Poverty and Conservation – the approach of the Convention on

Biological Diversity

Peter Herkenrath

UNEP World Conservation

Monitoring Centre

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992)

• Objectives:– Conservation of biodiversity

– Sustainable use of biodiversity

– Fair & equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources

• Preamble: ‘recognizing that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries’

Addressing poverty through the CBD programmes of work

(PoW): examples

• PoW on agricultural biodiversity: Strengthen the capacity of farmers, indigenous communities to manage agricultural biodiversity sustainably so as to increase their benefits.

• PoW on dry and sub-humid lands: Undertake studies on the relation between biodiversity & poverty, including: benefits from biodiversity for poverty alleviation, impact of biodiversity conservation on the poorest

Addressing poverty through the CBD programmes of work

(continued)• PoW on forest biodiversity: Integrate appropriate

policies and targets into poverty reduction strategy papers

• PoW on protected areas (PAs): – PAs can contribute to poverty alleviation by providing

employment and livelihoods– A global PA network should contribute to poverty

reduction– Use social and economic benefits from PAs for poverty

reduction

How the CBD addresses the MDGs: COP decision VII/32

(2004)

• The MDGs agenda: a framework for the entire UN system

• Achievement of the MDGs depends on effective biodiversity conservation, sustainable use & benefit-sharing

• The CBD: the key international instrument for the integration of biodiversity into the MDGs agenda

COP decision VII/32: What to do?

Underlying concern: biodiversity can contribute to poverty alleviation, but development activities can harm biodiversity

• Implement development in ways consistent with the CBD objectives

• Integrate biodiversity concerns with development strategies

• Communicate the importance of biodiversity for achieving the MDGs

CBD and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)

• MA meets the needs of, inter alia, the CBD: MA Biodiversity Synthesis

• SBSTTA recommendation to COP 8 (2006): Welcome the MA & its findings, including:– biodiversity loss is a concern for the well-being

of the poorest– development activities could contribute to

biodiversity loss

CBD & 2010 framework• 2010 target to significantly reduce the rate of

biodiversity loss (CBD and WSSD)• 2010 framework of goals, targets & indicators• Goal 8: Maintain ecosystem capacity to deliver

goods & services and support livelihoods• Indicators under development:

– Health & well-being of people living in biodiversity-based-resource dependent communities

– Biodiversity used in food & medicine

Biodiversity used in food and medicine: proposed indicators

(examples)

• Number & share of main crops

• Diversity of species used for food & agriculture

• Bushmeat (species, quantity)

• Trade in biodiversity-based medicines

• Number of access & benefit-sharing agreements

Conclusion• The link between biodiversity conservation /

sustainable use and poverty alleviation is not widely recognised by development agencies & donors

• The CBD is focusing efforts on making this link working

• CBD has incorporated in their work areas the connection between biodiversity conservation / sustainable use and poverty alleviation