*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*
*for sustainable agriculture and land management*
Dear Subscribers,
Please see the self-expalnatory message from David Duthi regarding the
Internation Day for Biological Diversity.
Apologies for any cross-posting.
*Amir Kassam *
*Moderator*
*Global CA-CoP*
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Duthie <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 22 May 2020 at 16:46
Subject: IInternationalDay for Biological Diversity and how COVID-19
Recovery Can Benefit Biodiversity
To: bioplan <[log in to unmask]>
Dear BIOPLANNERS,
Today, Friday 22nd May 2020, is International Day for Biological Diversity
(IDB) and, like much of the rest of our lives, it has been affected in many
ways by the current COVID-19 pandemic and has become yet another mostly
online event. Below I am pasting a summary article provided by the
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and also a short
letter from this week’s Science journal outlining how a positive outcome
for biodiversity might be developed as part of the pandemic recovery.
More broadly, a group of seasoned zoonose researchers have published a
broader 5 page opinion piece in Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences of the USA (PNAS) which lays out the many ways in which reducing
the risk of emerging infectious diseases can also benefit biodiversity.
Here is the link…….
Di Marco, Moreno, Michelle L Baker, Peter Daszak, Paul De Barro, Evan A
Eskew, Cécile M Godde, and others, ‘*Opinion: Sustainable Development Must
Account for Pandemic Risk*’, Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 12 (2020), 202001655 http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2001655117
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1073%2Fpnas.2001655117&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061978581&sdata=g4Nu6oQIuAo0pUIaLDXZQVK1iinpaLNf2Y6rGx3YcWE%3D&reserved=0>
(free access)
Finally, and I do not do cute very often but, hey, these are
“unprecedented” times, here is a link
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fanimals%2F2020%2F05%2Fnew-pygmy-seahorse-species-discovered-africa%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061988544&sdata=c095jyE1zapjG8eLPgfNaYHUDKWZ6dmdOoT6VaXP%2BFw%3D&reserved=0>
to a National Geographic story on the recent discovery of an 8th species of
pygmy seahorse from the Indian Ocean which is about the size of grain of
rice. There is a very soothing 2 minute video of the species embedded in
the article – sorely needed in these troubled times.
Best wishes to all BIOPLANNERS and family on this IDB – and stay safe.
David Duthie
****************
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****************
*International Day on Biological Diversity Looks to Solutions Found in
Nature *
Lynn Wagner, Ph.D
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/international-day-on-biological-diversity-looks-to-solutions-found-in-nature/
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsdg.iisd.org%2Fnews%2Finternational-day-on-biological-diversity-looks-to-solutions-found-in-nature%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061988544&sdata=oObSqV8rwfiGUgiloW%2FMT2yaIqLKJdbJmZK4%2FgPYs1o%3D&reserved=0>
In its first ever online-only campaign, this International Day has focused
on the theme, 'Our Solutions Are in Nature'.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has postponed some of the preparations related
to the 2020 super year of biodiversity, the celebration of International
Day for Biological Diversity aims to prompt reflection on the importance of
working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with
nature.
UN leaders marking the International Day for Biological Diversity
challenged the international community to promote ecosystem-based solutions
that address biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation
simultaneously, and to mainstream biodiversity in economic sectors.
In its first-ever online-only campaign, this International Day has focused
on the theme, ‘Our Solutions Are in Nature.’
The lead up to the Day, which is celebrated annually on 22 May, focused on
science and traditional knowledge as a way to understand the drivers
of biodiversity loss and pathways for a sustainable future, and linkages
among biodiversity, climate, and land.
In 2020, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets were set to be achieved, and
negotiations on a 2050 vision for biodiversity are underway.
The year 2020 is significant for international biodiversity policy for a
number of reasons. The objectives in the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan on
Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets were set to be achieved
by the close of the year. In addition, the 2011-2020 UN Decade on
Biodiversity is coming to a close. Reflections on these experiences are
feeding into planning for the “post-2020” global biodiversity framework,
which will provide a 2050 vision for biodiversity. The negotiation of a new
framework is underway. Leaders from around the world are expected to focus
on this framework at the UN Biodiversity Summit, in September. The new
framework is scheduled to be adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference
of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15).
While the COVID-19 pandemic has postponed some of these preparations and
pushed them into 2021, the celebration of International Day for Biological
Diversity aims to prompt reflection on the importance of working together
at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature.
In a video message marking the Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres
highlighted that “COVID-19 – which emanated from the wild – has shown how
human health is intimately connected with our relationship to the natural
world.” He emphasized the need to work together to preserve biodiversity in
order to achieve the SDGs as we “seek to build back better from the current
crisis.”
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), in a video message
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_cMuPpGUaG4%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061998495&sdata=B6Z86OtMCznpH5s%2Fq5y7kZW%2B5d19ZcHoEbX16w%2FNvIU%3D&reserved=0>,
stressed that biodiversity remains the answer to sustainable development
challenges and basis for a sustainable future. She highlighted the need to
build a resilient and sustainable global economy that incorporates nature
and equitable sharing of its benefits. [CBD webpage for IDB 2020
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbd.int%2Fidb%2F2020&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061998495&sdata=kFTf%2FusYHHolpoRUdKeEH4vLovI8d3vAwenp%2BDMeivQ%3D&reserved=0>]
[Message of UN Secretary-General
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fsg%2Fen%2Fcontent%2Fsg%2Fstatement%2F2020-05-22%2Fsecretary-generals-video-message-the-international-day-for-biological-diversity-scroll-down-for-french-version&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588061998495&sdata=0eLdJ8o11YsVffZoVqihBpek6ucAkBFBAvhZeWT8ZvA%3D&reserved=0>]
[More messages marking IDB 2020
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbd.int%2Fidb%2F2020%2Fmessages&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588062008453&sdata=y2lIFj2AuYOd80f4%2B7U1Jvo8gP8g7%2Fdg%2Be6PDmTNBeU%3D&reserved=0>
]
**************
Sills, Jennifer, Ryan M Pearson, Michael Sievers, Eva C McClure, Mischa P
Turschwell, and Rod M Connolly, ‘*COVID-19 Recovery Can Benefit
Biodiversity*’, ed. by Jennifer Sills, Science, 368 (2020), 838–39
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abc1430
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1126%2Fscience.abc1430&data=02%7C01%7Cbioplan%40groups.undp.org%7C36cbea06d16840ace7fe08d7fe6665b3%7Cb3e5db5e2944483799f57488ace54319%7C0%7C0%7C637257588062008453&sdata=%2Bd%2FZg9ndvJ%2Flf44QVwD0Om9v%2Fl0VQ8iVwSPEMVcLrNk%3D&reserved=0>
(free access)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global crisis. Severe
interruptions to international trade and travel are crippling economies and
forcing re-evaluation of economic, health, and environmental trajectories.
Given that COVID-19 has triggered widespread changes in human behavior and
reductions in pollution (*1*, *2*), it presents opportunities for further
positive change. Lockdowns have spurred households to rethink consumer
needs, making now an opportune time to promote sustainable consumer choices
that will become more engrained with prolonged exposure (*1*). How we
emerge from the state of lockdowns will drive a new world economy with
lasting effects on global biodiversity and supply chains (*3*, *4*).
The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to trigger enormous effects on
biodiversity and conservation outcomes. This virus emerged due to wildlife
exploitation (*5*), and the risk of new diseases increases with
environmental degradation (*6*). Past events such as pandemics, wars, and
financial crises have also triggered quantifiable environmental changes (*7*,
*8*). We can learn from such events to guide effective conservation
strategy. National governments and intergovernmental organizations should
adopt clear strategies to safeguard both biodiversity and human health
throughout the COVID-19 recovery.
Active promotion and implementation of certain strategies could tip the
balance in favor of positive biodiversity outcomes. We can reboot economies
while protecting humans and nature by redesigning trade networks and supply
chains to localize and better support sustainable consumer options. We can
also strengthen environmental protections, improve environmental monitoring
through better use of automation, and ensure that conservation funding
schemes remain active.
Environmental policy has already moved in both directions. Although in some
places, environmental protections have weakened (*9*), in others,
governments have banned animal trade (*3*, *10*) and aim to localize supply
chains to increase resource security (*11*). Blanket wildlife trade bans
are not the answer (*3*), but appropriately nuanced strategies that
incorporate such measures should be encouraged. As we progress into a
post–COVID-19 world, recovery strategies can be optimized to benefit
biodiversity conservation and protect human health.
Ryan M. Pearson*, Michael Sievers, Eva C. McClure, Mischa P. Turschwell,
Rod M. Connolly
Australian Rivers Institute–Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment and
Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
*Corresponding author.
Email: [log in to unmask]
*REFERENCES AND NOTES *
1. M. J. Cohen, *Sustain. Sci. Pract. Pol. *16, 1 (2020).
2. D.T.Molintas,“Analysis of Coronavirus and carbon emissions,” MPRA
Paper 98858 (University Library of Munich, Germany, 2020).
3. H. Wang *et al.*, *Science *367, 1435 (2020).
4. H. Zhao, *Science *367, 1436 (2020).
5. P. Zhou *et al.*, *Nature *579, 270 (2020).
6. F. Keesing *et al.*, *Nature *468, 647 (2010).
7. J. Pongratz *et al*., *Holocene *21, 843 (2011).
8. J. Sayer *et al.*, *Intl. For. Rev. *14, 90 (2012).
9. Amnesty International, “USA: Immediately revoke COVID-19 suspension
of environmental protections,” *Amnesty International *(2020).
10. N. Yang, P. Liu, W. Li, L. Zhang, *Science *367, 1434 (2020).
11. M. Foley, J. Duke, “Coronavirus triggers Australian self-sufficiency
push,” *The Sydney Morning Herald *(2020).
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