Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

[ ] 5 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity The year was 1993. Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously to appoint a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The world was shaping a new story for the future of humanity and sustainability. And with this, the entire planet and our wellbeing. Part of the story, which filled with hope and high expectations during this time, also revolved around the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity, connecting humanity with nature, and politically recognizing this through a legally-binding framework. We were optimistic and committed towards a sustainable relationship with nature. Since that year, Parties, along with a diverse group of stakeholders, have undertaken national, regional and global actions to live up to those expectations and achieve the three objectives of the Convention: conserving biological diversity; using it sustainably; and sharing, fairly and equitably, the benefits arising from using genetic resources. 25 years later, we can look back and take pride in the achievements of the Convention, and the difference it has made to advance global action to safeguard biodiversity and contribute to the wellbeing of all life on our common planet. Around the globe, countries are on track to achieve the agreed-upon levels of protected areas — 17 per cent of land, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas. The Convention has also led the way by including indigenous people and local communities in its negotiation processes, through the provisions enacted under Article 8(j) on Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices. In the last 25 years, two supplementary protocols have been negotiated and entered into force. One addresses the question of biodiversity and Living Modified Organisms, and the other provides guidance on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from their use. Both of these provide strong tools that are also flexible and adaptable to national circumstances.