Save Biodiversity 02/08 - Update from Countdown 2010

In this Issue

• Feature: Forests and Nature
  • Facts and figures on Forests
  • Forest management: Close to Nature
  • Forests at CBD COP 9
  • Reporting Forests for 2010
  • Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Ecosystem Degradation
• State of Biodiversity: Biodiversity loss is serious, say Europeans
• Focus on... Rome
• Countdown 2010: Partners Assembly on May 22
  

^ Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, dear Readers,

Sit back. Whether you are reading this Countdown 2010 newsletter on paper or on your computer screen, you can learn how to contribute to saving the forests. Forests are one of the most important ecosystems for the 2010 biodiversity target. In particular 2008 will be a year for renewed momentum on the European and international forest agenda. It is critical that we use the upcoming policy junctions and international events to ensure that the biodiversity and forest agenda join forces in light of climate change.

Jeffrey Sachs outlines a five step programme for the 2010 biodiversity target. One of them is creating a global fund for avoided deforestation. We can make a difference on this in the coming 1000 days left to 2010. Twenty percent of carbon emissions come from deforestation and degradation. The Bali conference has finally recognized the importance of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Let’s build on REDD and move to Green with this newsletter that will hopefully inspire you to help the world reach the 2010 biodiversity target.

Enjoy reading!

Sebastian Winkler
Head of Countdown 2010
March 16, 2008

^ Feature: Forests and Nature

Facts and figures on Forests

• Forests cover 30 percent of the world’s land area.
• Nearly half of the planet’s original forest cover is gone today, and 13 million hectares of forests each year are disappearing.
• Forests are home to about two thirds of all terrestrial species.
• Deforestation contributes between 20% and 25% of all carbon pollution causing global climate change.
• Over 1 billion people who live in extreme poverty depend on forests for their livelihoods.

^Forest management: Close to Nature

Forest ecosystems can be economically profitable and preserve biodiversity at the same time. This is the promise of close-to-nature forest management, a technique promoted by the Slovenian EU Presidency as part of their commitment towards Countdown 2010. As Europe is one of the world’s few regions where forest coverage is actually increasing, good management is increasingly important for the maintenance of ecosystem services and mitigation of climate change.

Close-to-nature forest management mimics disturbances of small to middle scale character and builds on indigenous populations of forest tree species, leading to natural forest structures. It takes into account habitats of biodiversity relevant forest communities and species and can only be effectively implemented on the basis of good knowledge of natural conditions.

Both EU Action Plans on Forests and on Biodiversity contain clear objectives in relation to forest management towards 2010. In the first half of 2008, EU Nature Directors and Forest Directors will develop recommendations on how use close to nature forest management as a means of linking the biodiversity and forest agenda in light of climate change.

Slovenian EU Presidency

^Forests at CBD COP 9

The conservation and sustainable use of forests will be an important topic for debate at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 19-30 May 2008, Bonn, Germany. Major forest related topics to be addressed at COP 9 include new and emerging issues, such as the opportunities arising from the efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing countries, as well as the potential impacts of new technologies such as genetically modified trees. These and other issues will be discussed as part of the review of the CBD forest programme of work, which has been in effect since 2002, and is due for in-depth review at COP 9. The programme of work contains 129 activities to improve the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity, as well as the equitable sharing of its benefits. However, despite many activities implemented by countries, the loss of forest biodiversity continues unabated. At a recent meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the CBD, countries listed priority issues to be addressed more urgently in future. These include the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaption; the establishment of forest protected area networks; illegal land conversion, habitat fragmentation, forest fires, and invasive alien species. The stakes are high at COP 9 to reach an agreement for more progress for the conservation and sustainable use of forests – as a key ecosystem to reach the 2010 biodiversity target.

CBD Programme of Work on Forests

^Reporting Forests for 2010

FAO has called upon countries to participate in preparing the Global Forest Resources Assessment for 2010.  The report will review the status of forests in 235 countries and territories and will be an important tool in measuring the impact of deforestation on climate change and the role of forests in mitigating the effects of climate change. One of the techniques used to collect the information is an ambitious new global remote sensing survey to generate unprecedented information on deforestation, afforestation and natural forest expansion, and provide insight into the land uses that are replacing forests.

Towards the 2010 Global Forest Resource Assessment

^Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Ecosystem Degradation

Climate change has brought significant attention to the importance of carbon storage as an ecosystem service. The unsustainable management of ecosystems makes a substantial contribution to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, with deforestation and ecosystem degradation being major sources. In addition to the contribution to global warming deforestation and ecosystem degradation disrupt the multiple functions and services of ecosystems which are essential for the livelihoods of forest-dwelling and rural communities and increase their vulnerability to poverty. Consequently, sustainable ecosystem management and conservation are not only crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also for decreasing poverty.

The prospects for jointly achieving climate and conservation objectives by reducing emissions from deforestation and ecosystem degradation (REDD) has attracted significant interest within the environmental community.

While much of the discussion has been animated by technical and political debates, the key stakeholders in REDD – people – are currently receiving little attention.

• Depending on how a sector-wide REDD mechanism is implemented, rural livelihoods could be at risk or could be enhanced.
• The integration of REDD in ongoing sustainable forest management initiatives and lessons learned from forest management intervention at similar scales can guide REDD to be ‘pro-poor’.
• The international carbon market is a promising channel for improving livelihood opportunities for the rural poor in forest areas.
• Financial mechanisms to improve livelihoods need to be identified at the very beginning of REDD discussions;
• Local-level stewardship of natural resources is important for achieving sustainable development objectives.
• In light of the urgent need to integrate social considerations into the design and implementation of REDD policies, IUCN believes that transfer of carbon credits through REDD should be contingent upon demonstrably equitable and sustainable local level participation.

IUCN: Forests and Climate Change

^State of Biodiversity: Biodiversity loss is serious, say Europeans

An overwhelming majority of Europeans believe that the loss of biological diversity is a serious problem, according to a Eurobarometer survey on attitudes to biodiversity. Pollution and man-made disasters are seen as the biggest threats to biodiversity, followed by climate change and the intensification of agriculture, forestry and fishing. Europeans see a moral obligation to conserve nature, and acknowledge that biodiversity loss will make Europe a poorer place. Most people feel no personal impact at this point, but rather anticipate that they or their children are affected in the future.

Two thirds of Europeans say they already make a personal effort to protect biodiversity, while a third say they would like to do more. A fifth of Europeans surveyed say they would act if they knew what they could do to stop biodiversity loss. The survey also reveals that Europeans are unaware of what the EU is doing to save biodiversity: Only one in five has ever heard of Natura 2000.

Communication is not the only area where European Commission and Member States must work harder to reach the 2010 biodiversity target. A spokeswoman for DG Environment told journalists: “It will be very difficult to achieve the target. We are working very hard on it, but member states have to make a greater effort than they have done so far.”

• Flash Eurobarometer 219: Attitudes of Europeans towards the issue of biodiversity
• Stavros Dimas’ Blog: Strong opinions on nature
• Limited progress on EU’s Biodiversity Action Plan

^Focus on... Rome

Rome has put its weight behind the 2010 biodiversity target last month by signing the Countdown 2010 declaration during the opening ceremony of a meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD SBSTTA 13).

Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, Italian Minister of Environment, Land and Sea along with Aldo Cosentino, Countdown 2010 Ambassador and Director General for Nature Protection welcomed Dario Esposito, Councilor for Environmental and Agricultural Policy of the Municipality of Rome in making this bold step and thereby supporting the Italian Ministry in their endeavors towards 2010. Sebastian Winkler, Head of Countdown 2010, said that the 2010 commitments of Rome are smart as they tackle both the problem of climate change and biodiversity decline.

The planting of 500.000 additional trees will allow the establishment of ecological corridors between the many green parks of Rome. In addition, Rome will launch an initiative to construct sustainable buildings. These buildings will lower the environmental impacts along with high energy and water saving potentials. They will also serve as educational and awareness raising centers.

Rome’s Countdown 2010 Declaration

^Countdown 2010: Partners Assembly on May 22

With more than 500 partners the Countdown 2010 movement is gathering force and our commitments can make a difference. With less than two years to go, 2008 will witness - with the CBD CoP9 and the World Conservation Congress - the last formal global meeting points to define the actions for 2010 and beyond. Your input in this process is critical and we have therefore decided to hold the Countdown 2010 Partners Assembly on May 22 in Bonn during the CBD CoP9. This meeting will chart the way forward to 2010, define concrete actions, assess progress to 2010 and ensure that these are fed into the global processes. Become part of the 2010 story and join us for a decisive Countdown 2010 Partners Assembly in Bonn. An invitation and agenda will be sent to you in the coming weeks.

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 info@countdown2010.net. Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at www.countdown2010.net/article/newsletter.

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