Target 9: Benefits
Addressing elements in the right order
- Sustainable management is more important than benefits, and should be at the start of the target
The target currently prioritises benefits to human beings rather than seeing ecosystems as complex wholes with many functions that may not directly benefit humans but whose damage or destruction would undermine the ecosystem’s functioning as a whole.
Elements that should be part of the target
- Pollination
Pollination is one of the most important and most vulnerable ecosystem functions both for plant and insect biodiversity as well as for food security globally
- Equitable sharing of benefits
The benefits of nature are not equitably shared and over-use by some will affect the overall availability of benefits for all
- And livelihoods
Livelihoods of millions of peoples, particularly IPLCs, small farmers, fisherfolk and women depend on the benefits of proper ecosystem functioning
- Protect customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities
Cultural, social, economic and ecological elements associated with the traditional management systems of lands, waters and territories of indigenous and local communities and their involvement in the management of these areas should be recognized, secured and protected, as they contribute to customary sustainable use of biological diversity (Source: CSU Plan of Action of the CBD)
Elements that should NOT be part of the target
- Significantly increase the contribution of sustainable bio-economy
The bio-economy is a concept that has not been defined or agreed within the CBD. In commercial circles it is a concept promoted by the biotechnology industry to describe use of biotechnological products in production processes. It is not the CBD’s role to “Increase” a particular industrial agenda but to ensure biosafety, conservation of biodiversity, equitable sharing of benefits, etc.