Tools to help the world meet nature targets
Ecosystems and the nature that underpins them are vital for sustaining human life. Recognising this, in 2010, 193 nations agreed on a set of 20 nature-related goals, known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
A recent study revealed that much more needs to be done to reach the set of biodiversity targets agreed by the world’s governments.
The BirdLife Partnership has developed a number of tools to help governments and conservationists in their aims to stem the loss of the planet’s natural wealth.
These have been showcased at an event taking place at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP12 in South Korea – Unveiling the implementation toolbox: Support tools and methodologies to achieve objectives of the CBD – delivered in collaboration with Conservation International, Rare, The Nature Conservancy and WWF.
Nine tools have been highlighted and include
- The inventory of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas - IBAs are areas of particular importance for biodiversity, and can be used by governments around the world to help conservation and development planning – in particular to identify where to establish Protected Areas and other special management arrangements.
- The marine e-Atlas provides information for conservation practitioners and policy makers; for energy sector planners (windfarms, gas and oil exploration and drilling); for fisheries managers; for marine pollution management planners; and for the insurance industry. Sites represent priorities for effective marine conservation, including establishment of protected areas.
- Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessments (TESSA) – The toolkit helps users to carry out a rapid assessment of the status of ecosystem services at multiple key sites, and hence to inform the actions required to safeguard and restore them.
Carolina Hazin, BirdLife’s Global Biodiversity Policy Coordinator, speaking from the event said “Science has a very important role to play in the implementation of the Strategic Plan of Biodiversity. It is fundamental that this information is translated and embedded into the policy processes so that informed and more sustainable decisions and policies are in place.”