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WCS at CBD CoP16

October 21–November 1, 2024

"An opportunity to evaluate progress"

Achieving National Targets

Since the KM-GBF was adopted in 2022, WCS teams around the world have worked with our government partners, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners to achieve new global biodiversity targets, including spatial management to identify and conserve ecological integrity, rolling out 30x30 (conserving at least 30% of the planet by 2030), preventing the next pandemic of zoonotic origin through One Health approaches, securing the rights of Indigenous peoples and other rights holders, combatting illegal trafficking of wildlife, and more.

Canada

Target One of the Global Biodiversity Framework calls on countries to plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss. WCS Canada’s scientific research in some of Canada’s most remote landscapes supports proactive conservation policy development, land-use planning and education across the country. In the Arctic, for instance, our team is working on the impact of marine shipping/ocean noise on marine mammals and making recommendations on the Northwest Passage shipping corridor. In addition, our Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) program enables biodiversity conservation to be more easily integrated into planning and management decisions. KBAs are already being used in the country's most foundational policy strategies, including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Environment & Climate Change Canada Protected Areas Strategy.

This program supports the 30x30 goal, as well. KBAs can guide where 30x30 can be implemented for greatest impact—namely in areas that are important for biodiversity and ecosystem function. On 30x30, and safeguarding ecological integrity, WCS Canada is also supporting the identification and development of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and regional planning processes in the Ontario Northern Boreal (e.g. North French River Watershed), Yukon, and the Western Arctic.

In June, the Philippines, supported by WCS and others, held a two-day event on the National Coral Reef Program, which aims to create policies on Philippine coral reef conservation and management. This is in line with the GBF’s mandate to identify and protect high-integrity ecosystems.

“How do we balance conservation with food security and sustained income, especially for the most vulnerable populations?” asked WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim at the event. “How do we plan for future climate change scenarios and support our kapwa Pilipino (neighbors) when many of us live paycheck to paycheck? These are practical questions that we must remember as we continue our discussions on strengthening efforts to protect coral reefs.”

WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim speaks at event for National Coral Reef Program.

Last fall, the Philippines, supported by WCS, also held its first-ever workshop to launch the national rollout of the new global 30x30 target. Approximately 150 leaders from across the country attended. “The Philippines is setting a great example for Southeast Asia with its roadmap to implement 30x30,” said WCS regional director Martin Callow.

WCS Wild Audio

The Global Conservation Community Prepares for Action on Biodiversity Protection in Colombia

Listen as we speak with CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper to learn more about what brings the conservation community to Latin America and what it hopes to achieve there.