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Save Biodiversity 01/08 - Update from Countdown 2010

In this Issue

^ Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, dear Readers,

Tio... via FlickrWith this newsletter, we would like to thank you all for your support to Countdown 2010 and the 2010 biodiversity target. Nearly 500 partner organizations from all continents and all walks of life have been working hard over the last year to raise awareness for biodiversity, to assess progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target and to take action on the ground. For some examples, look at 2010 Factsheets from the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Finnish Biodiversity Action Plan or the new blog of Stavros Dimas.

This newsletter gives you an overview about the achievements of Countdown 2010 and its partners in 2007, and presents some of the highlights of 2008. We would like to use this occasion to thank our donors, in particular the governments of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and the European Commission for their support and cooperation.

With less than two years to go, 2008 will be a critical year for Countdown 2010 and for biodiversity more generally. While 2007 has allowed the movement to initiate a lot of new activities, 2008 will be the last milestone for taking stock and harnessing the existing foundations marked by two major gatherings for the 2010 biodiversity community: The Conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Conservation Congress.

We in the Countdown 2010 team wish you, your family and your staff a festive season, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Enjoy reading!

 

The Countdown 2010 Secretariat
Sebastian, Andras, Wiebke, Shuli and Caterina
December 21, 2007

^ Feature: One look back, two looks ahead

2007: A year in the life of Countdown 2010

January
Connie Hedegaard, the Danish Minister of the Environment starts the year with a New Year’s Greeting to all mayors of the country and invites them to join Countdown 2010. Denmark was the first of eleven governments to join Countdown 2010 in 2007.
February
The Conference “European Regions as Champions for Biodiversity” in Oisterwijk, the Netherlands calls upon cities and regions to step up their efforts to halt the decline of biodiversity. By the end of 2007, 73 local and regional authorities will have joined Countdown 2010.
 
The viral video ‘The BioDaVersity Code’ explains the importance of biodiversity for human well-being in a comic adaptation of the DaVinci Code. Forensic zoologist Robert Penguin and agent Sophie Minnow race to expose the greatest lie ever told and discover the secret of the priory of species.
March
In Potsdam, the G8+5 countries adopt a ten-step action plan towards halting biodiversity loss by 2010, including a study to calculate the economic costs from dwindling species. The document explicitly welcomes the Countdown 2010 initiative and promises national strategies to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target.
April
The expert workshop ‘Countdown 2010 for Marine Ecosystems’ calls on Europe to lead worldwide efforts to prevent the collapse of commercial fisheries over the next decades:  On a European level, Natura 2000 sites should provide an effective mechanism to create marine protected areas. In the high seas, the Berlin conference recommends a UN-based implementing agreement to protect vulnerable ecosystems.
May
On Biodiversity Day, Vietnam, Belgium and Luxembourg joined Countdown 2010 while events and celebrations on the topic ‘Biodiversity and Climate Change’ were held in South Africa, China, South America and dozens of places in Europe.
June
The joint exhibition on the 2010 biodiversity target ‘Nature – Our Precious Web’ opens in Berlin. In eight panels and 80 stunning pictures, Countdown 2010, GTZ, GEO and the Secretariat of the CBD show how biodiversity holds human society and economy together, and that its conservation should be in everyone’s interest. The exhibition will tour the world until 2010.
 
The Countdown 2010 Partners’ Assembly proposed strategies and actions to move towards the 2010 biodiversity target and called upon governments to report on their achievements so far. The meeting also appointed a new Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance for the initiative. The fifteen advisors work for all sectors, from local biodiversity initiatives via national governments to international organisations.
July – September
Consultations about regional Countdown 2010 hubs are held in Russia, China and the Lower Mekong countries Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The new regional hubs will raise awareness about the 2010 biodiversity target in their region, and work with partners to move from words to action on biodiversity. Earlier this year, consultations were held in Southern Africa and South America.
October
The 6th Ministerial Conference ‘Environment for Europe’ debates the implementation of the 2010 biodiversity target for the pan-European region. Countdown 2010 launches the first results of its Readiness Assessment, and the participating cities of the Countdown 2010-supported project ‘Local Action for Biodiversity’ meet in Zagreb.
November
More than 160 companies meet with environmental experts and policy makers at the High-Level Conference on Business and Biodiversity in Lisbon to launch a new European Business and Biodiversity Initiative. The conference was organized by Countdown 2010 together with the Portuguese EU Presidency and the European Commission.
December
With nearly 500 partners, the Countdown 2010 network has grown threefold within the last twelve months. The Countdown 2010 Advisory Board thus asked the Secretariat to improve monitoring and support for the Countdown 2010 partners in relation to their commitments. They noted that combined activities create a powerful network of active partners working together towards the 2010 biodiversity target. Together, let’s make 2008 a year of action towards biodiversity!

^May 2008: 9th Conference of the Parties | Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP9)

For the last time before 2010, all Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will meet in Bonn in May 2008. For three weeks, the city will be buzzing with events, exhibitions and negotiations around biodiversity and the 2010 biodiversity target. We would like to highlight three:

  • On Biodiversity Day (May 22), Countdown 2010 invites all Partners and Friends to its annual Partners’ Assembly in Bonn. To register or for more information, please send an email to info@countdown2010.net
  • The official meetings of the COP9 are open to qualified organizations. To register, you need to send an official letter indicating your delegation to the CBD Secretariat before May 19. See the full text of the announcement.
  • The Plaza of Diversity is a large exhibition and meeting place during the CBD Conference of the Parties. To secure a stall, you need to send your application material to the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt by 31 January 2008. For more information see here.

As Countdown 2010 partner we count on you to spread the word about the 2010 biodiversity target and what needs to be done among the 5.000 delegates. Countdown 2010 will be present in Bonn with a stall and events on Local and Regional Authorities and Business and Biodiversity, including presenting the latest results of its 2010 Readiness Assessment.

^October 2008: World Conservation Congress

The World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest and most diverse conservation event. Held every four years, the Congress aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development. In 2008, it takes place from October 5-14 in Barcelona, Spain. The theme this year: “A diverse and sustainable world”. Workshops will cover three main streams:

  • A new climate for change
  • Healthy environments – healthy people
  • Safeguarding the diversity of life

During the World Conservation Forum, Countdown 2010 will host the first global gathering of its partners to take stock on how far we came and chart the roadmap for increased action in the coming two years. The IUCN Members’ Assembly in the second week will approve the new IUCN Programme, and appoint the new president and council. Registration to the congress opens in January.

^ Do it yourself: Assess the Economics of Biodiversity Loss

“In a global study we will initiate the process of analysing the global economic benefit of biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective conservation.”
– G8+5 Potsdam Initiative

Whatnot via FlickrEcosystems provide valuable services for human well-being, including food, water and fresh air. In many cases, humans have changed ecosystems to generate large economic gains. But these changes have also caused biodiversity loss and led to long-term declines in essential services. Earlier this year, the G8+5 announced a global study to analyse the economics of biodiversity loss. The European Commission is now looking for evidence as a basis for this study. If you have research, case studies or other evidence about the science, economics and/or policy behind biodiversity loss and ecosystem accounting, please send your contributions to env-call-evidence-bio-loss@ec.europa.eu or use the webform provided by the European Commission.

^State of Biodiversity: The global amphibian crisis

“It’s not easy being green” – Kermit the frog

Overall, it’s not easy being an amphibian these days. With their sensitive skin, lacking protective hair or feathers, they are particularly vulnerable to threats both in water and on land. The Global Ambhibian Assessment revealed that one-third to one-half of the world’s amphibians are currently threatened with extinction and over 120 have already disappeared. Some biologists have called amphibians the “canary in the coal mine” – the first clear example of environmental change, pollution and toxicity. The demise of amphibians has ecolocial ripple effects: They control insect pests and serve as food supply for birds, fish and other animals. One of the leading problems is a fungus that causes an infectious disease called chytridiomycosis. In places where it is introduced and has not previously been present, amphibian populations may disappear rapidly, sometimes within six months. Global climate change, international trade and pollution may have exacerbated the problem. To address this crisis, the 2005 Amphibian Conservation Summit adopted an Amphibian Conservation Action Plan covering research, assessment and short-term and long-term interventions. Zoos and Aquaria worldwide have launched the 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign to create public awareness and support initiatives to save amphibians. Don’t miss ‘Kiss a Frog’-Day on February 14 in your local zoo!

^Focus on... North Rhine-Westphalia

The German province North Rhine-Westphalia has signed the international declaration for the conservation of biological diversity Countdown 2010. With its signature, the province commits itself to take action to safeguard species and ecosystems, said Minister of the Environment Eckhard Uhlenberg (CDU) in Recklinghausen. This includes the national park “Siebengebirge” and the extension of the urban forest in the Ruhr basin. More than sixty organizations and institutions from the region joined at the same time.

BirdLife Germany (Naturschutzbund – NABU) welcomed the event, and expects the speedy implementation of the commitments made by the province. In order to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target, North Rhine-Westphalia should not only comply with international and European nature conservation laws, but also increase funds available to protect biodiversity. Josef Tumbrinck, Head of the regional NABU branch: “North Rhine-Westphalia has a long way to go.” In the last years, the province had cut the resources for nature conservation dramatically.

In addition, the region had supported Hessen’s initiative to weaken EU nature directives in the German Federal Council. Today, Minister Uhlenberg declared that the region had no intentions to lower the standards of EU nature policy. The Countdown 2010 Advisory Board had admitted the region under this condition. North Rhine-Westphalia will host the 9th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity next May.

^Countdown 2010: Advisory Board and Staff Changes

The newly elected Countdown 2010 Advisory Board met for the first time on 27 November and reviewed the progress made through our joint efforts. It encouraged the Secretariat to build on the momentum created and to further strengthen its assessment work including its services to its partners. In addition, it asked the Secretariat to develop mechanism for reviewing the 2010 partner commitments. The minutes of the meeting are available upon request.

The Countdown 2010 Secretariat itself is changing face these days: Annika Vogt has been seconded to the German Ministry of Environment for the coming seven months to assist in the preparations for the CBD Conference of the Parties. Elisa Calcaterra will fill this gap and further strengthen the network of Countdown 2010 local and regional authorities. Elisa has previously worked for our partner ICLEI. Dr. Neeraj Khera, Assistant Professor at TERI University, has provided Countdown 2010 with valuable support in further developing the Countdown 2010 Readiness Assessment over the past months. She will continue this work from India and will be supported by Jorge Ventocilla and Andras Krolopp in the Countdown 2010 Secretariat. Wiebke Herding will boost IUCN’s Regional Office for Europe communications efforts by moving into the position as Regional Communications Coordinator. She will nevertheless continue to support the initiative and in particular the to be appointed Countdown 2010 Communications Officer. The multi-regional Countdown 2010 hubs are continuously strengthened and a major effort in Europe will be the appointment of additional Countdown 2010 national focal points.

Upcoming Events

2008
Year of the Frog

15-17 January
European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy Water for life: research priorities for sustaining freshwater biodiversity (Brdo, Slovenia)

18-22 February
CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (Rome, Italy)

19-30 May
9th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Bonn, Germany)

21-24 May
Urban Biodiversity & Design (Erfurt, Germany)

25-27 May
Mayors’ Conference: Local Action for Biodiversity (Bonn, Germany)

5-14 October
World Conservation Congress (Barcelona, Spain)

News from Countdown 2010

10 December 2007 Vacancy: Countdown 2010 Communications Officer

29 November 2007 North Rhine-Westphalia joins international network for biodiversity

22 November 2007 Biodiversity and Cities: the role of municipalities for achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target

13 November 2007 Lisbon marks major shift in convergence between business and biodiversity

1 November 2007 Sink or swim: over one in three freshwater fish species in Europe threatened with extinction

More news

New Partners

Countdown 2010 would like to welcome its new partners:

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

This newsletter is issued bi-monthly by Countdown 2010. We welcome comments, feedback and contributions to Wiebke Herding. Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at www.countdown2010.net/article/newsletter.

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