On Sunday, the twelfth meeting the Conference of the Parties (COP12) to
the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(CMS) was preceded by a day of high-level events, including a leaders’
dialogue in the morning, a high-level panel
in the afternoon, and the Migratory Species Champions Award Ceremony in
the evening.
LEADERS’ DIALOGUE
The Leaders’ Dialogue brought together ministers, leaders from the
private sector, and non-governmental entities under the theme “Moving
Towards a Pollution-Free Planet.” Participants discussed three key
threats to wildlife: marine debris, pollution from pesticides,
and lead.
Rico Hizon, BBC World News, moderated the event. Underscoring that “the
future is today,” he urged attendees to make commitments and build
partnerships to save wildlife.
Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the
Philippines, emphasized that marine pollution is a growing and
persistent global concern. He highlighted national policies to phase
out, regulate, or ban plastic bags. Announcing the Coastal and
Marine Ecosystem Management Program, Cimatu said that the Philippines
will address threats and drivers of marine degradation holistically.
Drawing attention to the more than 12.6 million annual deaths due to
pollution, Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Environment, said “what is killing us now
is our lifestyle.” He called on governments, civil society, and private
sector partners to make commitments to reduce
pollution at the third UN Environment Assembly in December 2017.
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary, urged for greater private
sector engagement with the CMS, stating that “profit does not need to be
a race to the bottom.” On pesticides, for instance, he recalled impacts
on species’ decline, citing the collapse of
vultures in Africa.
As the keynote speaker, Peter Nitschke, Plastic Bank, noted the
existence of 40 billion tonnes of plastic on earth, stating “we are
producing 300 billion kilograms of plastic annually.” He said that by
2050 the amount of plastics in the ocean could match global
fish stocks. He reported on the work of Plastic Bank with respect to
partnerships, training, and technologies that can mitigate the excessive
use of plastics. Concluding, he called for: creating new laws on waste
and their implementation; promoting public
awareness on proper waste management; establishing more public-private
partnerships; investing in a circular rather than a linear economic
model; and creating incentives for innovation in packaging and
recycling.
Participants discussed, inter alia: lack of political will and
leadership; the need to aim for zero waste; private sector opportunities
for recycling management; legislative frameworks for waste management;
communication challenges, particularly between
the private and public sectors; Bhutan’s commitment to carbon
neutrality; Kenya’s ban on plastic bags; and Sweden and Indonesia’s
investments to combat marine pollution.
Hizon concluded the debate by committing to make more people aware of
the problems of pollution through the BBC, which reaches 400 million
homes around the world, and inviting participants to join the campaign
#BeatPollution.
HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION
The High-level Panel focused on how CMS implementation can contribute to
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rico Hizon, BBC
World News, moderated the panel.
Roy Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the
Philippines, invited the panel to bring wildlife to the center of
sustainable development.
Bradnee Chambers, CMS Executive Secretary, called for a focus on the
practical aspects of interlinkages between migratory species and the
SDGs, including the multiple values of ecosystem services to sustainable
development.
In a keynote address, David Pritchard, Independent Consultant, explained
the Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023 provides an
overarching vision on how migratory species and CMS implementation can
deliver on sustainable development objectives.
John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, stressed the need to address the
intersection between people, employment, and industry in practical
terms.
Citing a “deficit in thinking,” Executive Secretary Chambers emphasized
the need to: assess the economic value of migratory species; overcome
suspicions between the CMS and sustainable development communities; and
raise awareness.
Tarsicio Granizo Tamayo, Minister of Environment, Ecuador, underscored
the importance of: moving beyond the national level in wildlife
conservation; linking conservation to poverty reduction; and
coordinating CMS with other UN conventions, including biodiversity,
climate, and desertification.
Abdul Hamid Zakri, Malaysia, stressed that migratory species are key to
human well-being. Susan Lieberman, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS),
underlined the need to look beyond the commercialization of species, and
to understand their role within intact ecosystems.
Kosi Latu, Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
Environment Programme (SPREP), argued that, although wildlife has an
economic value, cultural and spiritual values are overlooked and deserve
greater attention from leaders.
Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and
Wildlife, Sri Lanka, highlighted the dangers of people’s growing
disconnection with nature and suggested focusing on youth education.
Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities,
Uganda, underscored that conservation contributes to 80% of tourism in
Uganda, and is therefore an economic asset.
Chan Somaly, Cambodia, noted the need to integrate the value of
biodiversity into national development policies, focus on
implementation, and integrate the private sector into these efforts.
Barbara Thomson, Ministry of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, said
conservation and sustainable development are almost one and the same
thing.
Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Environment, argued there is not a deficit in thinking
but in implementation and integration, both in national governments and
the fragmented system of international conventions.
Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological
Diversity, added that another deficit is political will and called for
reaching out beyond the CMS community.
Hany Muhammed Ali Tatwany, Saudi Wildlife Authority, described how his
country has started to involve the private sector, local communities,
and the government to achieve sustainable conservation.
Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, German Parliamentary State Secretary for
Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, said the
UNESCO biosphere reserves focus on sustainable use and conservation of
resources and provide practical connections to
sustainable development.
Tamás Marhescu, International Council for Game and Wildlife
Conservation, emphasized the need to change the current sustainability
model so that the environment is the foundation rather than a pillar of
sustainability. Stefan Leiner, Acting Director General
for Natural Capital, European Commission, recommended “the wedding
cake” illustration of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, where economies
and societies are embedded parts of the biosphere, as a good basis for
interlinkages with the SDGs.
Marku Lamp, Ministry of the Environment, Estonia, urged using modern
communication channels to reach a wider audience to emphasize the
connections between migratory species and sustainable development.
José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, National Secretary for Biodiversity and
Forests, Ministry of Environment, Brazil, cited the symbolism of South
Atlantic whales as a communication tool that can reach “hearts and
minds.”
Siddhanta Das, Director General of Forests, India, underlined the
importance of strong legal systems and local community cooperation.
Ángel Daneris Santana, Deputy Minister of Protected Areas and
Biodiversity, Dominican Republic, stressed the need for capacity
building, including the creation of new livelihoods.
Echoing that strong laws deter illegal trade, Harlad Fries, Swedish
Ambassador to the Philippines, added that information and public
awareness destroy illegal markets.
CMS Executive Secretary Chambers expanded on the theme of sustainable
tourism, noting the opportunities within national parks, citing Costa
Rica’s success in generating income from sustainable tourism.
Jonas Leones, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the
Philippines, recalled that the Philippines has approximately seven
thousand islands, where migratory birds are abundant and an important
source of income for communities.
CITES Secretary-General Scanlon reminded that the SDGs are
people-centered and mentioned that if local people have a say about the
wildlife they coexist with, conservation would be more effective.
Yeshey Dorji, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan, recalled how
the notion of “happiness” has been informing national growth and
environmental conservation.
Latu noted that the philosophy of ecotourism is that a live shark,
whale, or turtle is worth more than a dead one, but to be successful,
local communities must receive social and economic benefits.
Lieberman called for ensuring that one country does not invest in
ecotourism while at the same time the species are subject to
unsustainable use elsewhere, saying collaboration across migratory
routes is vital.
Marghescu said photographic and hunting tourism are compatible, but bans lead to lost income for local communities.
Somaly said Cambodia has increased its protected areas and
ecotourism-based development. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Monaco, reported
that whale watching is a key ecotourism activity and the Oceanographic
Museum provides important biodiversity information to promote
awareness. Thomson emphasized the role of policy review to ensure full
participation and flow of benefits from ecotourism to local communities.
Granizo highlighted the importance of ecotourism in the Galapagos
Islands adding that clear standards on sustainable
use are key to managing the sector.
Schwarzelühr-Sutter urged for cooperation among CMS, CITES, and the
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations to improve management of
endangered marine species. Ssuubi called for ecotourism revenue-sharing
with populations around conservation areas. Perera
said that national parks attract visitors to rural areas. Stressing
that “we should not put all our eggs in one basket,” Costa drew
attention to the fragility of ecotourism to war and natural disasters.
Thomson highlighted the need for more effective awareness campaigns and
legal instruments to protect, conserve, and manage migratory species.
Leones underscored that community participation in conservation
initiatives is vital. Schwarzelühr-Sutter noted the
importance of focusing on human-wildlife coexistence and compensation
mechanisms.
Thiaw argued that the value of species for protecting human health is
underestimated and called for better economics to inform member states,
the private sector, and other stakeholders. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, UN
Environment Goodwill Ambassador, recalled the
“brutal” decline in wildlife and referred to it as a “wake up call.”
Leones closed the panel and invited non-parties to join the CMS Family.
IN THE CORRIDORS
As COP12 delegates ponder the interlinkages between wildlife
conservation and the SDGs, many at Sunday’s High-level Panel noted that
the theme of the meeting accurately represents their expectations:
“Sustainable Development for Wildlife and People.” Synergies
and increased cooperation between multilateral environmental agreements
is clearly a high priority for some. Others, however, are more
concerned about on-the-ground implementation, saying there’s been enough
strategy and planning, and that action on the ground
is more urgent than ever. As the 2020 deadline for the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets quickly approaches, one delegate said we’ve not
adequately dealt with the threat of habitat destruction on migratory
cycles.
Many hoped that the High-level Panel would provide the needed weight to
these interlinkages, which will be incorporated into the Manila
Declaration on Sustainable Development and Migratory Species, and
provide greater visibility to the COP message to the global
community that “their future is our future.” As one panelist commented
afterwards, we can no longer discuss species in the abstract: species
are part of the bigger picture, including the economy, human health, and
society. Others agreed that now is the time
to break the barriers between wildlife conservation and sustainable
development.
This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org>
is written and edited by Kate Helfenstein-Louw, Katherine Browne,
Pamela Chasek, Ph.D., Nicole de
Paula Domingos, Ph.D., and Dorothy Wanja Nyingi, Ph.D. The Digital
Editor is Francis Dejon. The Editors are Nienke Beintema and Pamela
Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org>. The
Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The
Earth Negotiations Bulletin is published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Sustaining Donors of the
Bulletin are the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the
Bulletin during 2017 is provided by the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety
(BMUB), Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Japanese
Ministry of Environment (through the Institute
for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Government of Switzerland (Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
(FOEN), and SWAN International. Specific funding for coverage
of this meeting has been provided by the EU and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines. Funding for
translation of the
Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of
France, Québec, and the Institute of La Francophonie for Sustainable
Development (IFDD), a subsidiary body of the International Organization
of La Francophonie (OIF). The opinions expressed
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