Forests for People

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The work of the Convention

on Biological Diversity

Johannes Stahl and Tim Christophersen, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

t is estimated that more than two thirds of all land-based

species live in forests or depend on them for their survival.

Forest biodiversity sustains human well-being through a

multitude of ecosystem services, such as water purification,

timber production, provision of oxygen and medicine, as well

as spiritual and cultural benefits. For many indigenous commu-

nities, forest biodiversity is fundamental to culture and identity.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international

treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and

the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization

of genetic resources. The CBD recognizes that biological diver-

sity is about more than plants, animals, micro-organisms and their

ecosystems; it is about people and the need for a clean and healthy

environment in which to live. With 193 Parties – 192 member states

and the European Union – the CBD has near-universal participation.

In 2002, the CBD started a programme of work on forest biologi-

cal diversity which promotes measures to enable the conservation

and sustainable use of forest resources and the equitable sharing of

benefits arising from their use. More recently, in October 2010, it

adopted a new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity with the overall vision of

living in harmony with nature by 2050. The new plan contains several

targets that are of direct relevance to forests. The Conference of the

Parties (COP) also adopted a Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing

(ABS) which in the future may have major implications for forests.

The Forest Programme of Work

The CBD’s programme of work on forest biological diversity consists

of 130 measures, which the Parties have agreed to implement in

accordance with national priorities (CBD decision VI/22). The meas-

ures are clustered in three elements:

Element 1

relates to measures for the conservation and sustainable

use of forest resources and the equitable sharing of the multiple bene-

fits arising from their use. The measures include activities to increase

sustainable forest management, implement the ecosystem approach,

establish effective protected areas, restore degraded forests, fight

against forest fires and invasive alien species and ensure equitable

access and benefit-sharing with indigenous and local communities.

Element 2

involves measures to further develop the institutional and

socio-economic environment necessary to enable forest conservation,

sustainable use and benefit-sharing. Measures in this cluster include

activities to provide incentives (such as certification) for the use of

sustainable practices, to develop good practices in forest law enforce-

ment and governance and to clarify land tenure and resource rights.

Element 3

concerns scientific and technical measures for better

knowledge, assessment and monitoring of forest trends. These meas-

ures include activities to advance assessment methods,

research forest ecosystem functioning, develop a global

forest classification system and improve the infrastruc-

ture for data and information management.

Since the inception of the forest programme of work,

many countries and regions have moved ahead consider-

ably with its implementation. For example, Brazil reduced

deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by some 50 per

cent from 2002-2008. Similarly, Madagascar reduced the

rate of forest loss by almost 50 per cent from 2000-2005,

Liberia set aside 30 per cent of forest land for conservation,

Malaysia and Viet Nam have established forest corridors

to connect forest biodiversity hotspots and India enacted

landmark legislation which assigned forest produce

ownership rights to indigenous peoples and local commu-

nities. However, despite encouraging progress, a review

of the programme of work and a global assessment of the

state of biodiversity (the Global Biodiversity Outlook 3

published in 2010) indicate that still greater efforts have

to be made to enhance the protection of forest biodiversity.

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020

This new Strategic Plan, adopted by the tenth meeting of

the COP in Nagoya, contains several targets to enhance

forest biodiversity. It promotes the effective implemen-

tation of the CBD through a strategic approach meant to

inspire broad-based action by all Parties and stakehold-

ers in order to halt the loss of biodiversity and ensure

that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to

provide essential services and contribute to human

well-being and poverty eradication.

At the heart of the Strategic Plan are 20 ambitious

but realistic targets collectively known as the Aichi

Biodiversity Targets. These targets must be met over

the next decade if the Plan is to be realized. The imple-

mentation of the Plan coincides with the International

Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020, announced by the

United Nations General Assembly in December 2010.

Among the 20 targets for achievement by 2020 are four

which are directly relevant to forests. These aim to:

• At least halve and, where feasible, bring close to

zero the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including

forests, and to significantly reduce degradation and

fragmentation (Target 5)

• Sustainably manage areas under agriculture,

aquaculture and forestry (Target 7)