoption and opening for signa- and related organizations, the support of achieved. It is the centrepiece of a net- ture of the United Nations Conference on parties to the Convention and the United work of others whose contributions to this Biological Biodiversity of which we mark Nations Environment Programme has process are essential. Of special impor- the 20th anniversary. Coinciding with the made notable progress. On this mile- tance is the role of the International Union Rio+20 Conference on the 20th anniver- stone occasion it is now well prepared for the Conservation of Nature and Natural sary of the historic Earth Summit which to undertake a major and much needed Resources (IUCN). A unique organization gave birth to the Convention it must now expansion of its activities. Rio+20 must comprising both governmental and non- inspire us to accelerate our progress along recognize the priority with which this must governmental members, its global constit- this road. now be accorded and elicit the commit- uency, programs and policy influence its Biodiversity encompasses vast numbers ment of governments and other sources special role in monitoring and protection and diversity of species of plants, animals of finance to provide the expanded finan- of endangered species is strongly sup- and micro-organisms with their great vari- cial support that this will require. portive of the CBD. ety of genes which comprise the Earth’s main ecosystems of deserts, marine life and rainforests. As the main components To perform its role the CBD needs significant additional support and one of nature on which human life and well- being depend, almost every aspect of our of the highest priorities of Rio+20 must be to ensure the mobilization of lives depends on the services which these this support. ecosystems provide. These range from protection of water resources, formation and protection of soils to climate stabili- ty, all depend on the biological resources There could be no higher environmen- Much greater support for these and oth- nourished and maintained by the ecosys- tal priority: Nature’s capacity to contin- er programs that contribute to its purpos- tems which provide the natural capital to ue to provide the services on which we es must be a high priority for Rio+20. This which we attach no economic value but depend. Financial support must be seen will be difficult to achieve at a time when without which life as we know it would not as an essential investment in the main- governments are preoccupied with severe be sustainable. tenance of these services. We must not economic and financial problems. New Already the increases in human num- allow nature’s natural capital to continue and innovative sources of finance must bers and the intensity of human impacts to be squandered. be tapped, primarily from private sourc- on nature provides have led to accelerated The Convention on Biological Diversity es, to meet these needs. Preparation for extinction of many of the great varieties of cannot be considered in isolation from Rio+20 are focussed on this, including the life forms that have existed on earth. Indeed, the other Conventions and cooperative establishment of “Earth Bonds” to enable some estimates indicate that less than one activities of which it is an integral part. private investors to invest in sustainable percent of the species that have existed on While each is distinctive in its mandate, development projects of developing coun- earth remain. While much of this occurred and the parties which subscribe to it and tries including such projects that will sup- before the emergence of human life the pro- its administration, the systemic nature of port projects to protect biodiversity. cess of extinction and reduction of biodiver- their respective roles requires close and To perform its role the CBD needs sig- sity resulting from human activities, notably affective coordination. Strengthening nificant additional support and one of the habitat destruction, has led to an ominous this must be a key priority for the peri- highest priorities of Rio+20 must be to increase in these destructive processes. od ahead. The Convention is by its very ensure the mobilization of this support. It is the greater awareness of this nature at the centre of this process and Only this will ensure that the road from and of the need to take action to pro- is well equipped to contribute to its lead- Rio will lead to the secure and sustainable tect biological resources from further ership and implementation. future to which we all aspire.

Satoyama 4 27 Liz Dowdeswell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Council of Canadian Academies; Former Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme Rededication to action

wenty years ago in Rio de Janeiro do we know about the impact of instability to the economy, to the health of popu- world leaders adopted and opened and climate change on biodiversity? What lations, to culture and the sustainabili- T for signature the United Nations can we learn about vulnerability and resil- ty of our world. Convention on Biological Diversity. This ience given changing circumstances in the Our mutual vulnerability is surely becom- was the convention about life on earth. far North? How do we acknowledge the ing more evident, but history teaches us The rhetoric was powerful. We spoke of a precautionary principle while we seek the that it is action that will determine wheth- contract between people and nature and benefits of fast-paced biotechnology dis- er or not our societies are strengthened or designed a legal instrument built on mutu- coveries for improving health and stimu- collapse. A firm foundation has been built, al reliance, solidarity and equity. lating the economy? How do we reflect an agenda set, and shared responsibility At several milestone moments over traditional knowledge? What do we mean is becoming the norm. Although paralysis the years we reflected upon the past by sustainable use? How do we place an in implementation remains a worry, this is and sought evidence of progress. Often economic value on biodiversity? the moment to hold each other account- the theme was one of being in a state All too often scientists don’t understand able and to rededicate ourselves to gen- of becoming or bringing about genuine why policymakers don’t act on the evi- uine action. It is within our power to walk transformation. The designation of the dence they present, while policymakers are more lightly on this Earth. United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, the release of the third Global Biodiversity Outlook and the movement towards an The science of biodiversity must be accessible to citizens if change is to be Intergovernmental Science—Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services, mobilized. Yet there is incomplete recognition of our total dependence on the have been major accomplishments in critical interactions between genes, species and habitats for life. This is the real keeping the profile of biodiversity before policy-makers. threat to the implementation of the Convention—no evident public support and Notwithstanding the farsighted work of sense of urgency that would demand political attention. scientists to address gaps in our knowledge, the persistence and dedication of non-governmental organizations and the passionate leadership of certain coun- frustrated that scientists don’t appreciate tries and individuals, it is clear that we the multiple social, economic and geopo- still have a long road to travel. The image litical factors they must take into account of the environmental web that sustains when formulating policy. New models of all life unraveling with species and habi- governance must be designed—models tats disappearing at an alarming pace is that embrace transparency of decision- as relevant today as it was in the 1980s. making, participation of stakeholders and This year is an opportunity to again inject a the development of mechanisms for dis- discipline and urgency in fully implement- pute avoidance and resolution. Strong ing the convention. oversight, clear responsibility and account- The recent adoption of the Strategic ability, agility and a long-term perspective Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the are all required. Aichi Biodiversity Targets is ambitious and The science of biodiversity must also provides a shared vision. But to achieve be accessible to citizens if change is to alignment and equilibrium among society, be mobilized. Yet there is incomplete the economy and the regenerative capac- recognition of our total dependence on ity of ecosystems, purposeful and sus- the critical interactions between genes, tained action unprecedented in scope will species and habitats for life. This is the be required. Such action must be based real threat to the implementation of the on a continuing search for knowledge and convention—no evident public sup- understanding and models of governance port and sense of urgency that would that are inclusive. demand political attention. The chal- Knowledge is not static and everyday lenge for us is to present the biodiversity more unanswered questions surface. What story completely, to ensure that it links

28 Satoyama 4 Klaus Töpfer, Former Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme A defining moment

he Rio+20 Summit occurs at a defin- biodiversity, integrate its costs and bene- nature. Global food security and health are ing moment in the conservation of fits into our economic system and ensure closely related to property-right arrange- T our planet’s species and ecosys- that new funding instruments that meet ments. We therefore need to carefully bal- tems. The coming decade must become actual needs are put in place. Economic ance private, public and common property the turning point at which we stop the incentives can play a major role in influenc- rights. global decline of biodiversity, start the ing the way we use our “natural capital”. Despite the accelerating loss of biodi- restoration of environmental services, and Realigning subsides, taxes, market prices versity, there are also encouraging signs work together for a transition towards a and other economic signals must be made of hope. Since its adoption at the last Rio more sustainable future. To achieve these priority in a way that they internalise envi- Conference in 1992, the Convention on goals, the world’s governments agreed ronmental costs and more fully reflect the Biological Diversity has been pushing the to a list of ambitious targets for 2020 at “polluter pays principal”. New approach- global community unremittingly towards the global biodiversity conference (tenth es to valuing natural wealth present ways sustainability. At a time when the global meeting of the Conference of the Parties of moving beyond the narrowness of the community often found it challenging to to the Convention on Biological Diversity) GDP and to developing more comprehen- decide on common environmental aims, in Nagoya in 2010. sive indicators for wealth or well-being. Parties to the Convention on Biological The protection of biodiversity is some- times falsely seen as luxury. There is growing awareness that human development Twenty years after the first Rio Conference, humankind stands at a cross and well-being are intrinsically tied to the world’s natural assets. Biodiversity under- road. To make the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity a success story, pins ecosystem functioning and the pro- we must now scale–up our efforts and ensure that the ambitious targets vision of essential services. It provides food security, human health, clean water set in Nagoya will be delivered, not only through the CBD and its bodies, and air and medicine. Without biodiver- but through environmental cooperation and governance at all levels. sity, we have no chance to address climate change. Yet biodiversity diminishes continually and unconstrained, estimated at a decline rate 1000 times higher than natu- The direct causes of biodiversity loss, Diversity have set an example: At their tenth ral. The impoverished, being most vulner- such as pollution, habitat degradation, meeting, in Nagoya, Japan, they agreed to able to extreme events and catastrophic land-use change, overexploitation, climate encouraging developments in the protection changes in ecosystems, are hit hardest. change and invasive alien species are well of biodiversity, such as the creation of an Hundreds of millions of people, for exam- known. They can only be addressed if eco- Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity ple, depend on coastal or coral ecosys- system concerns are fully integrated into and Ecosystem Services, the adoption tems for their food and livelihoods. Yet all relevant policies, budgets and econom- of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and fish populations are overexploited, corals ic decision making-both in the public and Benefit-Sharing and the establishment of are bleaching and mangroves are being private sectors. However, while significant the world’s first regional network of marine destroyed. Land degradation and erosion progress has been made in direct nature protected areas. This exemplifies the mod- of soils threaten food and water safety for conservation, e.g. through the designation ern approach to nature conservation. many of the poorest people. of protected areas or regulation of wildlife Twenty years after the first Rio Confer- The reports on the Economics of trade, the sectorial integration has largely ence, humankind stands at a cross road. Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) have failed. If we still want to meet our objec- To make the United Nations Decade on clearly shown that biodiversity and eco- tives for 2020, reform must take place Biodiversity a success story, we must now system conservation makes economic now. For example, Europe currently has scale–up our efforts and ensure that the sense. Particularly during financial crisis the unique chance to reform its Common ambitious targets set in Nagoya will be we cannot afford to continue subsidis- Agriculture and Fisheries Policies for the delivered, not only through the CBD and its ing economic activities that are environ- period of 2014–2020. Solutions for sus- bodies, but through environmental cooper- mentally harmful and we will drain public tainable reform are on the table, the year ation and governance at all levels. Heads budgets in the future. Europe’s heavily 2012 will show if we will be able to deliv- of States and Governments, together with subsidised agricultural policy is still con- er the commitments made in Nagoya. the entire global community, have come sidered to be the major cause of biodi- We also need to ensure fair access to to this defining moment; it is a great chal- versity decline. We must instead invest in public goods and services provided by lenge, but a great opportunity as well.

Satoyama 4 29 Patrick Weiten, President of the Moselle General Council, France Nature can only protect if she is protected

rotecting Nature: this is what the With the reserves at Montenach and in the Laquenexy Fruit Gardens. As the greenhouse gas reduction objec- Hettange-Grande, the continental saltwa- United Nations Convention on Biological P tives asserted a few weeks ago in ter wetlands of the Seille Valley, the 300 Diversity recommends, we are aiming to Durban are aimed at, as is the protection Sensitive Natural Areas, and not forget- promote the conservation and rational use of biodiversity concretised by the Nagoya ting those sites that belong to the General of these special sites through local and Protocol. It will also be the key phrase for Council such as the Lindre Lake or the national-level initiatives, and via interna- the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Laquenexy Fruit Gardens, the Moselle is tional co-operation. I am also very proud Convention on Biodiversity which will meet an outstanding area for biodiversity. It can that one of the Moselle’s products, our illus- in Hyderabad next October. trated apples, has become All the actors, whether they one of the emblems of the are political or economic Nagoya Protocol and that actors, from the public or they were systematically private sector, or just every- presented to its signatories day citizens, must take up as the symbol of fair, equi- this motto and set about table sharing of resources! turning the objectives of Being a land that offers the Rio Summit into con- biodiversity, and cultural crete realities. and historic diversity right As a public-sector actor, in the heart of Europe does the Moselle General Council not prevent the Moselle has made environmental pro- from being an industrial tection and maintaining bio- area. We hear the voices of diversity an important cause. those who, faced with the It adopted this motto a long fragile nature of the environ- time ago! mental balance, are calling The Moselle General Local institutions have a moral responsibility, an economic for mankind to give up eco- Council wishes to demon- responsibility, and an ethical responsibility, and must make nomic development. But strate that nature is acces- there are others, and I am sible to everyone. Training, sure that our children benefit from the same advantages one of them, who consid- teaching and educating and the same environments as the ones that we inherited er industry, along with its people from an early age research and innovation to respect and preserve our from our parents. environment, to be nec- natural environment con- essary for saving mankind stitutes one of our policy’s and the Earth’s ecosys- major orientations. The elected officials of also be proud of having been mindful of the tem. Sustainable solutions are now within our region energetically strive to achieve environment for a long time: Jean-Marie our reach, simultaneously enabling good this on a daily basis. Local institutions Pelt, the renowned botanist, has worked industrial performance, development of have a moral responsibility, an economic there for many years in order to preserve the economy (particularly at local level and responsibility, and an ethical responsibil- biodiversity and founded the European in relation to employment), and fulfilment ity, and must make sure that our children Ecology Institute there in 1971. of the requirements of human develop- benefit from the same advantages and I would like to show that the Moselle ment, whilst at the same time preserving the same environments as the ones that is taking part in objectives towards a sus- the environment. we inherited from our parents. tainable development that is now essen- The Moselle will continue to be a land Twenty years after the Rio Summit, the tial: it protects the Lindre Lake, a wetland offering biodiversity and the General Council first major meeting for setting a roadmap of major international importance, and one will continue to promote it, preserve it and for sustainable development, there is a of the sites designated by the Ramsar give it positive reinforcement. realisation that we still have a long way Convention, and it continues to develop to go! However we must not falter in our the leading fruit tree collection in France, (The Moselle is one of the 101 French Départements, located in eastern France, and it has a population of efforts, or take the easy way out. with 1,600 species of fruit trees preserved 1 million people.)

30 Satoyama 4 Masaru Onishi, President, Japan Airlines JAL remains committed to raising biodiversity awareness

ne year has passed since the United Nations Decade on As an airline bridging countries and peoples around the world, JAL is Biodiversity was declared, fol- O firmly committed to making joint efforts to pass on a beautiful and lowing the historical success of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties abundant planet which co-exists with nature to future generations. (COP 10). Last year, while implementing the cor- porate reorganization plan of Japan Airlines (JAL) with the support of many stakehold- at the end of February. While watching • Target 9—concerning the invasion of ers, we worked determinedly to maintain red-crowned cranes in the snow fields, alien species, we will strive to pre- our environmental activities in deep grati- a signing ceremony was held with Mr. vent their unexpected transportation. tude to society. As it was the International Watanabe, Director-General of the Nature • Target 10—concerning impacts Year of Biodiversity, with Japan hosting Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of the of climate change, we will con- COP 10, we considered what we could Environment. JAL pledged to lend support duct atmospheric observations and do as an airline of the host country to pro- to the UN Decade on Biodiversity, and various global warming prevention mote this significant cause. Considering protect and promote the conservation of activities. the first step for carrying out conservation beautiful Japanese nature, including the activities is to increase public awareness Japanese crane. One of our activities to Furthermore, we as an airline would like of biodiversity, we decided to dissemi- increase awareness of nature and biodiver- to encourage passengers to renew their nate this vital message to as many peo- sity conservation was the unveiling of an appreciation for the culture and nature of ple as possible. Utilizing our features as aircraft called JAL Eco Jet “Nature”, deco- their own country through travel experi- an airline, we operated COP 10 Eco Jets rated with the UN Decade on Biodiversity ences to places with those attributes. bearing the COP 10 logo and promoted logo in late September. This winter, we will 2011 was the first year of the UN biodiversity in our inflight magazine, inflight sponsor a Japanese Crane Photo Contest Decade on Biodiversity for establishing video and through the distribution of ori- to remind more people of the beauty of a society that lives in harmony with nature. gami, and such. Japanese nature and promote conserva- Poignantly, in this same year, Japan was As a small supporter carrying out these tion activities. In such ways, we will make struck by successive unprecedented activities, we were delighted with the great continuous efforts to convey the mes- disasters such as earthquakes, tsuna- success of COP 10. At the same time, we sages of the UN Decade on Biodiversity. mis, and typhoons, while Thailand was deepened our understanding that COP All stakeholders must be engaged in engulfed in floods. Nature demonstrat- 10 was not a goal, but the start of a con- achieving the Aichi Targets adopted at ed its overwhelming force to the world. tinuous process, and realized the signif- COP 10 in the decade following 2011. In the face of these disasters, many peo- icance of putting the results of COP 10 Companies can participate in various ways ple were reminded of the importance into action to actually protect biodiver- depending on their business operations of ties with family and friends, and the sity. I believe our activities should not and business category. For JAL, we will word “kizuna” which means “bonds” in end there, but should be carried out for actively strive towards: Japanese was chosen as the most sig- the long term. Personally, participation nificant and representative word for this in this worthy activity has reaffirmed my • Target 1—concerning awareness of year. It seems the time has come to re- belief that the human race is supported the values of biodiversity and steps evaluate the relationship between man- by nature, and naturally, even our airline to conserve and use it sustainably, kind and nature, and make efforts to business, which serves to bridge diversi- we will continue conducting public repair this bond. ty on a global scale, could not exist with- awareness activities. As an airline bridging countries and out biodiversity. • Target 5—concerning the loss of peoples around the world, JAL is firm- In 2011, JAL adopted the red crane- natural habitats, including forests, ly committed to making joint efforts to shaped logo, and operated a charter we will continue looking out for and pass on a beautiful and abundant plan- flight using the first aircraft painted with alerting relevant authorities about et which co-exists with nature to future the crane motif to Kushiro in Hokkaido forest-fires. generations.

Satoyama 4 31 Thomas Lovejoy, Chief biodiversity adviser to the President of the World Bank; Senior advisor to the president of the United Nations Foundation; President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment The growing importance of biological diversity

iological diversity was not even a as separate entities, all the environmen- is clear that two degrees warming will be decade old when Mostafa Tolba tal threats in the end affect the biology of too much for ecosystems yet that cur- B invited a small group to Nairobi in the planet, i.e., biodiversity integrates all rently is the negotiators target. To stop 1987 to discuss what might be the outlines environmental stresses. From this per- at two degrees global emissions have to of a convention on biological diversity. It spective, the planetary boundaries, put peak in 2016. was a special moment when science was forth by Rockstrom and the Stockholm Clearly the biology of the planet is sig- asked to inform global policy. I remem- Environment Institute, are quite instructive. naling that compartmentalized approach- ber impressive openness on the part of For those for which sufficient data exist, es to environmental problems are far from the Executive Director to all of our sug- the three boundaries currently exceed- sufficient, and that we have to manage gestions—even when I interjected that if ed are those of climate change, nitrogen the planet as a whole—as the biophysi- something wasn’t also done about climate and biodiversity. According to their cal- cal system that it actually is. change we “could forget about biological culations the biodiversity boundary has For climate change and the carbon diversity”. Undoubtedly something was been exceeded the most, in part because cycle the way forward is pretty clear. We already underway about a convention to of the impact of the other two in addi- have to wean ourselves off fossil fuels or deal with climate change. In any case, in tion to things like habitat destruction and find ways to burn them without releas- 1992 the two Rio conventions on biodi- alien species. ing CO2 to the atmosphere. As much as half the current excess CO2 in the atmosphere actually comes from the destruction and degradation of ecosystems over Clearly the biology of the planet is signaling that compartmentalized the past three centuries. A significant por- approaches to environmental problems are far from sufficient, and that tion of that can be taken back from the atmosphere by proactive planetary scale we have to manage the planet as a whole—as the biophysical system ecosystem restoration. That has impor- that it actually is. tant side benefits in ecosystem goods and services, and simultaneously makes those ecosystems more resilient to the stresses they will experience. In no small versity and climate change were adopt- Nitrogen, while less appreciated as a way it will raise public consciousness of ed and opened for signature. The Global global issue, looms large. There is twice the importance of biology and biodiver- Environment Facility came into existence the normal level of biologically active sity. We will also need to find economi- and not long after, a third convention fol- nitrogen available in the world today, cal non-biological ways to remove carbon lowed on desertification/land degradation. derived in significant degree from agri- dioxide from the atmosphere and convert With Rio+20 looming it is useful to look cultural fertilizers. The resultant nitrogen it into something inert. back at the time of the Earth Summit in in run-off creates major imbalances in All this has to be achieved in a world 1992. In the two decades, the global num- aquatic communities, and, in particular, still adding two to three more billion ber of protected areas has increased dra- creates dead zones such as in the Gulf people. That represents a major chal- matically from under 50,000 to in excess of Mexico. The global number of dead lenge in terms of increased agricultural of 70,000. In 2010, total marine and ter- zones has doubled every decade for the production with less—not more—nitro- restrial area protected was close to 12% last 40 years. gen pollution and further destruction of of the surface of the planet. In that peri- The impact of climate change on the natural ecosystems. That in turn is an od, The Global Environment Facility (GEF) biology of the planet is becoming quite enormous challenge for the life scienc- invested $3.1 billion in biodiversity proj- pronounced: changing annual life cycles, es but also means that biodiversity is ects in 1,000 projects in 155 countries, changes in geographical ranges, and more ever more important. Each species rep- and leveraged an additional $8.3 billion. disturbingly, ecosystem collapse. Coral resents a set of pretested solutions to a This included creation or improved man- reefs are bleaching more frequently every unique set of biological problems so, in agement of 2,302 protected areas com- year. There is major coniferous tree die- the end, biodiversity is also an enormous prising 630 million hectares. back in western North America, and the living library from which we can derive a What is clear is that while the Rio and Amazon is edging towards dieback in the better future for humanity and the living other environmental conventions exist southern and south-eastern Amazon. It planet we call home.

32 Satoyama 4 Sara Oldfield, Secretary General, Botanic Gardens Conservation International The crucial role of plants in biodiversity conservation

he Strategic Plan for Biodiversity by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the GSPC becomes increasingly embed- takes centre stage in international Missouri Botanical Gardens, with a wide ded in institutional policies and are united T policy to conserve and restore our range of partners, in response to Target 1 through the Global Partnership for Plant damaged earth, ensuring natural resil- there is now a yardstick for measuring plant Conservation. Tools are being developed ience to global climate change and the diversity, its loss and its conservation. The to share experiences and best practices continuing supply of ecological goods total number of accepted plant species around the world with the online GSPC and services. All terrestrial ecosystems names currently documented is 298,000. toolkit being developed in a number of lan- are based on plant diversity and conser- Another success of the GSPC has been guages. Workshops are underway to link vation of plant resources is therefore vital to identify the Important Plant Areas for GSPC activities with National Biodiversity for our future. Parties to the Convention on conservation. To date 66 countries around Strategies and Action Plans develop- Biological Diversity (CBD) have commit- the world have taken steps to identify and ment, ensuring that plant conservation is ted to conserving plant diversity through protect nationally important sites for the not seen as an isolated specialist activi- the adoption of the Global Strategy for conservation of plant diversity in line with ty. BGCI and IUCN, working with universi- Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the CBD Target 5 of the Global Strategy. Plantlife ties, forestry institutions and other expert Secretariat is playing a crucial coordinat- International is championing this work that networks, are committed to evaluate the ing role in facilitating its delivery. helps to ensure that the maximum amount conservation status of all the world’s trees Do we need to make a special case for conserving plants within the broader biodiversity framework? The answer is yes! In the history of biodiversity conservation, Despite the importance of plants for the supply of food, medicines, timber, plants have always fared poorly in captur- ornamentals; for regulating atmospheric gases, stabilising soils and ing the popular and political imagination, particularly in the Western world. Despite providing the structure of virtually all terrestrial habitats, the role of plants the importance of plants for the supply of is taken for granted and plant blindness has become an accepted term. food, medicines, timber, ornamentals; for regulating atmospheric gases, stabilising soils and providing the structure of virtually all terrestrial habitats, the role of plants of plant diversity is conserved as part of by 2020. This is increasingly possible is taken for granted and “plant blindness” the Ecosystem Approach. Conserving because of advances in bioinformatics has become an accepted term. plant species in ex situ collections has and the sociology of sharing information. At a time when botanical capacity is also received a significant boost as a A new Ecological Restoration Alliance of decreasing and the threats to wild plant result of coordinated efforts in line with botanic gardens has been formed to uti- diversity grow ever greater, the GSPC has Target 8 of the GSPC. At least 40 percent lise ex situ collections in restoration of the galvanised action. First agreed in 2002 of the world’s threatened plant species are world’s damaged ecosystems building with 16 ambitious targets to be met by conserved in living collections and seed on the achievements of GSPC Target 8. 2010, the GSPC has been very effective banks as monitored by Botanic Gardens Twenty years ago, the Convention on in bringing together all who are interest- Conservation International (BGCI). Biological Diversity, marked a turning point ed in conserving plants to work towards Of course much work remains to be in global efforts to conserve biodiversity, a common agenda at a local to global lev- done to ensure that plant species do not recognising the fundamental importance el. The Strategy has motivated the botan- needlessly become extinct. An updated of sustainable use and equitable sharing of ic garden community worldwide and has version of the GSPC was adopted in 2010 the benefits of biodiversity. Ten years later linked their work more directly with nation- with ambitious targets to be met by 2020. the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation al governments, conservation and devel- This could be interpreted as moving the was agreed setting out an agenda specif- opment NGOs and the agriculture and goal posts but I believe that it rather reflects ically for plants. Looking ahead, over the forestry sectors. One of the main practi- an increasing commitment to conserve next decade we need to ensure that the cal successes of the GSPC has been the the maximum amount of plant diversity successes of plant conservation are cel- development of a comprehensive consol- as a matter of urgency. The organisations ebrated, shared and replicated and that idated online list of plant species availa- involved in supporting national activities the fundamental importance of plants is ble for the first time in 2010. Coordinated are better placed to meet the challenge as understood by all.

Satoyama 4 33 Jeffrey A. McNeely, Senior Science Advisor, International Union for Conservation of Nature Building civil society into the work of the CBD: The role of the Global Biodiversity Forum

ack in 1990, when the Convention numerous government agencies. conventions. GBF 11 was held at the on Biological Diversity (CBD) was From its very beginning, the GBF worked Conference of Parties of the Climate B still a dream, or at least a fond closely with the Secretariat of the CBD and Change Convention and highlighted the hope, several of us published a book titled the Conference of Parties (COP). Many of impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Saving the World’s Biological Diversity, fol- its dialogues were held prior to the open- While these impacts were coming under lowed soon after by Global Biodiversity ing of the COP, and the GBF was invited increasing scrutiny from scientists, they Strategy. Both of these recognized that to share its results in a brief statement at were not being addressed very seriously governments needed to take the lead in the opening plenary of each session of the by the Climate Change Convention until conserving biodiversity and supported the COP. A fuller written report of the conclu- the GBF helped give the issue a high- development of an international conven- sions from the GBF was widely distribut- er profile. Subsequent closer cooperation toward this end. ed at each COP. tion between the two conventions has But both of these books also recog- But the GBF did not stop there; it also benefitted both, though neither can yet nized that government alone was insuf- recognized that achieving the objec- claim that the problems of climate change ficient to meet the challenge, and that tives of the CBD would require that other and biodiversity are being adequately civil society also needed to support the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of biological resources. And while governments could set the policy As climate change becomes a more obvious problem, it is also becoming framework for equitable sharing of the increasingly apparent that conserving biodiversity—maintaining the widest benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, it would be up to conservation range of options—is an essential element for adapting to the changes that organizations, corporations, scientists, are sure to come. local communities, and even individuals to make this a reality. Thus was born the Global Biodiversity Forum, supported by the International Union for Conservation international agreements would also addressed. As climate change becomes a of Nature (IUCN), the World Resources need to incorporate biodiversity con- more obvious problem, it is also becom- Institute (WRI), the African Centre for tech- cerns into their work. It therefore held ing increasingly apparent that conserv- nology Studies (ACTS), and the United sessions at Conferences of Parties of the ing biodiversity—maintaining the widest Nations Environment Program (UNEP). It Convention on Wetlands of International range of options—is an essential ele- started its pioneering efforts to convene Importance (Ramsar), the Convention ment for adapting to the changes that multi-stakeholder dialogues in 1992, as on International Trade in Endangered are sure to come. the CBD matured into its final form, and Species, the Framework Convention on GBF 17, held in Valencia, Spain at the then participated actively in the develop- Climate Change, the Convention to Combat COP of the Wetlands Convention, went ment of the Convention after it entered Desertification, the UN Commission on into considerable detail about the common into force in 1993. Sustainable Development, and even the interests between the CBD and Ramsar, Over the subsequent 15 years, the World Trade Organization. It also pro- leading ultimately to a formal cooperative GBF held some 25 sessions and attract- vided a specific link of biodiversity to agreement between the two conventions. ed dozens of additional partners as co- the Millennium Development Goals, and While the respective secretariats of the convenors, helping to build a broad pubic held numerous sessions at the region- conventions deserve the credit for making constituency for conservation, benefit al level. The latter were designed to help this agreement a reality, the exposure of sharing, and sustainable use of biolog- Parties consider the options for address- the issues by the GBF provided a signifi- ical resources. It also attracted multi- ing the key issues at upcoming sessions cant boost and helped to develop practi- ple donors, led by the Swiss Agency for of the Conference of Parties and its sub- cal demonstrations of putting the ideals of Development Cooperation (SDC) but also sidiary body. the CBD into practice in wetlands. including the Global Environment Facility, Two examples will illustrate how the By providing a venue for the interests WWF, Conservation International, and GBF promoted cooperation among the of civil society, freely open to all points of

34 Satoyama 4 John Herity, Former Director, Biodiversity Convention Office, Environment Canada view, the GBF also gave governments an opportunity to discuss informally some of the key issues that would be discussed A CBD retrospective subsequently during the Conference of Parties. Issues such as marine protected areas, invasive alien species, access wenty years ago at the Rio sum- and benefit-sharing, biotechnology, and mit, we believed we had finally traditional knowledge were all addressed T turned the tide on environmental through workshops and informal discus- issues with three significant international sions, helping governments to formulate agreements: biodiversity, climate change their positions on these significant ele- and desertification. There was a sense ments of the CBD. of urgency, but also a sense of satisfac- After 15 years and 25 sessions, the tion with the perhaps naïve expectation Secretariat of the Global Biodiversity Forum, that, with these treaties, the planet would provided by IUCN, decided that the GBF soon be a better place. All that was need- had achieved the goals that were estab- ed was to get them signed, ratified and lished back in the early 1990s. Biodiversity implemented. Signatures and ratification The prominence given to the special cir- had entered the public vocabulary, the CBD were relatively easy. cumstances of indigenous and local com- had become a mature negotiating body The biodiversity negotiations started munities, which Canada played a significant where all Parties were well informed about routinely, based on IUCN’s early drafting. role in negotiating, has been an especial- the key issues, the other international agree- We were excited about the prospect of a ly interesting innovation. In no other trea- ments had built biodiversity into their dis- comprehensive international approach ty have the voices of such interests been cussions, CBD protocols on Biosafety and to conservation. In Canada, our prepara- given such prominence to such positive on Access and Benefit-Sharing had been tions for each negotiating session were effect. While the decisions are ultimate- agreed, the value of traditional knowledge extensive and demanding. All potentially ly taken by governments, the unfettered had been widely recognized, and signif- affected Canadian interests were involved voices of indigenous and local communi- icant funds were flowing into the imple- in developing the positions we took into ty representatives in the formal negotia- mentation of the CBD at global, national, the negotiations and most of those inter- tions of the 8j Working Group have been and local levels. A quick look at GBF on ests were represented on our delegations. very influential in raising global aware- Google will provide about 2.5 million oppor- Our detailed preparations provided ness of their relevance and importance. tunities to discover more about the effec- major benefits. We soon realized that by This unique CBD feature needs not only to tiveness of the Global Biodiversity Forum addressing the diverse interests at home, be preserved and enhanced, but emulat- in bringing science, policy, and civil soci- we had already foreshadowed the actual ed elsewhere. The Nagoya Protocol dem- ety into a productive dialogue. The coming negotiations. As importantly, when it came onstrates the feasibility of this. years will challenge society to find ways to our decision on ratification, all interests Other ideas, unusual in conservation to live in a sustainable balance with bio- had been so engaged throughout that treaties, but given prominence in the lan- diversity, but the GBF has showed a pos- political approval was quickly secured. It guage of the Convention and reinforcing itive way forward. helped that the leader of the Canadian del- the importance of national implementa- egations, Arthur Campeau, an appointee tion, included: benefit sharing; access of the Prime Minister, was able to provide to and transfer of technology; technical him the needed assurances. This enabled and scientific cooperation; research and Prime Minister Mulroney at Rio to com- training, and new and additional financial mit Canada to ratification and, indeed, to resources. Taken together and effective- become the first industrialised country to ly supported, these terms have the intent do so a few months later. to enable all nations to make beneficial, Nevertheless, there were some surpris- sustainable use of their natural heritage to es emerging from the negotiations which achieve conservation as well as poverty had the effect of lifting the CBD from a reduction objectives. Twenty years on, the routine conservation treaty to a poten- achievement of these objectives remains tially influential global instrument for trade elusive. One glimmer of hope is the suc- and development. It has the as-yet unful- cess of community-based achievements filled potential to help developing econ- through such programs as the Equator omies and impoverished populations to, Initiative of UNDP. Canada helped initi- with a little help, become more self-suf- ate this at Rio+10 in Johannesburg and it ficient through biodiversity conservation remains an important indicator of the pow- and sustainable use. er and potential of minimally-funded local

Satoyama 4 35 Wen Lian Ting, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

sustainable livelihood initiatives. A second potential avenue for positive results, highlighted at COP 10 in Nagoya, is the Lest we forget greater involvement of businesses in the ongoing pursuit of the Convention objectives. Businesses are exhibiting a growing he successful conclusion developed countries had decid- awareness of the importance of conserva- of negotiations for the ed in advance that they would tion to their sustainability. The business- T Convention on Biological put a stop to the establishment led Canadian Business and Biodiversity Diversity (CDB) in 1992 before of a fund for every environment Council is an example of this interest. the Earth Summit in Rio was convention. The first casual- The Biosafety and ABS protocols are considered by many as a vic- ties were the Convention on important, hard-won instruments which tory for developing countries. It Biodiversity and the Convention bring into pragmatic focus key econom- was seen as the first time when on Desertification. This decision ic and business-related elements of the the legitimate concerns of Third was put into place just before Convention. Governmental commitment to World countries for their sovereign natu- the Rio Earth Summit and so a Biodiversity their implementation, coupled with strate- ral resources were recognised. Fund was strongly resisted by the devel- gies for the achievement of the Aichi 2020 I would say that it is not so much a oped countries throughout the negotia- targets agreed in Nagoya, offer opportunity victory or defeat for any side. As I see it, tions. Instead, all funding requirements for a renewed global attempt to reduce the biodiversity emerged as the victor after were channelled to the GEF under the rate of loss of biodiversity. With the help months of intense and often agonising auspices of the World Bank. of TEEB, the ‘business case’ for action is sessions of the negotiating process. The The GEF has a different governance and becoming more evident. hundreds of square brackets confront- to have this ‘external’ entity in control of For this Canadian, other vivid and ing delegates at the final session seemed financial disbursements is tantamount to proud early memories of the CBD include insurmountable, but there was a sense subjecting the decisions of the sovereign Elizabeth Dickson’s prominent role for the of urgency that the treaty must be ready Parties of the Convention to another round preparation of the entry into force of the for the Rio Earth Summit of June 1992. of scrutiny by a separate financial gover- Convention, played an instrumental role It must be said that it took a lot of arm- nance which may have no appreciation in the preparation of COP 1 and was also twisting, horse-trading and good sense of environment priorities and sensitivities. responsible for selecting the CBD’s now- to bring about a clean text for adoption It makes a mockery of the Convention’s famous 3-leaf logo. COP 2 in Jakarta was in the wee hours of the last session of the sovereignty and reduces its decisions to the setting for Montreal being voted host negotiations. a question of dollars and cents. of the CBD Secretariat. The appointment However, for those who viewed the suc- It is particularly galling to note that of Canadian Tim Hodges to co-chair the cessful negotiations of the Convention on some delegates from developed coun- ABS negotiations was also recognition Biodiversity as a proud achievement for tries seemed to come to the COP meet- of the constructive, balanced approach developing countries, the sense of ‘vic- ings with the sole mandate of rejecting to the Convention we had consistently tory’ would be short-lived. The follow-up every request with financial implications. tried to take. process before the Convention came into In this respect, there is much to be said On the lighter side, many internation- force and the subsequent Conferences of for promoting South-South co-operation al meetings held in Montreal following the the Parties became the stage for a re-play and consultation and putting an end to establishment of the Secretariat proved, in or re-enactment of the difficult negotiat- the cycle of humiliation faced by devel- the dead of winter, to be a trial for our visi- ing process. oping countries at every Conference of tors from the tropics—so much so that we The same problematic areas were debat- the Parties. It is also time to put an end to decided to provide the loan of winter mili- ed anew in the sessions of the Conference the ‘ODA’ or Overseas Development Aid tary parkas and snow boots for delegates of the Parties when it would be fair to mentality of those who attend environ- needing them (some having arrived in open expect difficult discussions only on the ment meetings for developed countries. sandals). The enduring memory is of small main contentious issue of financial resourc- Another contentious negotiation area was groups of delegates standing in the snow es as this was unresolved and a condi- the question of access and benefit- sharing. outside the ICAO building taking photos tional acceptance of the GEF allowed However, after many sessions of difficult of each other huddled under their parka the text of the Convention to be adopt- negotiations a Protocol was put togeth- hoods to show those back home how to ed before the Rio Earth Summit. Be that er. Its successful conclusion and adop- cope with Canada’s weather in January. as it may, there has been to date no clear tion at the 10th Conference of the Parties Even more fun were the ice-skating par- initiatives to restructure the GEF so that it at Nagoya, Japan, was made possible by ties where brave visitors who had trouble can be accepted definitively as the finan- the tenacity and commitment of the host enough walking on the slippery streets, cial mechanism of the Convention. This country as well as the constant diligence donned skates for the first time in a dis- is, of course, intentional. and focus of the CBD Secretariat under play of high spirits, if not proficiency. Many of us did not realise that the the leadership of its Executive Secretary.

36 Satoyama 4 Indeed, it had also taken some very difficult negotiations to project access and benefit- sharing as one of the three main objectives of the CBD. This was indeed a notable achievement as it was a step in the right direction to deal with the concern for bio-piracy. As for the Protocol, it remains to be seen how the blanks will be filled in and how the implementation process will proceed. It will take the vigilance of developing countries to ensure the use of their natural resources will have their prior informed consent and that the approved usage will be based on appropriate benefits. In this connection, previous donations made in good faith to seed banks will also merit scrutiny for proper usage. The question of biosafety was also eagerly debated during the CBD negoti- Those who seek to undermine the legal authority of the CBD under the ations. Initially, the developed countries guise of science would do well to remember that terrestrial biodiversity, were somewhat startled when biosafety was proposed into the draft text by the mainly forest and agricultural biodiversity, are sovereign resources Malaysian delegation. In any event, early within national boundaries unlike the atmosphere and the oceans which apprehension and resistance gave way to acceptance and the final outcome in call- are in the global commons. ing for a Protocol certainly went beyond our initial desire to flag the importance of biosafety in a convention on biodiversity. the insistence of the developing countries for making sense and order out of the var- Now, we have a Protocol on Biosafety in that their legitimate concerns for the sov- ious proposals, some of which have hard- place and in the process of implementation. ereignty of their natural resources, should ly any relevance to the CBD. Another area of contentious debate be respected. Regrettably, it continues to be a source was the question of conservation. To what So it can be said that the CBD captured of concern that some countries use the extent the CBD should pursue the conser- the aspirations of the developing countries implementation process to re-introduce vation of our natural resources without cur- and apart from the contentious financial elements which they lost during the nego- tailing the opportunities of utilization. This issues can look forward to some mean- tiations of the Convention. Of equal con- was when the term ‘sustainable’ gained ingful implementation of the convention. cern is the trend to set up new panels and greater respectability and currency as a However, this has not been the case. As platforms to further their agenda to crip- convenient description of ‘extent of utili- it turned out, developing countries had to ple the CBD as if their consistent efforts to zation without irreversible damage to the contend with much more than the expected unravel the Convention were not enough! integrity of the natural resources’. financial problems. Very often and without Recent reports on preliminary discussions It was interesting that one delegation realising it, delegates to the Conferences of what a particular ‘platform’ would and had come to the negotiations with the sole of the Parties have been, as it were, put could do after it is set up, read more like intent of making the CBD a ‘National Parks’ in a position of ‘re-negotiating’ the CBD. an obituary for the CBD and its subsidiary convention. This would have meant a con- It is clear that those delegates who lost body SBSTTA! I can only say that those vention solely on conservation. However, out on their pet theories during the nego- who seek to undermine the legal authori- the negotiators realised that a CBD had tiations, are now seeking to re-insert them ty of the CBD under the guise of science, to give an honest assessment, and found in the process of implementation. would do well to remember that terrestrial the three objectives which would capture It is no wonder that COP meetings biodiversity, mainly forest and agricultural the reality of biodiversity in all its mani- are a bewildering experience with multi- biodiversity, are sovereign resources within festation viz. Conservation, sustainable faceted proposals introduced at every turn. national boundaries unlike the atmosphere use and access and sharing of benefits. Admittedly, biodiversity is a vast and com- and the oceans which are in the global These became the three main objectives plex subject, but it would be prudent for commons. Of course, the CBD is not the of the CBD. Credit must go to some of delegates to ascertain which section or only victim of such sabotage! Some other the main negotiators from the developed article of the CBD a new proposal seeks conventions have met the same fate with countries who, after almost two years of to implement. In this respect, the staff of one particular convention even going to intense negotiations, had to concede to the CBD Secretariat must be commended the extent of implementing programmes

Satoyama 4 37 of action which are in direct contradiction from more than a dozen years of involve- the spirit of partnership and joint endea- to its original intent and objective. ment in international environment nego- vour which the Rio Earth Summit had It is timely at Rio+20 to call a halt to such tiations. During this time, I have not seen endorsed. Tactics of force and intimida- unproductive tactics and focus on genuine any change in the mindset that had bedev- tion should give way to a more consulta- implementation. IMPLEMENTATION should illed our negotiations ever since the pre- tive and technology-accessible approach be the clarion call of Rio+20. The creation paratory process prior to the Rio Earth which is receptive to the economic aspi- of new organisations and platforms should Summit in 1992. This same mindset is rations of developing countries and their be carefully assessed for their viability and now driving the preparations for Rio+20. difficult struggle to remain on the path relevance to existing environment bodies Principally, this mindset seeks to control of sustainable development. The Rio+20 and treaties. It is evident that the required the Third World’s usage of its sovereign Summit should seize the opportunity to scientific data and assessments already natural resources. In doing this, consul- initiate a framework for all environment exist and await implementation. The estab- tation takes a back seat while prescrip- meetings to adopt this new consulta- lishment of additional structures will only tive measures enjoy a free ride. This kind tive and supportive approach. Catchy deploy essential financial resources away of mindset impoverishes the environ- phrases and colour slogans alone will from the main tasks. ment debate and can only destroy what not do the job! In actual fact, what is most needed is a it seeks to save. Let us be part of the solution so that new mindset as implementation depends We desperately need to eradicate this this earth’s legacy of wonderful biodiversity on that. This is the conclusion I reached ‘destructive’ mindset and seek to re-kindle can be passed on to future generations.

Veit Koester, External professor, Roskilde University; Visiting Professor, United Nations University—Institute of Advanced Studies The biodiversity convention regime: Personal reflections on the past, present, and future from a legal perspective

eing involved to some extent in the Neither could I predict that the first once been deeply involved in the CBD process of elaborating the IUCN meeting of the UNEP Working Group would process it is rather difficult to escape from B Draft Convention on Biodiversity mark the beginning of a most interesting, keeping track of the process. The same inter alia by attending a workshop dis- and extremely challenging, but, seen from is probably true for a number of my for- cussing the draft at the 17th IUCN General a personal angle, at times also a very dif- mer colleagues. Assembly in San José, Costa Rica in ear- ficult and frustrating process, related to As a lawyer it is obviously quite natu- ly 1988, I had no idea that this process my almost on-going chairing functions ral to assess the CBD from a legal point would become a minor part of a much from 1988 to 2009 when my chairman- of view. Seen in that perspective there wider process, leading to the adoption ship of the Compliance Committee of the is no doubt that CBD is an instrument of a biodiversity convention and succes- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety came of far-reaching importance, including by sively evolve into a true biodiversity con- to an end. confirming existing principles and intro- vention regime. COP 11 in 2010 in Nagoya was the first ducing new concepts or principles. Suffice Similarly, such a perspective was cer- COP I did not attend, but since I chaired to mention e.g. tainly not on my mind when I in November the negotiations in 1990–1992 resulting, • The principle of sovereign rights over 1988 was elected chairperson of a working inter alia, in CBD Article 15 on Access to natural resources group established by the United Nations Genetic Resources, I published in May • Prior informed consent in respect of Environment Programme (UNEP) pursu- 2011 an article in a Danish legal period- access to genetic resources ant to a Governing Council decision with ical on the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic • Conservation of biological diversity a view of analysing existing MEAs to iden- Resources in order to make the Danish as a common concern of humankind tify possible gaps in the international law law community aware of the Protocol and • Sustainable use of biodiversity for biodiversity conservation, and address its internal and external implications. This, • Reflection of the precautionary how to fill such gaps. however, also demonstrates that having principle

38 Satoyama 4 • Provisions on EIA in a non- with implications also for other biodiver- been—even after the entry into force of transboundary context sity-related global conventions. the CBD in 1993—and still exists, a steady • Incorporation of the no-harm CBD was during its first years of life and probably progressively growing loss Principle 21 of the Stockholm criticized by a number of international of biodiversity. But would it be right to Declaration environmental law scholars, mainly due blame the CBD regime in that respect? • Sharing of benefits arising from the to its conditional drafting language and First, nobody can assess what the utilization of traditional knowledge. a number of allegedly unclear provisions. situation would have been without the However, as rightly observed by Philippe CBD regime, but I venture to claim that To this should be added what presently Sands (in Principles of International Law, the situation would in such circumstanc- constitutes the CBD regime, namely, save Second Editions, Cambridge University es have been even worse. Second, the CBD itself as supplemented by a vast Press 2003, at p. 615) conservation of basic international legal machinery, includ- number of COP-decisions interpreting, biodiversity probably presents great- ing in respect of the solidarity obliga- fleshing out and providing implementa- er regulatory challenges to international tions of industrialized countries, is at tion guidance on most substantive pro- law than any other environmental issue. hand and in good shape, although it is visions, the three CBD-related protocols: Furthermore, the CBD regime has gained rather complex and something is proba- The 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety a continuously growing respect in text- bly still lacking with regard to infrastruc- (supplemented by a number of important books on international environmental law. ture. Nevertheless, my allegation is that COP-MOP decisions), the 2010 Nagoya- This statement is based on an examina- real and effective implementation of what Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol tion of almost a dozen textbooks on inter- has been accomplished in a legal sense, on Liability and Redress Protocol, and, national environmental law published in encompassing also several COP decisions the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on Genetic various countries over the course of the providing guidance on implementation, Resources, all regulating completely new last ten years, but the present reflections would most likely have the potential to areas of international environmental law. are not appropriate for presenting more reverse the present situation. Presently, And more are in process of being casted, detailed evidence. however, this is essentially not a legal such as the Intergovernmental Platform A solid legal basis, however, does not problem, but rather a question of polit- on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services necessarily result in the attainment of the ical will, including ratifying and imple- (IPBES) and issues relating to the gener- goal and objectives of the instrument at menting the two new recently adopted al problematic of governance, both areas hand. There is no doubt that there has protocols.

Nay Htun, Research Professor, Stony Brook University, State University of New York; former Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme Rio to Rio+20: The journey forward

he need for an international it was in 1992, “Conscious of the intrin- by the general public. I recall one of our Convention on Biological Diversity sic value of biological diversity and of the United Nations Conference on Environment T was first proposed in 1974, soon ecological, genetic, social, economic, sci- and Development Secretariat colleagues after the establishment of the United entific, educational, cultural, recreational mentioned during the Earth Summit that Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). and aesthetic values of biological diver- his mother-in-law, a sprite lady of over 90 The work on the Convention, start- sity and its components.” years of age and who had never left her ed since 1983, was actively negotiat- Twenty years ago only specialized small village in central Spain, telephoned ed throughout 1990 and 1991 under the experts in the field of natural sciences were her daughter and asked what is this “bio- leadership of UNEP. It was opened for aware of the critically important role biodiversity” treaty that the President of the signature on 5 June 1992 at the United logical diversity plays in the ecosystem. US said he would not sign. She was much Nations Conference on Environment and There was limited understanding on the relieved when it was patiently explained Development (the Rio “Earth Summit”). value and functions of biological diversity what biodiversity is and that it is not a The Preamble of the Convention by the by public and private sectors planners and nuclear issue. It became world news when Contracting Parties still hold true now as decision makers, legislators and even less a US President attending the Earth Summit

Satoyama 4 39 would not sign the Convention, when oth- and food production, pharmaceuticals and in the protection of Guatemala’s Maya er heads of State and government who and countless other services, are begin- Biosphere Reserve that is generating an were there did. International awareness ning to be recognized. annual income of close to US$50 million of biodiversity was significantly boosted A promising area of emerging research a year, created 7,000 jobs and boosted The world community has since got and study is in the field of biomimetics, local family incomes. to know that the effects of massive bio- offering the prospects of an endless vari- The conservation and sound man- diversity destruction and loss now occur- ety of materials and systems that would agement of biodiversity will be improved ring, will have consequences as dire as mimic the efficiency and effectiveness of with more robust knowledge on its value. a nuclear holocaust, not immediately as nature’s conversion of energy and use Countries need to carry out in-situ stud- visible, dramatic and awesome, but sure- of natural elements and compounds in ies to determine the benefits of ecosys- ly and insipidly. production processes. The discovery of tem services for their communities. Even Crassicorophium bonellit, a small marine when quantification is improved, it would Knowledge and transformation crustacean, with the ability to produce a be very difficult to assign a value and quote During the past two decades, awareness material with the adhesive properties of a price on the aesthetic and cultural role of the importance of biodiversity in eco- super glue and the strength of spider-like biodiversity plays in the history and life of system services, human welfare and well- silk, is one of the examples that will spur the people of a country. being has increased very significantly. greater R&D to respond to a world that is The United Nations Decade on Biodi- becoming more resource constrained and At Rio+20 and beyond versity 2011–2020 is energizing extensive unsustainable. The Convention on Biological Diversity local, national and international activities. An important aspect of biodiversity, has catalyzed many important initiatives, The tenth meeting of the Conference of not generally recognized two decades increased awareness on the state of bio- the Parties in Nagoya, Japan, was very ago, is the role of corals, mangroves and logical diversity and delineated the indis- successful, heightening global actions wetlands in attenuating the destructive pensable functions it performs in support and commitments. The recently published forces of extreme weather and enhanc- of human welfare and well-being. Highlights of the International Year of Bio- ing natural resilience. The damage costs There is a need to study the vast num- diversity provide a very powerful snapshot avoided have not been reliably calculat- ber of species beyond recording their of the world coming together to protect ed, but it is estimated to be in the high existence. Some estimate the amount and conserve biological diversity. billions of dollars. of unknown species to be around 99 per The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity Knowledge on the cause and effect cent. Most of these are microbial, in the 2011–2020 provides a very good road of climate change and biodiversity loss soil and in the oceans. With the rate of map for concerted international action. needs to be expanded. While there is a extinction, it is imperative to undertake a Funding commensurate with the critical- heightened concern with the release of global study to augment the Millennium ly important role and value of biodiversity methane from permafrost melting, much Ecosystem Assessment findings, access should be made available to implement more needs to be known on the release the gaps in knowledge and focus on criti- the Plan. There could not be a better and transport of micro organisms from the cal ecosystem functions in the context of investment. exposed soil. What will be the impacts of sustainable development, resilience and The data base is improving. New and the released pathogens and invasive alien human security. powerful scientific tools are providing large species on human health, agriculture, sil- The Rio+20 Conference in June 2012 amount of data at all levels of biological viculture and mariculture? will be an occasion to launch such a col- systems: molecular, organism, popula- laborative programme. tion, species and ecosystem, improving Value and pricing Importantly, to commemorate and cel- understanding on species, ecosystem, The value of biodiversity is being quanti- ebrate the 20th anniversary of the adop- genetic and molecular biodiversities. Data fied, providing a much needed determinant tion and opening of signature of the CBD from the highest mountains to the deep- for planning and decision making. Current at Rio de Janeiro, the Intergovernmental est oceans are now providing new infor- estimates in the range of US$ 33 trillion Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem mation on the existence of extraordinary per year, at best a low estimate, is dou- Services (IPBES), should be endorsed organisms and life forms. An increasing- ble that of global GDP. This figure pro- The Intergovernmental Platform will ly improved knowledge of the complex vides a starting point to refine and improve further strengthen the integration of bio- interconnectedness of the atmosphere, knowledge on the intrinsic value of biodiversity and ecosystem sciences with lithosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere diversity to enable a better pricing of its policy. Best available scientific knowl- and their influence on and by biodiver- unique services. edge would be systemically marshaled sity is emerging. The UNEP work on The Economics of and evaluated to support informed deci- The indispensable role of biodiversity Ecosystem and Biodiversity provides telling sion making for the conservation and sus- in nutrient recycling, photosynthesis, CO2 case studies on the benefits ecosystem ser- tainable use of biodiversity, promoting sequestration, water purification, regulating vices provide in preventing sedimentation multiple benefits for current and future climate systems, soil erosion, agriculture in Venezuela, dyke maintenance in Vietnam, generations.

40 Satoyama 4 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message on the launch of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity Kanazawa, Japan, 17 December 2011

(Delivered by Mr. Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information)

I am pleased to greet all the leaders and partners who For too long, our natural capital has been seen as an have gathered to launch the United Nations Decade on endless reserve, instead of the limited and fragile resource Biodiversity. Thank you for supporting this important cause. we now know it to be. Fortunately, it is not too late to stem It is essential for all the world’s people to understand the tide. The twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets included not only the value of biodiversity, but what they can do in the 2011–2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity are to protect it. ambitious but realistic. But achieving them will require greater engagement by all relevant actors and partners. The global rate of biodiversity loss is unmatched in human history. Many ecosystems are verging on tipping points I commend Japan for its leadership in supporting the beyond which they will not recover. These trends are being Strategic Plan and the Decade. And I thank all who are compounded by climate change. helping to mobilize global support. Japan Air Lines, for example, which is supporting this event, is making a This year, the human family reached seven billion people—a concerted effort to raise public awareness. milestone with important implications for collective well- being. Ensuring truly sustainable development for our I call on all the Parties to the Convention on Biological growing human family depends on biological diversity Diversity and to all the biodiversity-related conventions, and the vital goods and services it offers. While the as well as all members of the United Nations system, the poor suffer first and worst from biodiversity loss, all of private sector, civil society groups and individual citizens society stands to lose from this mass extinction. There and consumers worldwide to rally to the call of the United are also the opportunity costs: what cures for disease, Nations Decade on Biodiversity. Let us work together to and what other useful discoveries, might we never know live in harmony with nature; let us preserve and wisely of because a habitat is destroyed forever, or land is manage nature’s riches for prosperity today and for the polluted beyond all use? future we want. 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