Today was day of new beginnings. The Congress saw launches of reports and hundreds of people engaging in inspiring, positive initiatives. This was all followed by meeting with some fantastic organisations, whom I hope to write about in future posts!
#NatureforAll is a movement to inspire a new generation of thinkers and doers, encouraging people to connect with nature and take action to support its conservation. The idea is very simple: the more people experience, connect with, and share their love of nature, the more support there will be for its conservation.
The #NatureForAll Pavilion is one of nine thematic pavilions as part of the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress, and serves as a creative and attractive central gathering place for delegates. For example, ‘fireside chats’, complete with artificial camp fires, begin each day of the Forum, allowing delegates to share stories and experiences in an informal setting! A ‘wildlife DJ’ whose raps incorporate sounds he has found in nature, provided entertainment during the Official Launch event, and just shows that you can combine your passions and indeed incorporate nature into the most atypical ways!
Another launch today was of the Panorama platform, a partnership promoting examples of inspiring, replicable solutions across a range of conservation and development topics, to enable cross-sectoral learning and the upscaling of successes. Blue Solutions largely manages the marine and coastal side of things, of which there are currently 114 published solutions online and accessible to all.
Panorama makes it far easier to be able to access solutions to conservation problems that may have previously been largely overlooked, and provides a platform to allow practitioners to share their stories of success and best practise. It can be accessed online via panorama.solutions.
The evening saw the launch of the Protect Planet Report 2016. In 2010, the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2010-2020 and its 20 associated Aichi Biodiversity Targets. These are measurable targets that the Parties should strive towards. Examples include:
Some examples of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets are:
- Target 5: At least halve and, where feasible, bring close to zero the rate of loss of natural habitats, including forests by 2020
- Target 11: By 2020, have at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of marine and coastal areas
The Protected Planet Report 2016 assesses how protected areas contribute to achieving these Aichi Biodiversity Targets, highlighting current research and case studies that show the role protected areas play in conserving the world’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. At present, just under 15% of the world’s terrestrial and inland waters and just over 10% of the coastal and marine areas within national jurisdiction (those normally within 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coast) are protected. With Obama’s recent announcement of the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, we are now even closer to achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 11!
Ocean Optimism has also made some great connections whilst here today at the Congress, namely Louise Ruddell, founder of the UK-based shark conservation charity, FinFighters, and Anna Oposa, ‘Chief Mermaid’ at Save Philippine Seas. Both are huge supporters of the Ocean Optimism movement, so watch this space – we hope to have more from them very soon!
Natasha is a marine biologist and lead ocean optimist. She graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2014 with a Master of Research in Marine Ecosystem-based Management. She currently works in central London regarding fisheries policy and is also an active member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.