WWF seeks increased biodiversity funding and concrete action at COP17

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for clear decisions at COP17 to accelerate biodiversity conservation, increase funding and ensure that countries fulfil their commitments.

Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan on 19 October during COP17, WWF President Adil Najam stressed that tackling biodiversity loss requires both new commitments and practical steps that deliver measurable results.

He said WWF’s Living Planet Report records an average decline of 73 per cent in vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970.

“Now is not the time simply to ask ourselves questions or discuss what we should do. Now is the time to act,” Najam stressed, noting that although biodiversity loss continues, successful conservation efforts in different countries demonstrate that change is possible.

He said efforts to restore tiger populations, protect sea turtles and implement other initiatives show that political will and sustained work can deliver positive results.

Guido Broekhoven, Head of Multilateral Policy at WWF International, said COP17’s success should be measured by how far it changes governments’ actions after the conference.

He highlighted two main challenges: the gap in ambition between national biodiversity conservation plans and global goals, and the gap between the measures envisaged in national plans and their actual implementation.

Broekhoven said progress towards targets where implementation is lagging must be accelerated, and biodiversity must be integrated into financial, agricultural, infrastructure, trade and development policies, as well as environmental policy.

He also stressed the importance of establishing coordination mechanisms across government, noting that environment ministries alone cannot ensure implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Increasing funding for biodiversity conservation is among WWF’s priorities. Broekhoven said COP17 must provide a clear roadmap towards meeting the target of increasing international funding to US$30 billion annually by 2030.

He also emphasised the need to reform harmful subsidies. Governments must review financial incentives that harm nature and align public and private financial flows with biodiversity conservation goals.

WWF representative Vishay Chakram said some subsidies in agriculture, fisheries and forestry can contribute to biodiversity loss. It is therefore necessary both to increase conservation funding and to redirect funds that encourage activities harmful to ecosystems.

Speakers at the press conference also stressed that biodiversity funding must be accessible, predictable and effective. Particular attention should be paid to developing countries, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and young people directly involved in conservation work.

WWF representatives said the effectiveness of funding should be assessed by how much money actually reaches those implementing projects and what results it delivers on the ground, as well as by the amounts pledged.

They also highlighted the importance of involving indigenous peoples, local communities and young people in developing and implementing biodiversity conservation policies.

Najam said young people are both beneficiaries of biodiversity conservation and important participants in delivering it. He stressed that governments, businesses and civil society must take young people’s concerns seriously and ensure their participation in decision-making.

He said the fulfilment of commitments must be accompanied by clear accountability for how funding is used and the impact of the actions taken.

WWF representatives also emphasised that the global review must go beyond assessing progress in biodiversity conservation. It must provide a basis for revising national strategies, targets and actions.

They said decisions adopted at COP17 must establish clear mechanisms for assessing progress, encourage countries to exchange experience and help close the gaps between global goals and national action.

“We have time, and we also have solutions. What we need now are the appropriate decisions, institutions, resources, partnerships and safeguards to protect rights that will enable us to bring about real change on the ground,” Broekhoven concluded.

Sargis Asatryan