COP 11 biodiversity: CBD Alliance: Looking beyond Hyderabad Biodiversity Summit

Let’s Get Beyond the Hyderabad Blues

Civil Society groups urge implementation of the Biodiversity Convention at COP11, Hyderabad, India

Hyderabad: Civil society, NGOs, and grassroots environmental groups belonging to the  CBD Alliance sent a strong message to the delegates gathered in Hyderabad for the 11^th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity:  focus on getting things done, and implement the treaty.

“The CBD process should bring sharp focus on implementation of the commitments made by governments over the past 20 years”, said S. Faizi, of the Indian Biodiversity Forum. “COP10 in Nagoya moved the biodiversity agenda significantly forward.   We have a new set of 20 targets, and only 8 years to achieve them.  COP11 doesn’t need to generate another stack of documents, and hold endless meetings.  We actuallyknow what needs to be done.”

Simone Lovera, Executive Director of the Global Forest Coalition, said:  “We’ve seen how the lack of funding, has frustrated the implementation of COP decisions and led to donor and corporate interests unduly influencing biodiversity policy making.  This is evident in the promotion of risky and untested Innovative Financial Mechanisms."

"We reject corporate-driven agendas to promote‘bioeconomy’ and the financialization of nature through perverse incentives like subsidies for biofuels, dangerous experiments in synthetic biology, genetically modified trees and geo-engineering”, added Lovera.

Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council said:   “The importance of forest and agricultural biodiversity to the survival of indigenous peoples cannot be over emphasized.  Our food security, health and economic wellbeing have a direct relationship with our forest and agricultural biodiversity. The current emphasis on economic growth as a solution to the global economic crisis has affected indigenous peoples in far greater and disproportionate ways”.

“In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, small is beautiful.  We urge governments gathered in Hyderabad to support the biodiverse food systems of indigenous peoples and small farmers, which have been providing food for our peoples for millennia”, said Retter.

Marine and coastal biodiversity is a priority focus area of COP11, and the theme of International Year of Biodiversity 2012.   RamyaRajagopalanof the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers, said: 

“The serious threats to our oceans and coasts are well known.   Indigenous peoples and local communities are at the forefront of the struggles and initiatives to protect coastal and marine resources.  Yet, in the name of conservation and development, their lives and livelihoods are being destroyed.  Their full and effective participation is essential. Their experience, wisdom, knowledge and institutions should guide the CBD in its actions”.