By: L.N. Reklai
Palau pushed for higher ambition in the Global Biodiversity Framework agreement, helping to keep the 30% target for conserving biodiversity on land, inland water, and coastal and marine areas – Minister Steven Victor of the recently concluded Convention of Parties on Biodiversity (COP 15) in Montreal, Canada.
In his statement to the GBF presidency, Minister Victor expressed disappointment over the “lack of ambition” in the Target 3 language of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which was vague and did not clearly specify the protection of 30% of coastal and marine areas in Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement.
“As Blue Pacific custodians, Palau fully supports efforts to ensure healthy ocean biodiversity. And we entered these negotiations with the hope that our global ambition would help secure healthy, productive, and resilient oceans for biodiversity, ourselves, and future generations. … We support the technical correction to have “of’ reinserted before “coastal” to make clear that our commitment is to protect 30 percent terrestrial/inland areas and 30 percent coastal/marine areas. We also would like to note our disappointment in the lack of ambition in Target 3 of the GBF with the loss of quality language. Palau will continue to work effectively to fully protect 30% of its land and ocean.” – Minister Steven Victor, COP15 statement.
TARGET 3 – OF THE 23 TARGETS UNDER KUNMING-MONTREAL GBF
Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland water,and coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable,and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities including over their traditional territories.
“Our world needs this Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF); we owe this to nature and the future generations,” added Minister Victor, agreeing to compromise and adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“Global Biodiversity Framework aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. The plan includes concrete measures to halt and reverse nature loss, including putting 30 per cent of the planet and 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030 – UN Environment Program.