COP12

Participation in COP12 in South Korea 2014

Swedbio and centre researchers take part in COP12 in Pyeongchang, South Korea 6-17 October 2014

The 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP12) is taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea, 6-17 October 2014.

SwedBio and centre researchers are organizing and contributing to a number of side events and other activities during two intensive weeks. As part of the Swedish delegation SwedBio staff and centre researchers will also support the Swedish Environment Ministry in the negotiations.

Activities that SwedBio and centre staff contribute to:

Side event: The Quito II Dialogue outcomes and launch of new policy report on Biodiversity Financing and Safeguards

Organised by SwedBio and the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The Second Dialogue Seminar on Scaling up Financing for Biodiversity – the Quito II Dialogue – organised by SwedBio and partners, took place from 9-12 April 2014 in Quito, Ecuador. Outcomes of the dialogue, including the Co-chairs' report Pdf, 6.6 MB., will be presented at the side-event and the new policy report "Biodiversity financing and safeguards: Lessons learned and proposed guidelines Pdf, 1.4 MB." will be launched. The report examines the notion of safeguards in biodiversity financing mechanisms (BFMs) and proposes overarching guidelines for safeguards in the process of scaling-up biodiversity financing for contributing to the achievement of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s objectives. Read more about the report here.

Side event: Findings and recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Global Assessment of Resources for Implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020

Organised by the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity. SwedBio is part of the panel.

Following the request from COP11 of CBD the High-Level Panel on Global Assessment of Resources for Implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 will present the outcomes of its bottom-up research on the range of the costs of implementing the activities needed to achieve the Aichi Targets, and the opportunities to most cost-effectively secure such benefits through actions both within and outside the biodiversity sector. Supported with research by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and ICF International, and with strategic guidance provided by observer agencies including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the regionally-balanced 15-member Panel will also present a series of policy recommendations Pdf, 1.6 MB. that are expected to inform both the deliberations at COP12 and support implementation at the national level. Staff from SwedBio are part of the High-Level Panel.

Side event: Resilience assessments and indicators

Organised by SwedBio and UNDP

This event explores resilience principles that can be applied in undertaking assessments of social-ecological resilience at various scales, including the role of biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Methods for conducting resilience assessments, and possible development and monitoring of related indicators, will be presented. A dialogue space will be provided regarding these examples and participants experiences.

Side event: Contribution of collective action to biodiversity conservation

Organised by the Plurinational State of Bolivia

The Plurinational State of Bolivia will launch the study "Contribution of Collective Action to Biodiversity Conservation Pdf, 845.3 kB.". SwedBio has been contributing to the study.

Side event: SDGs – Biodiversity and social-ecological resilience

Organised by SwedBio and UNDP

Evidence and recommendations regarding the role of biodiversity in the post 2015 process related to Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of them will be discussed in this side event. A sharper focus on integrating biodiversity is essential in the post-2015 goal-setting and implementation process. This is critical to help buffer against ecological impacts and pressures in the face of growing human needs.

Side event: Developing biocultural innovations for resilience: Linking biological and cultural diversity in agricultural systems

Organised by SwedBio, IIED, Quechua-Aymara Association for Sustainable Livelihoods, Andes

This side event will discuss the role of biocultural diversity in developing innovations for resilience to climate change, including the conditions that support biocultural innovation systems and how to link traditional knowledge and science to create tools to strengthen them. Presentations will include three case studies from Peru, China and Kenya, highlighting findings on the linkages between cultural and spiritual values and biodiversity-based innovations.

Side event: Knowledge, values and community based monitoring – indigenous peoples and local communities contributions to Aichi targets and to IPBES

Organised by SwedBio, Forest Peoples Programme, Tebtebba Foundation, Institute for Biodiversity Network

Knowledge, practices and values of indigenous peoples and local communities are essential to governing and conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services all over the world. In different global regions, indigenous peoples have developed their own ways of monitoring ecosystems and community health. These are based on indigenous and local knowledge and a holistic view of people and their environment, but new technologies are also used and adapted. This side event presents recent experiences and development of methods for bottom up approaches to monitoring where a diversity of knowledge systems are contributing to the analysis of achievements towards Aichi targets, providing an enriched picture as a base for policy decisions and further actions.

Weekend activity: The contributions of biological and cultural diversity, community conservation, customary sustainable use and the power of local action to the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Targets

Organised by the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity together with partners, among them SwedBio

Issues of cultural and biological diversity, community conservation and the power of local action are at the heart of the three goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. They have inspired the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity, together with a number of partners, including Korean Civil Society and local communities to develop a weekend of activities to celebrate, draw attention to and consider the possible contributions of biological and cultural diversity, community conservation, customary sustainable use and the power of local action to the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Aichi targets. Read more about the programme here.

Cities Biodiversity Summit 2014

Organised by the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and Gangwon Province, the Republic of Korea. Centre researchers are on the panels of speakers.

The Cities Biodiversity Summit 2014 will convene hundreds of representatives of local, subnational and national governments and their partners to strengthen multi-level cooperation in support of the Strategic Plan of the CBD (2011-2020) and its Aichi Targets. It will build on the ground-breaking outcomes of previous Biodiversity Summits for cities and subnational governments and CBD COPs, with a view to strengthen the links in the management of biodiversity and ecosystem services between levels of government and across governmental sectors. Centre researchers will be on the panels of speakers.

Launch of a new programme: Urban Natural Assets for Africa (UNA Africa)

SwedBio and Stockholm Resilience Centre together with project partners ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre, the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the African Center for Cities – are designing a cutting edge program to support the local implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to conserve and protect nature in cities in sub-Saharan Africa as a project under the Urban Biosphere Initiative (URBIS). The aim of this capacity building programme will be to contribute to meeting the objectives of sustainable use of regional biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to improved human well-being, poverty alleviation and strengthened resilience amongst the urban poor.

Published: 2014-10-06

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