COP-16, the sixteenth session of the Convention of Biological Diversity, held in Cali, Colombia was a significant step forward. It gathered representatives from 190 countries and the adopted several significant Charter and Programs to protect the planet’s biological diversity. Here are the key takeaways from COP-16:
1. The 30-by-30 Agreement
Probably the most important decision made during the COP-16 was the restatement of 30by 30, a pledge to save 30 per cent of World’s land and water by 2030. The world has only 17% of its lands and 10 percent of its oceans under protection with such encouraging protection status we are able to protect some of the vital ecosystems for the existence of biodiversity. This agreement also reveals the increasing need to conserve and protect many areas to prevent further reduction in the rate of loss of species.
2. Financial Resources for BIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION
One of the major issues under discussion during COP-16 was financing to support such goals in terms of the conservation of biological diversity. Reaching the targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) would require about 200 billion US dollars annually, according to the most optimistic estimates. However, only a fraction way below this amount has been pledged to date. In order to tackle lacking this shortfall negotiators proposed the setting up of a subsidiary body to involve the indigenous people groups and communities in matters concerning conservation and biodiversity. As this decision understands the indigenous peoples are essential contributors to conservation and management of the biological diversity, it seeks to listen and incorporate the indigenous people’s perspective.
3. Acknowledgment of Indigenous people
At COP-16 Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent were acknowledged as important actors in nature conservation. This historic judgment has created a new subsidiary body through which the Indigenous Peoples can take part in decision making and provide their traditional knowledge systems and innovations to maintain the BIODIVERSITY. This is a good development towards ensuring that the communities that have been previously locked out of conservation corridors get the recognition that they deserve for their recognition of the importance of conservation of natural resources.
4. Digital Sequence Information (DSI) Agreement
The summit also discussed the use of the DSI, which borders on the establishment of access to the sharing of benefits from the utilisation of genetic assets. Though no consensus was arrived at for devise of a multi-lateral system of sharing of benefits accruing out of use of GMs, a ground was prepared to work out benefit-sharing of the diversity in the genetic stocks. There is, therefore, likely to be need for further dialogue to develop a structure to govern the distribution of benefits from the genetic resources equitably and transparent.
5. Mechanisms for Implementation
COP-16 centred on endorsing means and ways on how to achieve those targets contained in the KMGBF. This is in areas such as the prevention of new invasions of invasive alien species, pollution threats and the strategic application of Biodiversity across policy and development frameworks. The implementation mechanisms aim to translate the ambitious targets into concrete actions on the ground, ensuring that the commitments made at COP-16 lead to tangible outcomes.
6. Challenges and Future Steps
Some of the issues that are still apparent are briefly described below. They proposed the establishment of new fund for sustainable biodiversity conservation, which remains sensitive matter and further discussions will be held in the future meetings. Moreover, only 22% of countries have presented new post-2020 global biodiversity framework that suggests the idea that all nations require elevating their stance for the protection of biodiversity. For the stability of the targets the importance of worldwide participation and adaptation of national programmes and plans for the sustainable use of the bio-diversities will certainly play a sense.
7. Global Collaboration
COP-16 paid special attention to the problem of loss of bio-diversity and the need for international cooperation. The fact that the representatives of states reported on their experiences, successes, and failures and discussed the current initiatives and approaches to help the attendees better understand that they are not alone in their effort and are simply a part of the global society. One of the key strategies for attaining the goal of the proposal is the international cooperation that will have to be set up due to the fact that the biodiversity loss is not country-specific problem. The decisions made at COP-16 open the way to further cooperation and assistance of countries to conserve the planet’s natural resources.
8. The policy of Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Economic Sectors
The other main finding at COP-16 was the realization of the consideration of the policy of the diversity of the economy and the plans for development. This conference made a point that the conservation of bio diversity should be understood more than just a specific environmental issue, rather a broad component of sustainable development. This indicates that by assimilating the factors of biodiversity within the economic applications, the countries will be in a position to balance development action and its implications to the environment.
9. Addressing pollution and waste
COP-16 also discussed the case of pollution and its influence on the biologic diversity. Concerning the degree of pollution risks and probable adverse effects on environment delegates have stated almost consensus to reduce the waste and to keep an efficient control over the effective management of wastes. Pollution mainly plastics degrade the quality of water bodies and soil, and in the process affect the fauna and flora it comes across. In this manner, countries may provide and enhance samples of biodiversity and healthy conditions for existence of wild creature and human individuals coping with wastes.
10. Enhancing Supvisory Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring and reporting were also identified as key activities for the overall implementation of conservation of case-biodiversity. What COP-16 underlined is that it is necessary to establish effective indicators for the monitoring of aims and goals leading to the conservation of biological diversity. A report comprises of authentic and true information that countries shall be able to make comparisons and evaluations to determine the right measures to take in relation to the achievements of the biodiversity goals hence accountability.
The 30-by-30 Agreement
The 30-by-30 agreement - the main outcome of the COP-16 – can be seen as an evidence of the global commitment to stop and eventually reverse the tendency of the loss of biological diversity. This prominent goal aims at protecting at least 30% of the globe’s land and water by this year, 2030. While the climate change intensifies and global ecosystems decline, the 30-by-30 Agreement guarantees ambitious, accessible, and efficient protection of the biologically diverse landscape and seascape to maintain the resources in the global commons for the future generations.
The Need for Agreement
Currently the Earth is going through what many consider the worst bio-diversity crisis in its history. Every time there is a new species that is going extinct, the, extinction rate is higher than before because of actions like deforestation, pollution of water sources, over fishing, climate change among others. The 30 by 30 Agreement seeks to respond to this impending calamity by seeking to greatly increase the number of protected regions worldwide. The present level of protection of land 17% and marine areas 10% is inadequate to reverse the rate of losses in species diversity.
The science is clear: to preserve the biological natural and probationary phenomenon it becomes pertinent to conserve more than thirty percent of the surface of earth. The 30-by-30 Agreement aims to establish this target to form connectivity conservation areas that can sustain to support resources and climate.
The following are some of main targets set under the 30-by-30 agreement:
- Expand Protected Areas: Specific targets include goals for the coverage of protected areas raised to least 30% of the global terrestrial and marine ecosystems by the end of 2030. Mergers are especially necessary for the preservation of those ecosystems, for the protection of species, and for maintenance of natural heterogeneity.
- Enhance Biodiversity: Thus, preserving the considerable amount of forests, wet lands, coral reefs, grassy lands as well as any hitherto unexplored ecosystems is critically pivotal. 30x30 Agreement stresses that efforts to protect species include habitat heterogeneity by preserving areas of diverse structure.
- Support Indigenous and Local Communities: Knowing the significance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities for the Bio-Diversity conservation, the agreement promotes their participation in conservation. This means its commitment that indigenous people knowledge, cultural practices, and rights are acknowledged and incorporated in protection measures.
- Mitigate Climate Change: Climate change and bio-diversity are two issues that always go hand in hand. In this state of health, ecosystems are capable of holding and stocking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through the preservation of natural spaces the 30-by-30 Agreement also helps in combating climate change.
- Promote Sustainable Development: The agreement is consistent with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) with special emphasis with the 15th goal, which relates to Life on Land. Through consideration of the components of biological diversity in development activities, the agreement promotes sustainable development.
Implementation and Challenges
Stakeholders agree that the attainment of the targets of the 30-by-30 Agreement has its strengths and weaknesses. The main concern is often the inadequate funding of conservation measures. According to the given sources, it is believed that, approximately $ 200 billion a year is required for the realization of 30 by 30 goals, but to-date funding commitments are still lower this amount. The implementation of such projects will require mobilisation of new and more funds and international cooperation and innovative financing mechanisms will consequently be important in filling this funding gap.
The other problem is to guarantee the adequate management and protection of the territories belonging to protected areas. It has been observed that merely demarcation and declaration of areas as protected concern is not sufficient; proper management plans coupled with effective measures in terms of enforcement and participation of the community stake holders are the key to the sustainable conservation programmes.
Conclusion
Many believe that COP-16 made an important shift in addressing the issue of the global loss of species’ barring of. The commitments made at the summit, especially the promise of the 30-by-30 deal and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples, went ahead in setting a bar for future. Nonetheless, there are still concerns about financing and the implementation of the framework, and achieving the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Frameworks would need more and more international collaboration each year.
This conference addressed the need to act more actively and radically to defend biodiversity. Ironically, COP-16 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have set the basis for building a sustainable world that now stands threatened by climate change and loss of bio-diversity. This journey shall be long, and call for consistency and perseverance, use of new ideas and approaches, and concerted effort by countries of the world. The commitments turned into actions will be helpful to foster the conservation of diverse species on our planet for the future generations.