Move from commitments to implementation now to achieve 2010 biodiversity target
With less than five years to meet the 2010 biodiversity target, the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity needs to move from commitments to implementation. That is the main message of a letter Achim Steiner, Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) sent to Environment Ministers ahead of the CBD conference.
Under the 2010 biodiversity target, Heads of State have committed to slow down the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. “The target provides a unique opportunity to generate momentum, build political will and mobilize all sectors of society to take the necessary actions to address biodiversity loss and the resulting impacts on human wellbeing,” writes Steiner.
Steiner lays out four priority areas to achieve the target:
- Funding the implementation of the Convention;
- M easuring progress towards the achievement of the 2010 target;
- Mobilizing action amongst all sectors and actors in support of the 2010 target; and
- Implementing the three objectives of the CBD, including the Programme of Work on Protected Areas; prioritizing the application of the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines on sustainable use as well as mainstreaming of biodiversity into sectoral policies before COP9; and making progress in the negotiation of an international regime on access and benefit-sharing.
IUCN will be present in Curitiba in its capacity as an inter-governmental organization with Observer Status to the UN General Assembly.
“We stand ready to support your efforts in making COP8 and the implementation of its decisions a success,” writes Achim Steiner in closing the letter.
For more information:
Please read the Full letter [PDF] ¦ Español ¦ Français
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