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Achieving global biodiversity conservation targets requires both government decisions and the participation of all of society, from the financial sector to local communities, Convention on Biological Diversity Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker said at a press conference held during COP17.
She was responding to a question about what gave her grounds for optimism despite the gap between commitments and tangible results.
Schomaker said a positive sign was that countries were taking responsibility for their earlier commitments and discussing the problems identified by the global assessment.
“Countries are taking responsibility for what they committed to four years ago and are now discussing and addressing the gaps identified by the global review. They are trying to bridge this gap, which is a shared aspiration of all parties,” Schomaker said.
She highlighted the importance of incorporating biodiversity considerations into government decisions, securing the necessary funding and bringing different partners together.
Schomaker singled out the participation of women and young people, as well as the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, stressing the value of their knowledge and experience of living in harmony with nature.
“Ultimately, we must recognise that mobilising all of society will ensure success,” the convention’s Executive Secretary said.
In her assessment, practical solutions already available in different countries and multilateral cooperation offer opportunities to scale up effective practices and accelerate action to conserve biodiversity.