Blog / March 3, 2020
As the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020 comes to an end this year, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will adopt a new global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature.”
The negotiations to develop the post-2020 global biodiversity framework are taking place in advance of the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD planned for 15-28 October in Kunming, China. At the Second Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has been actively participating in the discussions at FAO Headquarters in Rome from 24-29 February.
As one of GEO’s Flagship initiatives, GEO BON prepared a statement that was delivered by Henrique M. Pereira, GEO BON Co-Chair. Read the statement in full below:
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GEO BON welcomes the excellent zero draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the consultation process that the CBD secretariat has been carrying out. Although a step forward, the zero draft still has areas for improvement.
GEO BON invites Parties to consider a framework for voluntary national commitments that contribute to the global post-2020 goals. We recommend a three-step framework:
Step 1: Identify actions and responsibilities for all scales and sectors.
Stakeholders at different levels from, cities to regions, in different sectors, from agriculture to services, should identify the actions they need to take to contribute to the post-2020 goals. This should recognize the multiple values of biodiversity to people as described by the nature futures from IPBES, including nature for nature, nature for society and nature as culture. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) should describe sector specific-biodiversity actions and commitments taking into account both local and remote responsibility.
Step 2: Take actions and enact accountability
Implementation of the planned actions by stakeholders requires a supporting environment. Accountability for the different stakeholders in each country needs to be enacted by rewarding stakeholders that have implemented their commitments and penalizing those that have not. The level of implementation of actions and commitments in NBSAPs needs to be reported in subsequent National Reports.
Step 3: Monitor biodiversity change
National biodiversity monitoring programs should be implemented to assess biodiversity impacts of the actions taken and evaluate whether further actions are needed. Monitoring should be representative across ecosystems and taxa. Data should be publicly available through repositories such as GBIF. Bodies such as GEO BON and IUCN could facilitate implementation. Models and scenarios projecting the potential impact of restoration and rewilding actions should be part of the monitoring systems. There are many opportunities to incorporate biodiversity monitoring in the zero draft, including as an implementation support mechanism and in Target 18.
GEO BON welcomes the inclusion of genetic diversity as a post-2020 goal. However, the current suggested elements for monitoring, focus on crops, breeds and wild relatives. We recommend it also recognizes the societal, economic and ecological importance of the genetic diversity of all species.
There is currently great heterogeneity in the use of indicators by the Parties. Many of the global indicators lack spatially explicit information. GEO BON operates as a global network, aiming to improve the acquisition, coordination and timely delivery of biodiversity data. Essential Biodiversity Variables provide a standard yet flexible framework that allows for scalable indicators from sub-national to global scales.
For more information or to get involved with the work of GEO BON visit the website here.
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