ECO

In this issue:
Volume 59, Issue 3

Friday
- IIFB vision on the post 2020 GBF

August 30, 2019 - Human Rights in Biodiversity

- More ambitious action plan

- Commitments to save the planet



The Indigenous  Peoples Vision on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity - IIFB

The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity expresses: the 2050 Vision of Living in Harmony with
Nature must be based on a transformative relationship between humans and nature, whereby biodiversity is
valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, ecosystem services are maintained and a healthy planet
delivering benefits to people.

In the 2050 Vision, the futures of nature and culture are inextricably linked, flowing inevitably from the historical
co-evolution of nature and humans. Nature and culture together form the scope of the post-2020 global
biodiversity framework from the 2050 vision, down to the milestones covered in the 2040 and 2030 mission,
and their associated goals, targets and indicators. Indigenous peoples argue that the post-2020 process
should be developed from a rights-based approach and principles of equity, transparency, respect and
recognition of indigenous territories, rights, systems and knowledge, with objectives, targets, measurable and
achievable indicators, as well as a monitoring and compliance mechanism.

We consider that IPLCs as central actors and permanent partners, need to be fully embedded at all levels of
the post-2020 GBF, including goals, targets and indicators.

Human Rights in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management

Catherine Gutundu, ActionAid International

Across the globe today, we are witnessing unprecedented conflictual and often violent scramble for land based natural resources. The
environment and land rights defenders are increasingly under attacks; few of whom have access to media platforms to relate and
share their stories, with a great number being individual environmental Human Rights Defenders,
defending nature, common property resources , traditional livelihoods and against corporate interests.
The (IPBES’s) Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services presents the grim reality of fast paced extinction
of species across the biodiversity spectrum.
As a global commitment to rescue the situation, The Agenda 2030 and the SDGs are the world plan of action for people, planet and
prosperity, addressing the woes of both humanity and the planet. More than monitoring the indicators, it would be expected that there
is a complete paradigm shift in the development arena, not driven by the bottom line, increased incomes and consumerism. But how
much has this happened since 2016? Evidence shows business as usual. Therefore, we are calling for clear commitments to action
through the Post 2020 CBD framework.
As is the case with Climate crisis, ecological crisis affects first and foremost, those least responsible for causing it; communities
whose livelihoods directly depend on such ecosystems. Understandably, most of the environment Human Rights Defenders that put
their lives on the line in protection of Nature and ecosystems emerge from communities directly affected by their destruction.

The IPBES acknowledges that Nature managed by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities is under increasing pressure, but
is generally declining less rapidly than other lands. These findings echo that of “Missing Pathways to 1.5°C: released in October
2018 on the role of the land sector in ambitious climate action” . One of the most important strategies to address climate change, the
report notes, is to protect standing ecosystems and forests; through the strengthening of indigenous and community land rights.
We need clear mechanisms for supporting environmental rights defenders. Our collective awakening around biodiversity loss and
climate change must build from indigenous peoples and local communities’ systems and not be used as an excuse to further alienate
them. This demands greater involvement and respect for the views of communities dependent on natural resources
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More ambitious action plan is necessary to protect Biological diversity
outside protected areas

Hemantha Withanage, Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is among the first thirty five biodiversity hotspots in the world. During last decade Sri Lankan
scientists have introduced hundreds of new species to the world. According to the Sri Lanka's National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 98% of the Freshwater Crabs, 87%of the Amphibians, 79% of
the Land Snails, 59% of the reptiles, 46% of the Freshwater fish and 38% of the dragon flies in this small
island are endemic to Sri Lanka. However, many such species live outside the protected areas.

The infrastructure projects such as roads, irrigations reservoirs, mini hydro and large hydro dams in the
streams, monocultures such as oil palm, banana, sugarcane, tea cultivations destroy such isolated habitats.
Further rock blasting, removal of gravel, logging and other extractive activities destroy river ecosystems, small
forest patches, wetlands and ancient reservoirs located outside the protected areas. This is the story of many
other countries.

These habitats located outside protected areas face more indirect threats such as natural disasters including
climate disasters, men-provoked fires, landslides, flooding etc. Currently, around 15% of the world’s land and
3% of the oceans are protected, and the Convention on Biological Diversity has pledged that this will rise to at
least 17% of land and 10% of marine areas by 2020. These existing protected areas provide safe habitats for
fewer species considering that world has estimated 8.7 million species which almost 90% of the species yet
unknown.

Centre for Environmental Justice/FOE Sri Lanka believes that this Open-ended inter-sessional working group
sand its preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is the last chance to save millions of
species living outside protected areas. It requires the parties to bring more ambitious and time-bound plan of
action with strong monitoring and compliance mechanism to agree and adopt at COP 15 in 2020.

Will Parties  assume the necessary commitments to save the life of the planet?

Emiliano Spataro, Amigos de la Tierra Argentina

There is no more time to waste, and we need urgent political will at the level of the life crisis on the planet. This must be
transformed into a debate with greater commitment and clarity. The situation is complex, it is true, but let's simplify: If
each country continues to pollute and transforming wild lands into monocultures; if more farmers are displaced; if
indigenous communities lose their lands and are not supported in their activities of community management, if mega
mining and infrastructure developments continue to be promoted regardless of their environmental impacts, if
development projects continue in areas of endemic species and biodiversity hotspots, then NOTHING WILL CHANGE,
and we will continue to lose biodiversity.


We claim that each state commits itself not to cross the red lines that lead to the loss of biodiversity in its sovereign
territory. This needs to be in a context of recognition, by the global north, of its historic and current responsibility, that has
to be translated into effective support for the global south through public and stable resources to prevent biodiversity
loss. What we need to avoid at all costs is transforming the biodiversity crisis into a new business opportunity.

The opinions, commentaries, and articles printed in ECO are the sole opinion of the individual authors or organizations,
unless otherwise expressed. Submissions are welcome from all civil society groups.

Email: [email protected]

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