It has generally been agreed that countries and sub-regions trying to review and bring up-to-date their National Biodiversity Plans need to align them with the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15. It is also felt that necessary technical and scientific support to develop and submit their plans need to be provided to them on time.
This, according to climatologist Stella Paul has been one of the key decisions that has been undertaken during the 4th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI)—the crucial pre-COP meetings of the UN Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD)- to review the status and challenges of implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which took place in Nairobi in May, 2024.
More than 1000 participants from 143 countries assembled for the meeting, which UNCBD referred to as one of the “largest SBI meetings ever,” to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the timely implementation of the GBF.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants suggested some commendations that will be presented for nations to consider at the next Biodiversity COP (COP16), scheduled to be held in October in Cali, Colombia. In this context, one needs to recall that in December 2022, at the COP15, parties agreed to update their national biodiversity plans (NBSAP), by bringing into line the targets with the global biodiversity framework that was adopted at the COP. These updated plans are now to be submitted to UNCBD by or before the next COP, scheduled to be held in October.
However, till now, only 11 countries have submitted their NBSAPs, while the majority of the countries have not, citing various reasons, including a lack of capacity and resources.
It may be noted in this regard that countries are pointing out that required technical and scientific support that can help them develop their NBSAPs have not been available. To provide this support, SBI has now decided that a network of technical and scientific support centers would be set up at regional and sub-regional levels. According to Chirra Achalender Reddy, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, India, and the chair of the SBI-4 meeting, the recommendation to set up these support centers was one of the key decisions made at the meeting. Reddy has thanked - “the parties for their commitment towards implementation of the Convention, as demonstrated by their engagement during the negotiations this week. While we have many issues to resolve at COP 16, the foundation has been laid for our discussions in Cali, Colombia, later this year.”
Elaborating further on the decision, David Cooper, Acting Executive Director of the UNCBD has noted that 18 regional organizations have been selected worldwide as the support centers and - “they will foster and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation as countries harness science, technology and innovation to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.” He has also expressed hope that, in the future, these 18 organizations could create more such support centers, expanding the network from regional and sub-regional to national level. This measure has apparently been taken so that “sub regional support centers can also promote technology transfer among countries, including through joint research programs and joint technology development ventures, acting as-one-stop service centers- offering wide-ranging resources to help meet Biodiversity Plan targets.” The centers are also expected to help expand, scale up, and accelerate efforts such as the existing Bio-Bridge initiative.
Another dimension that is receiving attention is resource mobilization. In the Global Biodiversity Framework, the financial ambitions set out include investing US Dollar 200 billion a year from both public and private sources until 2030. In addition, the goal also includes saving another US Dollar 500 billion by ending subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity yet are still practiced by countries. This will bring the total available finance for biodiversity conservation to USD 700 billion per year until 2030, the deadline to achieve all GBF targets.
At the SBI, there was concentrated discussion on resource mobilization. Several countries complained that, despite being signatories to the GBF, they had not been able to access any resources meant for biodiversity conservation, especially the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), which was launched last year and is managed by the Global Environment Facility. Delegates from Syria, who spearheaded this discussion, revealed that their country had not been able to receive any money and suggested that the final document prepared by the CBD Secretariat reflect this. Syria’s view was augmented by Russia, which said that Syria’s inability to access resources should be interpreted as a denial of resources.
Almost all the governments also discussed their own parameters for national biodiversity finance plans, the role of multilateral development banks, existing UN initiatives, and private finance. This was done with a strong discussion that took place about setting up a new Global Biodiversity Fund, separate from the current Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
It also needs to be noted that within this paradigm of discussion there was also focus on the dimensions related to gender and indigenous peoples. One interesting development that took place on the sidelines of the SBI meeting was the launching of a training module by Women4Biodiversity, a group that advocates for gender mainstreaming across all 23 targets of the GBF and participates in the meetings as an Observer. They prepared a document titled “Training Module on Advancing Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the Implementation of the Kunming Montreal-Global Biodiversity Framework,” through partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Apparently, as clarified by Alejandra Duarte, Policy Associate at Women4 Biodiversity, the main objective of the publication was to serve as a source of information for decision-makers, negotiators, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, civil society, businesses, and the whole of society who are engaged in the planning, monitoring, and implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. This has indeed been a positive step as explained by Mrinalini Rai, Director of Women Biodiversity. Rai also explained that the module was created to be understood by all and customized as per the context, community, or country.
Cristina Eghenter, senior global governance policy expert at WWF, endorsed Rai’s observation with the comment that “I hope that the module will help understand the gaps and what needs to be done for women to be a part of the Biodiversity Plan.”
Rodah Rotino, an indigenous community leader and President of the Pastoral Communities Empowerment Programme (PACEP), a Kenya-based woman-led NGO, also emphasized the contribution of indigenous women to biodiversity conservation across the world, including Africa. Rotino drew attention through the observation that “in my community, we have started a seed bank that preserves indigenous tree seeds. We plant indigenous plants that help preserve and conserve the local biodiversity and help community members benefit from their many uses, as they have done for centuries,” Rotino added that in her own community in West Pokot County, where women have started several initiatives efforts are underway to “promote the use of our traditional food systems, including the use of traditional indigenous crops, fruits, and vegetables, and we are seeing that after using these, our people, especially women and children, have many health improvements and quick recovery from some ailments”.
However, just before the COP begins, yet another SBI meeting (SBI-5) will be held in Cali. The sole focus of that meeting will be to review the latest status of the national biodiversity plans and the plans that will be submitted between now and the COP.
One can only observe that we are seeing an example of discussion not only helping in the creation of knowledge but also solutions to problems.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance, can be reached at <muhammadzamir0@gmail.com>
