The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species in July said a quarter of mammals, over a tenth of birds, and 41% of amphibians are at risk of extinction.
The recent World Wildlife Fund, WWF’s 2014 Living Planet Report also highlighted a 52% decline in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish from 1970 to 2010. Humans are consuming resources at a rate that would require
1.5 Earths to sustain.
Under the theme, ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development,’ thousands of representatives of governments, NGOs, indigenous peoples, scientists and the private sector have gathered at Pyeongchang in the Republic of Korea for the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties(COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
CBD in its Global Biodiversity Outlook released a report on Monday, which stated that most of the Aichi biodiversity targets will not be met by their 2020 deadline if global biodiversity remains on its current rate.
The Aichi Biodiversity Targets drawn up in 2010 include reduction of habitat loss by half, decline in pollution, prevent the extinction of species on the threatened list and restoration of at least 15% degraded ecosystems.
Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, UN Assistant-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said that parties are making progress and concrete commitments to implement the targets. However, more effort is required to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
The Global Biodiversity Outlook report has mentioned encouraging steps that are needed to be taken around the world to tackle biodiversity loss at many levels. The agenda to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets include reducing hunger and poverty, improving human health, and ensuring a sustainable supply of energy, food and clean water.
The COP 12 will now identify ways to mobilize financial and human resources necessary to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and will look at ways to incorporate biodiversity into the sustainable development goals.
The COP will consider adopting final targets for resource mobilization following-up on the preliminary targets agreed at COP 11, including the possible addition of a target related to domestic resource mobilization.q
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