Target 1: Planning
Addressing elements in the right order
- 'Ecosystems and halting their loss' needs to be at the centre of the target.
This is a follow-up of Aichi target 5, and should be in line with Goal A
Elements that should NOT be part of the target
- Remove “spatial” from “spatial planning
Spatial planning can be a tool to address halting ecosystem loss, but it is not done in a
biodiversity-supportive equitable and participative way across the globe. There are other
suitable planning tools as well.
There is a danger that spatial planning could be used to identify areas for development and for offsetting, rather than as a tool for environmental integrity.
Elements that should be part of the target
- Land use change & Land use intensification
The target should make explicit use of “land use change” and “land use intensification” as
major drivers of biodiversity loss and seek to halt them.
- Natural Forests
This is a continuation of Aichi target 5 to halt the loss of ecosystems, of which forests were a
key element.
The CBD also needs to work with a definition of NATURAL forests, as the FAO definition
includes monoculture tree plantations, which undermine biodiversity. Therefore, this definition
is not compatible with the objectives of the CBD.
- Biodiversity-supportive planning
It is not sufficient to include biodiversity in the analysis of the planning process, but also to
ensure that the plans actually support biodiversity, i.a.by defining no-go areas for for-profit
activities or priority areas for biodiversity.
- Equitable Governance based participative” planning
Planning and Governance only work if there is ownership and/or governance rights over it by
rightsholders and it gets widely supported. This will only be the case if land rights are fully
respected and those who have interests in the area can participate in the planning process.
- Prioritising indigenous and other customary tenure rights.
Such planning can provide an additional tool for recognition of IPLCs rights, at a stage much earlier than designation/recognition of area-based conservation measures
- Full respect for Human Rights
As people need biodiversity primarily and necessarily to sustain the realisation of human rights to food, health, water, shelter, livelihood/work and clean, healthy & sustainable environment, such biodiversity shall not be wasted for other priorities. Human use of biodiversity must primarily sustain and fulfil human rights equally for all.
Elements to be replaced
- “Biodiversity inclusive” by “biodiversity supportive”
Biodiversity-supportive more precisely conveys the idea that processes and activities that are not protecting or sustainably using biodiversity should not be encouraged. Biodiversity is the foundation of life