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Save Biodiversity 04/06 - Update from Countdown 2010
In this Issue Feature on Biodiversity and Development Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation A decisive moment in the history of the 2010 biodiversity target Countdown 2010 going global? Neither fish nor fowl: Biodiversity's treasures in danger Do it yourself... Get your country to join Countdown 2010 Focus on... Black Country Living Landscape Welcome to new staff! ^Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, dear Readers, Welcome to the fourth issue of the Countdown 2010 newsletter. With the Paris Conference on Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation just around the corner, Countdown 2010 is prepared to look beyond European biodiversity in this issue. While development cooperation of course is an important mechanism, there are also other reasons: With the support of the European Commission, Countdown 2010 is about to start sister initiatives in three other regions worldwide; and Kofi Annan has just proposed to include the 2010 biodiversity target into the Millennium Development Goals. You can find a discussion of the implications of these developments below. In Europe, Countdown 2010 would like to welcome eight new partners. One of them, the Black Country Living Landscapes Programme is working to increase biodiversity in an urban, industrial context. We say: Thumbs up! On the other hand, we’ve also seen a number of alarming stories about the state of biodiversity over the last months. But rest assured: The Countdown 2010 secretariat and all its partners will do their best to halt this loss – by 2010. Enjoy reading! Sebastian Winkler Head of Countdown 2010 September 1, 2006 ^Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation Most poor people depend on the food, fuel and water that are provided by nature. Threats to the biological diversity that delivers these goods and services can thus have direct impacts on their livelihoods. In turn, the conservation of nature can in some cases generate more options to improve their existence. These links between biodiversity and poverty are part of the concept of sustainable development, but how far have we progressed in making them an integral part of development cooperation practice? The Countdown 2010 conference “Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation” taking place from 19 to 21 September 2006 in Paris offers cutting-edge debate on the dual challenge of poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. High-level speakers and participants from European and partner countries, civil society and multilateral organizations will chart ways to make development aid contribute more effectively to the Millennium Development Goals, especially Goal 7 to ensure environmental sustainability. The results of the conference will contribute to European and international efforts to achieve the 2010 Biodiversity Target and the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Website of the Conference ^A decisive moment in the history of the 2010 biodiversity target Today might be a break-through in the history of the 2010 biodiversity target, as Kofi Annan is proposing to the UN General Assembly to incorporate the 2010 biodiversity target into the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). His 2006 Report on the Work of the Organisation states: World leaders further agreed to several other important targets at the 2005 World Summit. I am therefore recommending the incorporation of these commitments into the set of targets used to follow up on the Millennium Declaration. This includes: [...] a new target under Goal 7: to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. The 2010 biodiversity target would then serve as a stepping stone towards ensuring environmental sustainability by 2015, the seventh Millennium Development Goal. Experts expect that this would create new momentum for biodiversity in international policy making. This will certainly also result in increased attention at the national level in relation to implementing the MDG targets on the ground. The UN Secretary General’s Report will be discussed at the UN General Assembly this September. Once the target is adopted technical work to develop and monitor the appropriate indicators will be undertaken by the Inter-agency and expert group on MDG Indicators. Your support will be critical in making this next step happen. UN Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization 2006 (A/61/1) UN Millennium Development Goals The 2010 Biodiversity Target ^Countdown 2010 going global? Europe is not the only region facing challenges in saving biodiversity and meeting the 2010 biodiversity target. Globally, governments and stakeholders are looking for ways and means to move from commitments to action. The IUCN Council and several IUCN regional offices have already expressed interest in transforming Countdown 2010 into a multiregional initiative. The European Commission has recently approved seed funding for three new regional Countdown 2010 initiatives beyond Europe, and we are thus looking for regions eager to take on the challenge of starting one. It is the actions of all organisations involved that will generate the momentum to reach the 2010 biodiversity target. Countdown 2010 is about engagement, about courage, and it values doing over talking. While every region is different – and thus every regional Countdown 2010 will be different – the following aspects will feature throughout: Inclusiveness: Every organisation committed to the 2010 biodiversity target can become part of Countdown 2010. Participation: The characteristics of Countdown 2010 are shaped by its partners and their activities. Goal-orientation: Countdown 2010 focuses on mobilising actors to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target. A call for proposals will be issued by the end of September. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to info@countdown2010.net ^Neither fish nor fowl: Biodiversity's treasures in danger As Sushi becomes more and more famous in restaurants all over the world, demand for tuna meat has increased significantly. However, global demand for this fish species and overfishing of existing stocks through international high-tech fleets threatens not only the survival of the bluefin tuna but also the existence of traditional fishing communities around the Mediterranean Sea. Over summer, WWF commissioned recently an independent study revealing the full extent of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for bluefin tuna. And the TIME Magazine reported on the ongoing “Mediterranean’s Tuna Wars”. Further South, another species, the West African black rhino, is feared to be extinct. An intensive survey carried out by the African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission at the beginning of 2006 has failed to locate any sign of their continued presence in their last refuges in northern Cameroon. In this case, poaching for rhino horn is the main cause of their demise. This dramatic news illustrates once more that it is of utmost importance to continue the implementation of existing legislation for biodiversity conservation and to ensure its strict enforcement on the ground. We need to remember that biodiversity is a treasure mankind inherited. A treasure that should not be wasted, but wisely invested to increased prosperity since it ensures our survival and quality of life. WWF: Close it or lose it: Bluefin tuna fishery ravaged by illegal fishing Time Magazine: The Mediterranean's Tuna Wars IUCN: West African Rhino feared extinct ^Do it yourself: Get your country to join Countdown 2010 Countdown 2010 is a network of partners dedicated to meeting the 2010 biodiversity target: The initiative assembles cities and regions, business and civil society organisations – and governments. As it was governments who promised to save biodiversity by 2010, they carry most of the responsibility to reach the target. Most countries have taken first steps to do so, but all need to do more. Italy, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and the United Kingdom have already set a good example by joining the Countdown 2010 alliance. Now it is time for other countries to follow suit – and you can help us achieve this. One easy action is a letter to your Minister of the Environment: Remind him/her of the 2010 biodiversity target, ask him/her what has already been done to achieve it and suggest that the Ministry sign the Countdown 2010 declaration. Feel free to send us a copy of your correspondence with the Ministry. How to join Countdown 2010 ^Focus on... Black Country Living Landscape Whilst one element of Countdown 2010 is to protect biodiversity where it is most in need, another is to ensure that biodiversity is valued and protected everywhere and by everyone. One of the biggest challenges is to find ways of doing so in our major urban centres. Black Country Living Landscape is a revolutionary proposal which aims to do just this in the Black Country, an industrial region to the west of Birmingham. At the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country we began to think about landscape scale nature conservation and how an urban large area for wildlife could function. In 2004, we started talking to partners about a landscape-scale project for the Black Country, the major urban area north west of Birmingham. So the Black Country may seem a strange choice. But it has the advantage of a remarkable heritage. So with these two advantages, we took the proposal for a project to a wide range of potential partners. The reaction was amazingly positive, not just from environmental groups but also from planners, parks managers and businesses. The strongest message was “make it bigger”. Read the entire article from Neil Wyatt, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country Brochure: Introducing Living Landscape Focus on... presents selected Partners of Countdown 2010 and their activities on the 2010 biodiversity target. To suggest an organisation, please send an email to wiebke.herding@countdown2010.net. ^Welcome to new staff! Countdown 2010 is delighted to welcome Mr. Dirk Hendricks as the new Senior Communications Officer. Dirk studied Economics, Economic History, International Relations and German Linguistics in Münster, Washington, D.C., Florence and Dublin (M.Econ.Sc and M.A.) focussing on development financing and politics. He has previously worked in similar positions in the Secretariat of the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS) in Bonn and in the IFAW EU Office in Brussels. We also cordially welcome Ms. Annika Vogt who joined the Countdown 2010 team as Special Assistant and Finance Manager. Annika holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Cologne and Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris specialising in environmental policy. Remaining in Paris, she worked as an assistant at UNEP DTIE and then left for Berlin to work with Adelphi Research, an institute for sustainable development strategies. Ms. Shulamit Alony holds a masters degree in Communications and has joined Countdown 2010 as the new focal point to enhance the Business and Biodiversity Partnerships of the initiative. Shulamit has lived in Russia, USA, Hungary, Germany, Kazakhstan, Austria and numerous other countries where she worked with businesses and collaborated with government parliamentarians and other agencies. Mr. Brett Barnett has joined the Countdown 2010 Secretariat working on partnership development as part of his internship after studying for a MSc in Public Management at SDA-Bocconi in Milano, Italy. Prior to commencing his studies, Brett received a BS in Anthropology from Tulane University and has worked as an officer in the World Health Organization for many years, most recently working in the area of humanitarian aid in Southern Iraq, Darfur, Sudan and Northern Uganda. Contact the Countdown 2010 Secretariat	Upcoming Events 5-7 September Green Belt Meeting for Fennoscandia and the Baltic States (Lahemaa NP, Estonia) 11-14 September Congreso Ibérico de Entomología (Alicante, Spain) 12 September Opening of the 61st UN General Assembly (New York, USA) 15 September 2010 Biodiversity Task Force (Gland, Switzerland) 19-21 September Conference "Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation" (Paris, France) 25 September–14 October International Seminar “Countdown 2010: people, protected areas and biodiversity conservation” (Majella National Park, Italy) 5 October Meeting of the Countdown 2010 Executive Group (Brussels, Belgium) 12-13 October Communicate 2006 (Bristol, UK) 18-21 October IUCN European Members' Meeting (Barcelona, Spain) New Publications News from Countdown 2010 01/09/06: A decisive moment in the history of the 2010 biodiversity target 04/08/06: Summertime Links 28/06/06: Local Action for Biodiversity 17/06/06: 44 Flemish municipalities adopt animals and plants 05/06/06: Race against time 02/06/06: Green Week kicks off European Union’s Countdown to 2010 02/06/06: Report confirms: Europe losing species and habitats at a dramatic rate 29/05/06: Steering Ahead: Partners of Countdown 2010 meet in Brussels 24/05/06: Climate Change immediate Challenge for Biodiversity More news New Partners Countdown 2010 would like to welcome its new partners: Asociacion Reforesta Association of Local Government Ecologists Ecologic Ente Parco Nazionale dell' Arcipelago di la Maddalena Georgian Society of Nature Friends Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre Regional Landschap Lage Kempen Swiss Biodiversity Forum All 100 partners and supporters You want to join as well? See here or speak to the Secretariat!
For more information please contact info@countdown2010.net or visit www.countdown2010.net
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