THE STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN A MID-TERM REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS 4 2 © CIFOR Preparation Reproduction This study was commissioned by the Division of Environmental This publication may be reproduced for educational or Law and Conventions (DELC) of the United Nations non-profit purposes without special permission, provided Environmental Programme (UNEP) under the leadership acknowledgement to the source is made. Reuse of any figures of Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, DELC Director, and the is subject to permission from the original rights holders. No direct supervision of Mr. Alberto Pacheco Capella, Regional use of this publication may be made for resale or any other Coordinator, Ecosystem Management Subprogramme for commercial purpose without permission in writing from UNEP. Latin America and the Caribbean. Additional funding has Applications for permission, with a statement of purpose and been provided by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring extent of reproduction, should be sent to the UNEP-DELC Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the Secretariat of the Convention Director, United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box on Biological Diversity (SCBD). The design, printing and 30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. distribution of this report was enabled through the financial contribution of the European Union. Disclaimer The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views Citation or policies of UNEP, contributory organizations or editors. The UNEP-WCMC (2016) The State of Biodiversity in Latin America designations employed and the presentations of material in this and the Caribbean: A mid-term review of progress towards the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever Aichi Biodiversity Targets. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations, editors or The United Nations Environment Programme World publishers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its specialist biodiversity assessment centre of the United Nations frontiers or boundaries or the designation of its name, frontiers Environment Programme (UNEP), the world’s foremost or boundaries. The mention of a commercial entity or product intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre in this publication does not imply endorsement by UNEP. has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific Images and illustrations © creativecommons.com unless research with practical policy advice. otherwise credited. Published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), May 2016 Copyright © UNEP 2016 ISBN: 978-92-807-3562-8 DEP/1984/CA UNEP promotes environmentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. THE STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN A MID-TERM REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS Acknowledgements This report was prepared by Neil D. Burgess, Hilary Allison, We thank for their assistance in data and information provision, Yara Shennan-Farpon (UNEP-WCMC); and Ellen Shepherd interpretation and review: Roswitha Baumung (FAO); Albert (independent consultant). Additional contributions were made Bleeker (International Nitrogen Initiative); Stuart Butchart by Andy Arnell, Fiona Danks, Sarah Darrah, Edward Lewis, (BirdLife International); Peder Engstrom (University of Marcelo Gonçalves de Lima, Daniela Guaras, Mike Harfoot, Minnesota); Alessandro Galli (Ecological Footprint); Taylor Helena Pavese, Nanna G. Vansteelant and Judith Walcott Gorham (MSC); Tim Hirsch (GBIF); Marion Karmann (FSC); (UNEP-WCMC); Juan Bello, Andrea Brusco, Jose Domenech, Fridolin Krausmann (Alpen-Adria Universitat); Gregoire Leroy Matias Gallardo, Gabriel Labatte, Isabel Martinez and Martina (FAO); Jonathan Loh (WWF/ZSL); Louise McRae (ZSL); Tim de Marcos (UNEP ROLAC). Robertson (GBIF); Brooke Russell (Aid Data); Julia Stewart Lowndes (Ocean Health Index). Drafts were reviewed by German Andrade (Humboldt Institute); Anna Cadiz-Hernandez (CANARI); Marcia Chame We thank for their provision of information and case studies (Globo); Paz Duran (UNEP-WCMC); Robert Hoft (CBD); Lisa the following organizations: Comisión Nacional para el Ingwall-King (UNEP-WCMC); Karen McDonald Gayle (UNEP Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP); Paola Mosig Reidl Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the (CONABIO); Kieran Noonan-Mooney (CBD); Francisco Rilla Fundação Oswaldo Cruz from within the Latin America and (CMS); María Rivera (Ramsar); Laura P. Rodrígez Codallos the Caribbean region. (CONABIO); Manuela da Silva (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) and Alberto Pacheco Capella (UNEP ROLAC). We thank all of the reviewers for their comments and suggestions. STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN CONTENTS Foreword . iv 1 . Executive Summaries . 1 2 . Key messages about the state of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean . 13 State ...............................................................................14 Pressures ...........................................................................15 Responses . 21 3 . The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its review . 25 Summary of the findings of the GBO-4 ..................................................25 4 . Overview of progress across the Latin America and Caribbean region . 27 Aichi Biodiversity Target Dashboard ....................................................29 5 . Target by target analysis . 33 Target 1: Awareness of biodiversity increased................................................34 Target 2: Biodiversity values integrated ....................................................36 Target 3: Incentives reformed............................................................38 Target 4: Sustainable consumption and production . 41 Target 5: Habitat loss halved or reduced ...................................................46 Target 6: Sustainable management of aquatic living resources . 53 Target 7. Sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and forestry.....................................56 Target 8: Pollution reduced .............................................................60 Target 9: Invasive Alien Species prevented and controlled .....................................63 Target 10: Ecosystems vulnerable to climate change ..........................................66 Target 11: Protected areas ...............................................................70 Target 12: Reducing risk of extinction .....................................................79 Target 13: Safeguarding genetic diversity ...................................................85 Target 14: Ecosystem services ............................................................87 Target 15: Ecosystem restoration and resilience ..............................................93 Target 16: Access to and sharing benefits from genetic resources ................................96 Target 17: Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans ...........................................98 Target 18: Traditional knowledge . 100 Target 19: Sharing information and knowledge .............................................103 Target 20: Mobilising resources from all sources ............................................107 6 . Opportunities and recommendations for the future . 110 7 . Conclusion . 113 8 . References . 114 A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS i Map of Biogeographical Realms and Biomes derived from the WWF Terrestrial Ecoregions dataset (map produced by UNEP- WCMC using data from Olson et al. 2001). ii STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Map of countries and their Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) in the Latin America and Caribbean region, based on the UNEP Live regional classification (UNEP 2015a). A REVIEW OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS iii FOREWORD The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region supports rich biological diversity, with around sixty per cent of global terrestrial life found within it, alongside diverse freshwater and marine flora and fauna. The LAC region’s biomes extend from wetlands and coastal ecosystems to deserts, tropical forests, extensive savannah grasslands and high altitude Andean habitats. The lowland forests are amongst the most species-rich on Earth, and the mountain forests and moorlands (páramos) of the Andes host a wide range of endemic and narrow range species. This regional diversity is driven by a number of environmental factors, including a complex evolutionary history and highly variable geography, geology and climate. Large areas of LAC remain in a natural or semi-natural state, but there has also been considerable transformation of habitats to serve national, regional and global economies. Although these national economies have improved over recent decades, and the governance of many countries has been transformed, further progress is required to build more fair and equitable societies, while continuing to consider biodiversity and ecosystem services in decision-making. This is a challenge for the future development and conservation trajectories of the region. In 2010, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (the Strategic Plan), a global ten-year framework for action to conserve biodiversity and enhance