For A Comprehensive, Balanced and Practical Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Initiated by

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation

 December 2, 2022

Beijing, China

We, representatives of experts of relevant areas of China and all around the world, will attend the Fifth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework from 3 to 5 December, 2022 and the part two of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Youth is the potential driving force for social progress and development, and it is very important to involve young people in the protection of the natural environment and biodiversity. Protecting the environment, caring for nature, and protecting biodiversity requires continuous efforts from generation to generation. We look forward to young people taking care of, supporting, and participating in ecological environment protection and sustainable development as their lifelong commitment and code of conduct, and mobilizing their families and friends to participate in the protection of the ecological environment.

Aware that community-based solutions are crucial to the “30*30” target and therefore schemes such as “Biodiversity Conservation in our Neighborhood (BCON)” need to be promoted to engage people and empower actions at all scales. “Biodiversity Conservation in our Neighborhood” aims to promote effective biodiversity conservation in areas where human activities are intense, to balance conservation and development, to promote synergies between sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. Traditional conservation is mainly carried out in protected areas and are insufficient to provide effective protection for all species. To provide landscape level conservation, it is of great importance to learn how to effectively carry out biodiversity conservation in populated areas and not only focus on remaining intact habitats. Sustainability needs to be integrated across society, with appropriate solutions developed for each sector.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development depend on the welfare and interest of the local area. “Human-based Solutions (HbS)” suggests that changes can only happen with proactive efforts, including new technologies, sustainable supply chains, and other approaches to reduce pressure on the natural worlds and empower people across society to act.

To build a shared future for mankind, promote the success of Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050”, we call on Parties to the CBD to:

1. For Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3
Human-based Solutions (HbS) be added.

We think area-based conservation measures should consider “Human-based Solutions” to empower actions across society which will drive the changes needed to meet future targets. Local people’s livelihoods matter. “Human-based Solutions” mean every individual’s participation is essential to the environment.  

2. For Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 4

Ensure active management actions to enable the recovery and conservation of species and the genetic diversity of wild and domesticated species, including methods like in-situ conservation, and effectively control human-wildlife interactions to avoid or reduce human-wildlife conflict and to prevent virus spillover from animals to humans.

Add the concept of Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood (BCON).

To effectively managing human-wildlife interactions to avoid or reduce human-wildlife conflicts, “Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood (BCON)” could be a feasible approach to introduce successful cases where humans and animals live in harmony for the rest of the world to learn and adopt.

To effectively increase the protection of biodiversity in daily production and life, and to effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to avoid or reduce human-wildlife conflicts, “Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood (BCON)” should be a feasible approach. Protected areas alone are not enough to protect biodiversity, or to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss, and achieve the ambitious goal of 30*30 by 2030, we need to innovate, promote community-based protection and people’s participation, and consciously promote this on the production side by reducing pesticides, maintaining habitat patches and prevent the loss of further natural areas to complete neighborhood biodiversity conservation.

3. For Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 10

Sustainable development is needed to meet the needs of modern people without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, and to coordinate the development of economy, society, resources and environmental protection. It is necessary to enable economic development, but also to protect the atmosphere, fresh water and marine resources on which human beings depend.

Incorporate Sustainable Development of Areas into This Target

Sustainable development of regions requires efforts across all sectors of society, based on the protection of regional natural ecological environment and sustainable utilization and improvement of resources, led by stimulating regional economic growth and developing sustainable development capabilities.