Small Island Developing States presents at CBD COP 11

8 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad, India - Kiribati presented a statement on behalf of the Small Island Developing States at the opening plenary of the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, calling for further resources and assistance to carry out the work under this biodiversity agreement.

The full statement (below) was presented by Ms. Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu, the Acting Director of Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture:

Kiribati, far right, presenting statement

"KIRIBATI is speaking on behalf of Small Islands Developing States

Madam President!

SIDS would like to thank and acknowledge the Government of India, Hyderabad Province, and the people of India for their warm welcome, generosity and excellent support to the delegates attending this eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP11). 

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the outgoing COP-10 President for his excellent leadership over the last two years. We commend on the excellent support provided by the Executive Secretary and staff of the Secretariat in ensuring that delegates get the meeting documents in a timely manner. We wish to extend our thanks to donor countries for their commitments in supporting the participation of Small Island Developing States at this important Conference.

Madam President,

SIDS continue to be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation which is demonstrated through leadership and commitment to protect, manage and sustainably use our fragile island ecosystems. We have made significant progress towards the Aichi Targets through a number of important interventions at all levels such as the Micronesian Challenge, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, the Caribbean Challenge, the Western Indian Ocean Coastal Challenge and other major marine protected area initiatives in the SIDS.  

While notable progress has been achieved in the management of our biodiversity, much remains to be done; the management and eradication of invasive alien species, climate-change adaptation and mitigation activities, establishment and management of marine protected areas, capacity‑building, access to, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, and poverty alleviation, The impact of these threats has been especially grave on island biodiversity, which stands as a record of millions of years of evolution and has an inherent value to humankind.

The Aichi Targets cannot be reached without addressing the continued and ongoing loss of island biodiversity and the relationship to sustainable livelihoods. Political leadership and management action is needed to halt and reverse these trends.

Madam President,

The issue of limited human and financial capacities is particularly important for SIDS due to our small administrations, and continues to impede our efforts in effectively implementing the Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and achieving the Aichi Targets.

Capacity building and financial resources are crucial for the SIDS and are critical for developing our capability to effectively achieve the three objectives of the convention through implementation at the national level.

The SIDS call for new and additional, financial mechanisms and timely resource mobilization to effectively implement the Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and achieve the Aichi Targets. We would like to urge donors and development partners to provide adequate sustainable financial resources for the successful attainment of the CBD objectives.

Madam President,

The SIDS call on Parties to cooperate in the spirit of compromise to achieve a successful outcome for COP11 in Hyderabad.

We thank you for your kind attention."