- In Nagoya, Japan, during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2010, governments unanimously endorsed the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 along with its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
- This plan serves as a comprehensive framework for managing biodiversity and shaping policies, extending its influence beyond biodiversity-related conventions to encompass the entire United Nations system and all other collaborators engaged in biodiversity management and policy development.
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BIODIVERSITY 2011-2020
The Biodiversity Strategic Plan is designed to translate the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into actionable measures, focusing on three main objectives:
- Preservation of Biological Diversity: Ensure the conservation of biological diversity, addressing the challenges and threats it faces.
- Long-term Utilization of Biodiversity Components: Promote the sustainable and responsible utilization of various elements within biological diversity.
- Equitable Distribution of Benefits: Strive for the fair and just distribution of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
This Strategic Plan provides a flexible framework for the establishment of national and regional targets, fostering the coherent and effective implementation of the three objectives outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Key Components of the Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2011-2020:
- Vision for 2050: The plan envisions a future where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored, and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet, and delivering essential benefits for all people.
- Mission: The mission is to take effective and urgent action to halt biodiversity loss, ensuring resilient ecosystems by 2020 that continue to provide essential services. This contributes to securing the variety of life on the planet, promoting human well-being, and eradicating poverty.
AICHI BIODIVERSITY TARGETS:
The plan includes twenty ambitious and achievable targets known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, providing a roadmap for comprehensive biodiversity conservation.
- United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020): To garner support and momentum, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2011-2020 as the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.” The overarching aim is to contribute to the effective implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity during this period.
STRATEGIC GOALS:
- Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Address the root causes of biodiversity loss by integrating biodiversity considerations across government and society.
- Sustainable Use: Reduce direct pressures on biodiversity and advocate for sustainable practices to ensure responsible use.
- Biodiversity Improvement: Improve the status of biodiversity by protecting ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
- Benefits Enhancement: Increase benefits to all by optimizing the utilization of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Implementation Enhancement: Strengthen implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management, and capacity building to ensure effective biodiversity conservation efforts.
AICHI Biodiversity Targets
The Strategic Plan encompasses 20 primary targets, known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, categorized under the five strategic goals outlined below:
Addressing Causes of Biodiversity Loss:
- Target 1: Enhance awareness of biodiversity value by 2020.
- Target 2: Integrate biodiversity values into development and planning processes by 2020.
- Target 3: Eliminate harmful incentives and develop positive ones by 2020.
- Target 4: Achieve sustainable production and consumption plans by 2020.
- Reducing Direct Pressures on Biodiversity:
- Target 5: Halve the loss of natural habitats by 2020.
- Target 6: Manage fish and invertebrate stocks sustainably by 2020.
- Target 7: Ensure sustainable management of agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry by 2020.
- Target 8: Reduce pollution levels by 2020.
- Target 9: Identify and control invasive alien species by 2020.
- Target 10: Alleviate anthropogenic pressures on vulnerable ecosystems by 2015.
Improving Biodiversity Status:
- Target 11: Conserve terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2020.
- Target 12: Prevent the extinction of threatened species by 2020.
- Target 13: Maintain genetic diversity of plants, animals, and wild relatives by 2020.
Enhancing Benefits from Biodiversity:
- Target 14: Restore and protect ecosystems providing essential services by 2020.
- Target 15: Improve ecosystem resilience and biodiversity’s contribution to carbon stocks by 2020.
- Target 16: Enforce the Nagoya Protocol by 2015.
- Target 17: Develop and implement national biodiversity strategies by 2015.
- Target 18: Respect and integrate traditional knowledge by 2020.
- Target 19: Improve knowledge and technologies related to biodiversity by 2020.
- Target 20: Increase financial resources for plan implementation by 2020.
Significance of AICHI Biodiversity Targets
The Aichi Biodiversity Targets play a crucial role in addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss. They focus on raising awareness, integrating biodiversity values, eliminating harmful incentives, and promoting sustainable practices.
These targets serve as benchmarks for improvements across various aspects, including drivers of biodiversity loss, state of biodiversity, benefits derived, and policy implementation.
Achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets aligns with global priorities, contributing to the post-2015 development agenda. This includes reducing hunger and poverty, improving human health, and ensuring a sustainable supply of energy, food, and clean water.
However, meeting these goals requires transformative societal changes, efficient resource utilization, reconsideration of consumption habits, and major transformations in food systems.
WHY AICHI TARGETS FAILED?
The failure of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as reported in the CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook 5, can be attributed to various factors:
- Lack of Investments and Resources:
- Inadequate investments, resources, and knowledge hindered progress in biodiversity conservation.
- Misalignment of National Goals:
- National goals of participating countries did not always align with the Aichi targets, contributing to insufficient global progress.
- Voluntary Commitments and Lack of Accountability:
- Lack of mandatory reporting and accountability mechanisms undermined the effectiveness of the Aichi targets.
- Legal Binding and Implementation Challenges:
- Non-binding nature of commitments and challenges in translating targets into national legislation impeded successful implementation.
- Scientific Knowledge Gaps:
- Gaps in scientific knowledge at national and regional levels affected the formulation and execution of effective strategies.
- Weak Review Mechanisms:
- Criticisms of the Aichi target review mechanisms included a lack of transparency and rigorous evaluation, making it challenging to link national commitments to actual implementation.
FAQs – AICHI Biodiversity Targets
1. What are the Aichi Biodiversity Targets?
A: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets are a set of 20 goals established under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, aimed at addressing various aspects of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
2. How were the Aichi Biodiversity Targets developed?
A: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were unanimously endorsed by governments during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.
3. What is the purpose of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets?
A: The targets serve as a roadmap for comprehensive biodiversity conservation efforts, focusing on key goals and actions to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the equitable distribution of benefits.
4. How do the Aichi Biodiversity Targets align with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity?
A: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets are an integral part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, providing specific and measurable goals to guide the implementation of the broader plan.
5. What are the main categories of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets?
A: The targets are categorized under five strategic goals, addressing issues such as awareness, sustainable production, habitat loss, conservation of species, and the enhancement of ecosystem resilience.
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