Save Biodiversity 04/09 - Update from Countdown 2010

In this Issue

• Feature: Conservation beyond boundaries
  • People, science and creativity at work in the Countdown 2010 China Hub
  • Reaching the 2010 Target in South America: contributions and challenges in the region
  • Southern Africa for biodiversity!
• Do it yourself: Ever thought of running for an award?
• Internal: Think globally, act locally and change personally!
• State of biodiversity: More species = loss reduction?
• Focus on... C.E.Liège
• LARA: Local governments take up the biodiversity challenge!

^ Dear Countdown 2010 Partners, Dear Readers,

Thanks to all those who participated in this year’s Partners’ Assembly! Despite your busy schedules we are very grateful for your efforts and your important inputs to the meeting. Those who were not able to attend can read the article Internal on the results of the meeting.

Time is running out for the 2010 Target. For the last sprint, we have relaunched our website to attract more people to our cause! The new website gives more visibility to what our Partners are doing; each month Featured Partners will appear on the homepage with the latest updates on their activities for the 2010 Target. If you would like to be our next Featured Partner, contact our staff. Also, you are now able to learn about all the latest developments in the post-2010 process and the initiatives planned for the International Year of Biodiversity.

With all these new features, the website is your one-stop shop for the 2010 Target and beyond! I hope you will enjoy it and I am eager to receive more updates on your commitments and your organization.

In this feature of the newsletter you will also read about the new report on biodiversity in Switzerland and the ICLEI Congress in Canada last month. And don’t miss our tips on the prizes you could win for your conservation efforts!

I wish you all a relaxing and revitalizing summer break

Enjoy reading! 

Sebastian Winkler
Head of Countdown 2010
July 17, 2009

^ Feature: Conservation beyond boundaries

Biodiversity does not stop at national borders, ecosystems and biomes extend beyond the political borders that mankind has created. Biodiversity knows no geographical barriers as natural vectors, such as air, make it easy for species to move from one ecosystem to another. Not even oceans can limit the spread of species, as demonstrated by the growing rates of invasive species.

As a global issue, biodiversity requires a global response. In 2007, after a successful start in Europe, Countdown 2010 made the leap to become a global initiative with a number of Multiregional Hubs. The Countdown 2010 Secretariat located in Brussels is the focal point for the network in Europe and acts as a coordinator for the activities happening in other regions of the world.

Three Multiregional Hubs are currently spreading the message of Countdown 2010 to the rest of the world: China, South America and Southern Africa. The following articles will tell you more about how these hubs are engaging Partners outside of Europe.

^People, science and creativity at work in the Countdown 2010 China Hub

The 24 members of the Countdown 2010 Hub for China are using science, imagination and passion to help reduce the rate of China’s biodiversity loss. They are working with the government, communities and businesses to find ways for this vast country to reduce its impact on biodiversity while improving the livelihoods of its people.

The Countdown 2010 China Hub was established in 2007 and Partners recently met in Beijing to share their achievements and activities, to seek opportunities to collaborate and to build extra momentum in the lead up to the 2010 milestone year. Partners are undertaking an exciting and innovative range of initiatives. For example:

• the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences is working with the government to develop indicators and track progress towards the 2010 Target;
• WWF China is working in the Sichuan province to restore panda habitats and help local communities recover after the 2008 earthquakes;
• the China Landscape and Historic Sites Association has studied the genetic diversity of Camellia japonica in the Zhejiang province to inform conservation management; 
• the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots program and the Future Generations’ “Green Long March” initiative are supporting China’s youth to become leaders in environmental conservation and sustainable development; and
• several Countdown 2010 Partners collaborated to host a week-long event showcasing biodiversity conservation in China (IUCN, EU-China Biodiversity Program, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Global Village Beijing). The Biodiversity Week 2009 featured biodiversity films, debates, exhibitions and a children’s day to encourage awareness and discussion about China’s biodiversity.

These are only some examples of the varied and important work of Countdown 2010 Partners in China. Visit the Countdown 2010 China website to read more about our Partners and their work.

• Countdown 2010 in China

^Reaching the 2010 Target in South America: contributions and challenges in the region

As part of the Countdown 2010 initiative, and supported by the European Commission, the “2010 Target South American High Level Meeting” was held in Lima (Peru) between 19 and 20 May at the Andean Community Secretariat (CAN). It was organized by CAN, together with the Ministry of Environment of Peru, the IUCN South America Regional Office and the Countdown 2010 Secretariat with the support of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB).

More than 35 participants from nine countries in South America discussed the challenges and results of the 2010 Target, the priorities that they should focus on, the message that, as a region, they would like to deliver through the next months, as well as the regional vision of the post-2010 target.

All participants agreed that the current situation in the region is not good, so further efforts are needed to face the loss of biodiversity in South America. The economy, health, food, industry, tourism and any form of life and development depend on biodiversity.

As one of the results of the meeting, the Lima 2010 Target Declaration was agreed among the participants that included national authorities, Countdown 2010 Partners, local governments, economical regional bodies and other stakeholders. The Declaration calls, among others, for an active involvement of local governments, private sector, economical authorities, etc. in the reduction of biodiversity loss.

Over the past six months, the Countdown 2010 South America Hub has developed several communication products for distribution in the region: brochures, book marks, stickers and others. The website www.countdown.net/sudamerica is also regularly updated.
 
Over the coming months a set of key indicators in relation to the 2010 Target will be developed, along with the participation of several specialists from the region. Indicators would be based on the 2010 Target focal areas (ecosystems, species and ABS).

Related documents can be found at www.countdown2010.net/sudamerica
or obtained from arturo.mora@sur.iucn.org

• Countdown 2010 in South America

^Southern Africa for Biodiversity 2010!

The Countdown 2010 Southern Africa Hub, which is part of the IUCN ESARO office, is currently working on the development of strategic partnerships with the aim of involving all relevant actors to create a powerful movement for the 2010 Target in the Southern Africa region. For example, SADC (The Southern Africa Development Community) has already agreed to cooperate with Countdown 2010 and IUCN and support the implementation of the project.

A new website has been developed for Southern Africa, click here to have a look www.countdown2010.net/southafrica. The website currently contains the Regional Scoping Paper produced during the first phase of the project, the SADC Regional Biodiversity Strategy and a campaign is currently being developed for institutions in Southern Africa to join the Countdown 2010 network. An implementation Plan for the Regional Biodiversity Strategy is currently under way, so check the website for news.

The Southern Africa Countdown 2010 launch workshop will be organized for Southern African Partners in October. The organisation of the workshop is under way in cooperation with SADC and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Check the website for dates and more info in the coming weeks. Participants will benefit from training on improving access to existing and innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable biodiversity management. If you are interested in attending the workshop, please send an email to Elisa Calcaterra, elisa.calcaterra@iucn.org.

• Countdown 2010 in Southern Africa

^Do it yourself: Ever thought of running for an award?

Every year, numerous awards celebrate the best ideas for environmental protection and species conservation. Apply for one of the prizes below. This year, you may be the winner!

Premios Fundación Biodiversidad de Liderazgo, Innovación y Comunicación Ambiental
The Fundación Biodiversidad launched the first edition of the Premios Fundación Biodiversidad. The prize will be awarded to those individuals and organizations which through their efforts contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas and fishing, the conservation of natural heritage and biological diversity. The award is addressed to businesses and professionals from the rural sector, as well as to communicators and creators. Deadline for applications is 31 July 2009. More info here.

Future for Nature Award 2010
The goal of the Future for Nature Foundation is to protect species of wild animals and plants. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation has established the Future for Nature Award. The prize rewards and funds individuals for their internationally outstanding species protection efforts. You or your colleague may be eligible for one of the three Future for Nature Awards of € 50.000 each. To be eligible your activities must have clear, substantial and long lasting benefits for the conservation status of one or more species of wild flora and/or fauna. Deadline for applications is 16 August 2009. Click here for More information.

2010 St Andrews Prize for the Environment
Aimed at helping ordinary people find solutions to environmental problems, the Prize was launched 11 years ago and is recognized as a prestigious international initiative by the University of St Andrews, Scotland and ConocoPhillips, one of the world's leading energy companies, attracting entries from around the world. The focus is on environmental initiatives, but of course the most innovative and important usually come with gains to people in their locality. Applications are invited from individuals, multi-disciplinary teams or community groups for the 2010 annual prize, consisting of an award of $75,000 USD for the winner and $25,000 USD for each of the two runners-up.  Deadline for applications is 31 October 2009. More info here

The European Awards for the Environment
Integrating the respect for the environment has gradually become a day-to-day component of business life. The challenge over the next few years is to build on this, so that major corporations and SMEs assume sustainable development and good practice. These awards are an opportunity to recognise and promote companies that integrate sustainable development into their activities. Application deadlines and modalities vary from country to country. Find out more here.

International Young Eco-Hero Awards – 2010
For the little ones, a special award to recognize the individual accomplishments of young people (ages 8-16) whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Action For Nature will award cash prizes of up to $ 500 to young Eco-Heroes from around the world for their outstanding accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research or protection of the natural world. Their individual initiatives will inspire others to preserve and protect our fragile environment. More info here.

^Internal: Think globally, act locally and change personally!

Growing enthusiasm and excitement were the main outcomes of the Countdown 2010 Partners’ Assembly 2009 which took place in Brussels on 24 June last. The meeting opened with the launch of the new Countdown 2010 website which is now online. Its fresher look and improved navigability makes it very easy to surf. 

David Ainsworth, Focal Point for the International Year of Biodiversity at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Ed Gillespie, Co-Director of Futerra Sustainability Communications opened the meeting by presenting some key elements of communicating biodiversity during the International Year of Biodiversity.

Participants from all over Europe discussed how to energize the International Year of Biodiversity through the wide and diverse Countdown 2010 network and identified some key actions that will help raise awareness of biodiversity conservation in the year 2010.

In addition, participants were asked to express their opinion on the future of the Countdown 2010 initiative. Partners hope to see Countdown 2010 continue after 2010 and highlighted how being part of the network helped them bring biodiversity into the agenda of their organization.

In another session on the post-2010 framework, it was recognized that halting biodiversity loss will remain an issue for the near future, however long term efforts should be focused on restoration and rehabilitation.

IUCN President, Ashok Khosla, intervened at the Assembly and told Partners some good examples of how new technologies can be applied to natural resource management and exploited for human well-being. In other words, “Think of nature opportunistically”.

Three projects received the 2010 Activity Award for their excellent commitment and initiatives for the 2010 Biodiversity Target. Click here to see the winners!

The minutes of the meeting are available upon request.

• Webstory
• 2010 Activity Award winners
• Pictures

^State of Biodiversity: More species = loss reduction?

The second report of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on the state of biodiversity in Switzerland summarises the findings of biodiversity monitoring (BDM) in Switzerland. After eight years of carrying out surveys, the first comparative data are now available.

When assessing progress towards the reduction of biodiversity loss, initial findings may be misleading. Although, the report points to a slow increase in the mean number of vascular plant species in the Northern Alps and the Jura, this increase is caused by nutrient-loving species. Species that are already widespread and have a wide range of tolerance in terms of their ecological requirements appear to be spreading further. As a result, species communities are becoming more and more uniform. This trend is therefore no cause for celebration, even if species numbers are rising.

The BDM programme found that the distributional range of typical mountain plants has moved upwards in altitude. At the same time, the number of species of vascular plants has increased. So only time will tell whether this means that poorly competitive species will be displaced in the long term.

The report reveals that overall the goal to halt biodiversity loss will not be reached in Switzerland, although efforts to support biodiversity are showing first signs of success, especially in forests. Protection measures alone are not enough. The preservation of biodiversity requires measures at various levels and must take into consideration the evolution of landscapes and species diversity, as well as other key issues, like invasive species and climate change. Read the full report.

• Report

^Focus on: C.E.Liège

Cork is an excellent example of the alliance between man and nature. It’s a 100% natural, renewable, recyclable, and carbon positive product. Also, it keeps reinventing itself in many forms, from traditional wine stoppers, to green building materials, from kayaks to the Space Shuttle, from trendy bags and shoes to badminton shuttles; cork has many forms and uses. However, one of the most important uses of cork is maintaining biodiversity, protecting livelihoods, preventing desertification and even fighting climate change. All naturally.

The C.E.Liège, the European Cork Confederation, has recently joined Countdown 2010 to reinforce its efforts to biodiversity conservation. In line with its commitment to Countdown 2010, C.E.Liège provides training and outreach seminars for companies affiliated with its National Associations on the protection of biodiversity and the relation between cork and biodiversity. Through this training, the Confederation seeks to raise awareness of biodiversity importance among workers, and not only at executive level.

Cork is produced from the bark of the cork-oak (Quercus suber), an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean basin, which is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, along with Amazonia, Costa Rica or the Great Barrier Reef, among others. In the cork-oak man managed forests, the ‘Montado’, you’ll find a surprising variety of associated habitats listed in the EU Habitats Directive as well as a wide number of IUCN Red List species, such as Iberian Lynx, Black Stork, Golden-striped Salamander, Lataste’s Viper, Spanish Festoon butterfly, many Orchid species, inter alia.

Choosing cork products is an excellent way to protect a very resilient and biodiverse habitat matrix that harbors some of the most threatened species in the Mediterranean area, and thus contributes actively to the goal of halting Biodiversity loss by 2010 and beyond.

• C.E.Liège

^LARA: Local governments take up the biodiversity challenge!

During the Urban Nature Forum (12-14 June 2009, Edmonton, Canada), cities’ managers, representative of international organisations and academics discussed the importance of conserving local urban biodiversity, the accomplishments of the LAB Initiative and the vital role of local governments in biodiversity conservation. The Urban Nature Forum was organized for the first time at the international level before the ICLEI World Congress in 2006 and prompted ICLEI to launch LAB as a pilot project which would explore the role of local governments in biodiversity management. The Urban Nature Forum in 2009 presented a powerful case for a more comprehensive programme for local governments in the field of biodiversity.

From 14 to 18 June 2009, 600 participants from 57 countries gathered in the City of Edmonton for the triennial World Congress of 'ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability', a global network of 1100 cities working on sustainable development. Throughout the Congress, participants acknowledged on several occasions the importance of biodiversity and unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a fully-fledged programme on local action for biodiversity to be developed by ICLEI. Countdown 2010 has been supporting ICLEI since the beginning and was very pleased to see that biodiversity is now recognized by ICLEI members as a key issue to engage with. 

“IUCN is very pleased to see that biodiversity and ecosystems have been widely debated during the Congress and that ICLEI members are committed to acting for biodiversity. IUCN, also through its Countdown 2010 initiative, is committed to furthering the cooperation with ICLEI, building on our mutual strengths: the biodiversity know how of IUCN and the wide network of committed local governments of Countdown 2010 and ICLEI” commented George Greene, IUCN Regional Councillor, who gave a keynote presentation on the way forward for local governments and biodiversity.

• Urban Nature Forum
• ICLEI World Congress

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 http://www.countdown2010.net/resources/newsletter.

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