An overview of global biodiversity challenges

Damon Stanwell-SmithUNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre

Cambridge, UK

start with the definition of biodiversity

Biological diversity is:"the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part . This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems” (CBD)

Communicating the value of biodiversity

2010 Biodiversity Target

“ . . .achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, national and regional levels as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth.”

Adopted at CBD COP6Endorsed by WSSD and UNGAIncorporated as a new target within MDG7

Communicating the value of biodiversity

Communicating the value of biodiversity

• "Ecosystem Services"• Economics (e.g. TEEB)

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment www.teebweb.org

And beyond 2010

Tracking the 2010 Biodiversity Target - timeline

2002

CBD COP 62010 target

adopted

CBD COP 7biodiversity

indicator suite recommended

CBD COP 8 2010 BIP

mandated

20042003 200720062005 20092008

CBD GBO3 indicator

data deadline

July 20072010 BIP

established

WSSDendorsed

MDG 7incorporated

"Working together to track global biodiversity trends"■■■■■■■ ■ www.twentyten.net www.twentyten.net

Walpole et al., Science 325, 1503-4, 18 September 2009

Indices Aggregate

State Pressure Response Benefits A paper currently under review in Science with the details of this work, including aggregate indicators with confidence intervals

Indices Aggregate

State Pressure Response Benefits A paper currently under review in Science with the details of this work, including aggregate indicators with confidence intervals

Global Biodiversity Outlook 3• CBD Flagship report• 10 May 2010

3

Regional capacity building workshops: 45 Countries

South East AsiaCaribbeanMesoamericaEastern AfricaSouthern Africa

“National governments and regional organizations usingand contributing to the improved delivery of global indicators”

Regional capacity building workshops: 45 Countries

“National governments and regional organizations usingand contributing to the improved delivery of global indicators”

South East AsiaCaribbeanMesoamericaEastern AfricaSouthern Africa

Regional capacity building workshops: 45 Countries

“National governments and regional organizations usingand contributing to the improved delivery of global indicators

South East AsiaCaribbeanMesoamericaEastern AfricaSouthern Africa

to inform National biodiversity-related decision making"

• A small set of broad headline indicators

• New framework: Threats / Status / Ecosystem Services / Actions

• Additional measures of threats and ecosystem services

• National indicator development capacity building properly resourced

• Inclusive partnership for indicator development maintained

Post-2010 workshop recommendations:

www.twentyten.net