The world is committed to reversing the loss of biodiversity

Kunming, China – Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) Convention on Biological Diversity, concluded on Friday 15th with a commitment to maintain policies and measures that allow to reverse biodiversity loss and develop a recovery period between 2030 and 2050.

“Actions must now be taken to better protect nature, and that is something we have agreed upon here. COP 15 Executive Secretary, Tanzanian Elizabeth Maruma Maryama, said when delivering the Kunming Declaration to the media, “Consensus has been reached, but we must continue to moving forward”.

This southwestern Chinese city focused on the virtual stage of the United Nations conference, which will be held in person between April 25 and May 8, 2022.

Declaration, which includes the consensus of 196 countries or institutions that are part of United Nations ConventionFirst and foremost, it expects to “accelerate and consolidate the preparation and updating of national strategies and action plans in the field of biodiversity”.

Its first objective is to “improve the efficiency and increase the coverage, worldwide, of conservation and management based on area, and to improve and create effective systems of protected areas, as well as spatial planning tools, to protect species and diversity genetics”.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), when evaluating 138,374 species of animals and plants, found that 28 percent, at least 38,500, are now at risk of extinction.

With the motto of achieving “living in harmony with nature” by 2050, the Kunming text proposes to promote “sustainable use of biodiversity” to meet people’s needs.

At this point, he warns that the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities must be “recognised, and their full and effective participation guaranteed,” and “respect, protection and promotion of human rights obligations when taking measures to protect biodiversity.”

In light of the impact of the epidemic caused by the Covid-19 virus, the statement called for strengthening measures to reduce risks “including those associated with the use and release of living modified organisms that are likely to have adverse environmental effects.”

The text calls for “ensuring that post-pandemic recovery policies, programs and plans contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to promote sustainable and inclusive development.”

It is necessary to “intensify actions to reduce the negative impacts of human activities in the ocean, in order to protect marine and coastal biodiversity and increase the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems to climate change”.

In the financial and technological areas, it calls for increased support for developing countries to increase their capacity to implement the new framework for action in favor of biodiversity conservation.

Instead, it aims to phase out or reform subsidies and other state incentives harmful to biodiversity.

More communication and education about biodiversity, and increased participation in its conservation, are recommended for indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, civil society, local governments and authorities, academia and business.

China’s Minister of Environment and Environment, Huang Runqiu, has raised the “need to turn ideas into action,” and his government has announced the creation of a $232 million fund to support biodiversity conservation programs in developing countries.

Lin Li, director of global policy at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), said the Kunming Declaration “is a show of political will and adds much-needed momentum by clearly indicating the way in the direction of addressing biodiversity loss”.

“Its effects will depend on how it is put into practice. It is still important for governments to turn these words into reality,” Lin added.

AE / HM