More commitment needed to save world biodiversity

8 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad, India - The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity opened today in Hyderabad, India, calling on parties to commit resources to meet the 2020 Biodiversity targets.  Parties to the Convention will be discussing the progress and challenges of implementing the Convention.

The Pacific region, rich in biodiversity nestled in Pacific Ocean which covers one-third of the Earth’s surface, has 14 Pacific island parties to the Convention that was signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.  A plan of action is in place and will be discussed daily over the coming two weeks to ensure the Pacific concerns are raised and addressed among the thousands of delegates at the conference.

One of the key agenda items of common concern for the Pacific island region is the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020.  This is a 10-year framework for action, including on the 20 biodiversity targets set at the COP 10 in Nagoya Japan in 2010, have been established as the overall framework for biodiversity work in the United Nations system.  To successfully implement this plan, support is needed for the Pacific region to have the resources and capacity to achieve these targets.

In setting the scene for the coming two weeks of meetings, key speakers at the opening plenary are calling for more commitment of resources to meet the 2020 Biodiversity targets having failed to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

India’s Environment and Forest Minister, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, the President of the CBD COP 11, encouraged parties to view expenditure on biodiversity as an investment that will read benefits “for us and for our future generations”.

“Present global economic crises should not deter us but on the contrary, encourage us to invest more towards amelioration of natural capital for ensuring uninterrupted ecosystem services on which all life on earth depends.”

This was supported the Executive Secretary of the CBD, Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Diaz said expenditure on biodiversity should not be seen as costs, but rather as investments that will pay back with “significant environmental, social and economic benefits for all our societies.”

“Yes, we are facing times of financial crises, but times of crisis are the best opportunities to make substantive changes in the way we do business.”

The CBD COP 11 ends 18 October, for more information on CBD COP 11 and the agenda items and documents, please visit: www.cbd.int