19th January 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

International University Network on

Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD)[1]

Prof Pierluigi Bozzi, IUNCBD International Coordinator, email: p.bozzi@yahoo.it, tel/Whatsapp: 0039 3358176781

Mrs Cicilia Wangari Githaiga

Coordinator IUNCBD Kenya Thematic Research Group on Biodiversity Law, Indigenous Peoples and Gender

Advisor IUNCBD Women-Gender Unit for Africa

email: githaigaadvocate@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp +254 (0) 740635632

Ms Njoki Wango

Coordinator IUNCBD Kenya Students Coordination Unit (K-ISCU) – Chapter University of Nairobi

Advisor IUNCBD Women-Gender Unit for Africa

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi

email: virginiawango@gmail.com, Tel/Whatsapp: +254 (0)720836696

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Zoom-Webinar on the CBD preparatory process of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework scheduled on 24th January 2020, at 2:30 pm Kenya time. Further information will be provided.

For enquiries and interviews please contact: IUNCBD Communication Research Team: Mrs Cicilia Wangari Githaiga, Mrs Njoki Wango

Full citation: “”Zero Draft” published to negotiate the biodiversity milestone policy for the planet in the decade 2020/2030 and beyond”, Pierluigi Bozzi, Cicilia Wangari Githaiga, Njoki Wango, Published Online: 2020 January 18, International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD), URL Upon Publication

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MEDIA RELEASE[2]

“Zero Draft” published to negotiate the biodiversity milestone policy for the planet in the decade 2020/2030 and beyond

The Zero Draft[3] is a stepping stone in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) preparatory process of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The historic CBD binding Decision on the Post2020 Framework will be of paramount importance since it will mark the environmental and sustainability international policy, guiding and framing national policy and actions for the decade 2020/2030 and beyond.

The preparation of the CBD Post2020 Framework – similar to the 2013/2015 agenda culminated with the approval of the SDGs – is an extraordinary participatory process opened to consultations with institutions and stakeholders who have the unique opportunity to present their views, principles, targets, indicators, baselines to shape the final draft of the CBD Post2020 Framework that will be negotiated and approved by governments at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP15) in China in October 2020.

Stakeholders can sent to the CBD Secretariat their position by 2nd February 2020. However after this first important step stakeholders will continue to participate in the process until the final negotiation and approval of the CBD Post2020 Framework in October 2020 and during the further implementation of the Decision in the next years.

So far no or few positions have been submitted by national stakeholders.

This phase of the CBD Post2020 process offers a huge opportunity for national stakeholders to play a key role internationally and nationally highlighting the experiences, challenges, needs and objectives that the rich context of Kenya and Peru can provide.

The CBD Post2020 Framework will be the policy response to the alarming conclusions of the “Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services”[4] – recently approved by the Intergovernmental Science/Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) – that pointed out the “unprecedented” nature’s dangerous decline and accelerating rates of species extinction that heavily affect life on earth.

IPBES and the international CBD community recognize the failure of approaches and measures adopted in the previous decades to halt the loss of biodiversity and achieve sustainable and equitable use of ecosystems and natural resources calling upon a radical structural change – “transformative change” - in environmental policy as well as in the participation of society. Overcoming opposition from vested interests is a key element identified for a new effective policy.

The International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD) and its Kenya’s and other national representatives launch the Science-Policy-Society Awareness&Research Initiative on the CBD Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework identifying Kenya and Peru as priority countries for their biodiversity and cultural diversity richness as well as for the commitment so far shown by local institutions and stakeholders in this field.

In accordance with the IUNCBD Biodiversity 2020 Action Plan “Linking Education Science Policy and Society” the natural and socio-economic context of Kenya and Peru is an appropriate environment to build international-local pivotal activities for the preparation of the CBD Post2020 Framework and its further implementation in the incoming years.

IUNCBD is available to provide assistance and consider partnerships on the CBD Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework preparation and implementation as well as on the other advanced Biodiversity and Sustainability Policy Agendas.

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Background of the CBD Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The CBD has the largest scope among all the Multilateral Environmental Agreements and in accordance with international law its Decisions are legally binding instruments in all the member States, among them Kenya.

The scope of the CBD includes thematic biomes Programmes from forest to mountain and marine biodiversity. The agricultural biodiversity Programme directly influences all the farming, livelihood and food security issues.

Moreover the CBD provides biodiversity related initiatives and measures on cross-cutting issues such as climate change, sustainable use of ecosystems and biodiversity components, protected areas, wildlife management, ecological restoration, invasive alien species, gender, economic incentives and trade, health, education, scientific cooperation, capacity building, traditional knowledge, peace dialogue, among others.

In safeguarding life on Earth the CBD Decisions directly affects also sectorial and economic policies mainstreaming biodiversity in agriculture, forestry, fishery, tourism, energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing sectors.

Two international agreements implement the CBD in other important fields: the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity and human health.

Art 6 of the CBD creates an obligation for national biodiversity decision-making and planning. Each country has to implement the Convention and its Decisions in all the sectors. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the policy instrument required to comply with the CBD obligations. However so far despite the rigorous system of international law – that is reflected in national measures – compliance and implementation on the ground of the CBD obligations and of the consequent national measures remain an unsolved challenge. Among others this challenge can include:

• lack of information&knowledge, understanding, awareness and vision on the public goods and benefits provided by the CBD implementation
• resistance from inefficient and inequitable economic system, oppositions from vested interests and privileged abnormal surplus positions, opportunistic economic behaviours
• inefficient international/national institutional structure and inability to adopt appropriate public sector interventions as well as communicate, reach out and involve society
• lack of coordination and holistic policy with disconnections between different social and economic sectors
• limited capacity of decision makers to assess complex systems, introduce innovative institutional arrangements and effectively implement policy measures
• inadequate educational and scientific system disconnected from policy and unable to really impact on the ground – on conservation and sustainability
• very limited role and participation of society due to insufficient access to information&knowledge, very restricted access to rights and decision making, and consequent lack of ownership

The CBD Strategic Plan 2010-2020 is the most comprehensive and largest Decision with its vision, mission, strategic goals and “Aichi biodiversity targets”[5].

The CBD Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – that will include the Nagoya and Cartagena Protocols – will be the new utmost and ambitious Decision to govern biodiversity in the planet in the next decade and beyond as a fundamental step towards the 2050 vision “living in harmony with nature”.

In accordance with the CBD Decision, the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will be the biodiversity policy guidance not only under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols, but also for the other multilateral environmental agreements and concerned international processes and instruments. Therefore considering the broad scope of the CBD and its Protocols and their legally binding nature, the Post2020 Framework will also complement, complete and strengthen the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development in many areas of interventions.

In the intention of the international community the Post2020 Framework should address the structural and institutional “transformative change” needed to overcome the unsolved challenges in biodiversity policy and participation of society.

One of the most powerful instrument proposed by stakeholders to achieve this result is the ‘human rights approach’ that wants to reverse the vision and legal baseline of the environmental policy recognizing the rights to the diversity of healthy life on earth and the rights to an equitable sustainable use of its resources as fundamental human rights. However there is no mention of the ‘human rights approach’ in the Zero Draft, the inclusion of which will be one of the important discussions in the next months.

The fundamental role of education at all levels and research capacity in higher education and postgraduate studies is completely underestimated in the Zero Draft. Education and research capacity – as well as traditional educational processes of indigenous peoples and local communities – are pillars of the fabric of society.

So far in the majority of cases the educational and scientific system is disconnected from policy and unable to really impact on the ground – on conservation and sustainability, on societal behaviours.

No transformative change is achievable without transformative change in education and research policy, recognizing their primary role, providing adequate support and bridging the gaps of coordination and knowledge with environmental and sustainability policy.

The educational and scientific system ultimately grow not only responsible and capable citizens but also the future policy/decision makers and entrepreneurs, who have the highest responsibility to change institutional social and economic behaviours and achieve the Post2020 biodiversity and sustainability goals.

The CBD Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework process

Considering the need to involve a large audience, Decision 14/34[6] of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Regional consultative meetings and the first meeting of the Open ended Working Group on the CBD Post 2020 Framework have already taken place. The second meeting of the Working Group will be held in Kunming, China, 24-29 February 2020, and the last third meeting will be held in Cali, Colombia, in July 2020.

The Zero Draft is open for consideration and views on possible targets, indicators and baselines related to the drivers of biodiversity loss as well as on species conservation and the mainstreaming of biodiversity across sectors in relation to the development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

International and national institutions, governments, the scientific community, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, private sector are invited by the CBD Secretariat to submit their positions by 3rd February 2020.

Participation and contributions of governments and stakeholders will continue in different forms until the 15th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China, October 2020.

Why is it important to engage in the CBD Post2020 process?

The CBD Post2020 Framework will guide the manner in which countries govern their environment, ecosystems and biological resources. The CBD Decision will influence the future of the human society considering that biodiversity is key to sustain life on earth. Conservation and ecological restoration are the complementary objectives of a new policy that will be based on the ecological and ‘institutional connectivity’ needed to shift the ‘silos paradigm’ of disconnected geographical interventions and incoherent policy measures of isolated socio-economic sectors.

The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development has already pointed out that partnerships in policy and society are crucial to achieve results.

Marine and coastal ecosystems and blue economy need special attention. Their extraordinary richness and the potential for a sustainable economic development of countries are not adequately considered so far.

‘Green-Blue Connectivity and Partnership’ can be a new paradigm to overcome these challenges.

These considerations are particularly true for countries like Kenya and Peru that heavily relies on its natural resources and biodiversity potential for health, agriculture, food, tourism and economic development.

Ecological conservation&restoration are key to Kenya’s and Peru’s strategies to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as preserve the integrity and connectivity of terrestrial and marine-coastal ecosystems.

In the previous decades Kenya and Peru have demonstrated their leading role in the environmental field in Africa, Latin America and beyond. However many challenges curb the potential of the country to fully rely on its biological and cultural richness. The engagement in the CBD Post2020 process can greatly foster the involvement and capacity of decision makers and stakeholders, the adoption of innovative measures and the implementation of effective collective actions for a pilot transformative change in Kenya and Peru.

However the biodiversity and sustainability goals can only be achieved through transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors.

In accordance with the IUNCBD Network Action Plan Biodiversity 2020 “Linking Education Science Policy and Society” the role of education and academia is central in this exciting partnership process.

The Zero Draft in-depth

Considering the need of a “transformative change” the proposed Zero Draft Post2020 Framework is shaped on the basis of a “theory of change” approach, defined as “a strategic planning framework used to help plan, implement and evaluate the impacts of the actions taken”. This transformative change conceptual and strategic planning framework is an attempt to systematize in a coherent and synthesized manner the inter-linkages between the purpose of the Post2020 Framework, its vision, goals, mission, targets and actions to be taken.

The transformative conceptual framework “provides a tool for organizing measurable goals and solutions, and for evaluating them”. It allows stakeholders “to articulate challenges, work together towards common goals, use the same language when sharing information on the status of implementation, and ensure that collective actions are aligned towards achieving the greatest possible impact”.

The Zero Draft Post2020 Framework – contained in the annex 1 of the CBD Zero Draft Document – is subject to comments, new elements and even radical structural changes, and is synthesized as follows. The original document is recalled for more details.

The Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

1. Introduction
   1. Background
   2. The Purpose
   3. Theory of Change

“The theory of change recognizes that urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform economic, social and financial models so that the trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize in the next 10 years (by 2030) and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050 to achieve the Convention’s vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050” ”

1. The Framework
2. Vision

“The vision of the Framework is a world of living in harmony with nature where: By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”

1. 2030/2050 Goals

• No net loss by 2030 in the area and integrity of freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and increases of at least [20%] by 2050, ensuring ecosystem resilience;
• The percentage of species threatened with extinction is reduced by [X%] and the abundance of species has increased on average by [X%] by 2030 and by [X%] by 2050;
• Genetic diversity is maintained or enhanced on average by 2030, and for [90%] of species by 2050;
• Nature provides benefits to people contributing to:
  1. Improvements in nutrition for at least [X million] people by 2030 and [Y million] by 2050;
  2. Improvements in sustainable access to safe and drinkable water for at least [X million] people, by 2030 and [Y million] by 2050;
  3. Improvements in resilience to natural disasters for at least [X million] people by 2030 and [Y million] by 2050;
  4. At least [30%] of efforts to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement in 2030 and 2050.
• The benefits, shared fairly and equitably, from the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge have increased by [X] by 2030 and reached [X] by 2050.

1. 2030 Mission
2. 2030 Action Targets[7]

“The Framework has 20 action-oriented targets for 2030 which, if achieved, will contribute to the

outcome-oriented goals for 2030 and 2050″. The targets are divided in seven sections:

• Reducing threats to biodiversity
• Meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing
• Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming
• Implementation support mechanisms
• Enabling conditions
• Responsibility and transparency
• Outreach, awareness and uptake

However deep discussions are expected on the proposed transformative conceptual framework and theory of change as well as on the structure and elements of the proposed Post2020 framework.

Pierluigi Bozzi

Prof Pierluigi Bozzi
Coordinator
International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD)
established under the agreement with the UN Secretariat of
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Coordinator Partnership – International Sustainable Development Society (ISDRS) &
International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD)

Coordinator Research-Teaching Programme
“Cultural and Biological Diversity Policy and Management”
Department of Economics
University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
A.S.J.A. St Joseph University, Antsirabe, Madagascar
Phone/Whatsapp: +39 3358176781 email: p.bozzi@yahoo.it

NOTES

[1] The International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD) – non profit scientific organization – is the only global academic network on biodiversity and was established under the agreement with the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN-CBD).

IUNCBD has identified Kenya and Peru as a priority countries in accordance with the “IUNCBD Action Plan Biodiversity 2020: Linking Education Science Policy and Society”.

[3] CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), CBD/WG2020/2/3, Zero Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity, Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, 2nd Meeting, Kunming, China, 24-29 February 2020, Montreal, 2020,

https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/efb0/1f84/a892b98d2982a829962b6371/wg2020-02-03-en.pdf

[4] Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), “Summary for Policymakers of the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”, 2019, Link: https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/inline/files/ipbes_global_assessment_report_summary_for_policymakers.pdf

[5] CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), UNEP/CBD/COP/DEC/X/2, Decision adopted by the conference of the Parties to the convention on Biological Diversity at its Tenth Meeting, The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Montreal, 2010,

https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-10/cop-10-dec-02-en.pdf

[6] CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), CBD/COP/DEC/14/34, Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its fourteenth meeting Decision 14/34 – Comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, Montreal, 2018, https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-34-en.pdf

CBD 2010. Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada, http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

[7] CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), CBD/WG2020/2/3, Zero Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity, Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, 2nd Meeting, Kunming, China, 24-29 February 2020, Montreal, 2020

“D. 2030 Action Targets:

(a) Reducing threats to biodiversity

1. Retain and restore freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, increasing by at least [50%] the land and sea area under comprehensive spatial planning addressing land/sea use change, achieving by 2030 a net increase in area, connectivity and integrity and retaining existing intact areas and wilderness.
2. Protect sites of particular importance for biodiversity through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, by 2030 covering at least [60%] of such sites and at least [30%] of land and sea areas with at least [10%] under strict protection.
3. Control all pathways for the introduction of invasive alien species, achieving by 2030 a [50%] reduction in the rate of new introductions, and eradicate or control invasive alien species to eliminate or reduce their impacts by 2030 in at least [50%] of priority sites.
4. Reduce by 2030 pollution from excess nutrients, biocides, plastic waste and other sources by at least [50%].
5. Ensure by 2030 that the harvesting, trade and use of wild species, is legal and at sustainable levels.
6. Contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster risk reduction through nature-based solutions providing by 2030 [about 30%] [at least XXX MT CO2=] of the mitigation effort needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, complementing stringent emission reductions, and avoiding negative impacts on biodiversity and food security.

(b) Meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing

7. Enhance the sustainable use of wild species providing, by 2030, benefits, including enhanced nutrition, food security and livelihoods for at least [X million] people, especially for the most vulnerable, and reduce human-wildlife conflict by [X%].
8. Conserve and enhance the sustainable use of biodiversity in agricultural and other managed ecosystems to support the productivity, sustainability and resilience of such systems, reducing by 2030 related productivity gaps by at least [50%].
9. Enhance nature-based solutions contributing, by 2030, to clean water provision for at least [XXX million] people.
10. Enhance the benefits of green spaces for health and well-being, especially for urban dwellers, increasing by 2030 the proportion of people with access to such spaces by at least [100%].
11. Ensure that benefits from the utilization of genetic resources, and related traditional knowledge, are shared fairly and equitably, resulting by 2030 in an [X] increase in benefits.

(c) Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming

2. Reform incentives, eliminating the subsidies that are most harmful for biodiversity, ensuring by 2030 that incentives, including public and private economic and regulatory incentives, are either positive or neutral for biodiversity.
3. Integrate biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts, ensuring by 2030 that biodiversity values are mainstreamed across all sectors and that biodiversity-inclusive strategic environmental assessments and environmental impact assessments are comprehensively applied.
4. Reform economic sectors towards sustainable practices, including along their national and transnational supply chains, achieving by 2030 a reduction of at least [50%] in negative impacts on biodiversity.
5. Resources, including capacity-building, for implementing the framework have increased from all sources so that by 2030 resources have increased by [X%] and are commensurate with the ambition of the targets of the framework.14
6. Establish and implement measures in all countries by 2030 to prevent potential adverse impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity.
7. People everywhere take measurable steps towards sustainable consumption and lifestyles, taking into account individual and national cultural and socioeconomic conditions, achieving by 2030 just and sustainable consumption levels.
8. Promote education and the generation, sharing and use of knowledge relating to biodiversity, in the case of the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities with their free, prior and informed consent, ensuring by 2030 that all decision makers have access to reliable and up-to-date information for the effective management of biodiversity.
9. Promote the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and of women and girls as well as youth, in decision-making related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, ensuring by 2030 equitable participation and rights over relevant resources.
10. Foster diverse visions of good quality of life and unleash values of responsibility, to effect by 2030 new social norms for sustainability.

iuncbd.org.

IUNCBD attended as accredited observer the   FAO Committee on World Food Security (CFS)   (Rome, 2018-10-15th/19th). CFS is the   foremost inclusive international and   intergovernmental platform for all   stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. CFS is the high body responsable for the IMPLEMENTATION of the Sustainable Development GOAL 2 on zero hungher, food security and agriculture. CFS reports to the UN General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and to FAO Conference. Please follow the CFS: http://www.fao.org/cfs/home/en/

Among other issues, the following central elements in the IUNCBD mission are at the core of the CFS policy guidance and recommendations: Ending Hungher, Right to Food, Agrobiodiversity, Agroecology, Organic Agriculture, Small Holders and Family Farming, Underutilized Varieties, Biodiversity Value for Nutrition and Healthy Diet, Traditional Knowledge and Rural Systems, Traditional Diet, Sustainable Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food Security and Nutrition.

UN Committee on World Food Security 2018 – IUNCBD attends as Observer iuncbd.org.

PhD Scholarship CIFOR: Citizen science to improve water provisioning and landscape management in the ‘water towers’ of East Africa iuncbd.org.

Fieldworks 2014

Chinhoyi University of Technology is a member of the IUNCBD Network since 2012. The CUT-IUNCBD Research-Teaching-Outreach International Programme “Biodiversity Science, Indigenous Knowledge, Local Communities and Policy Interface” was approved by Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) as core initiative for the participation in the IUNCBD Network. The CUT-IUNCBD Programme is directly linked to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN-CBD), the Work Programme of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) and the other complementary policy agendas of international agreements and organizations.   The former Department of Wildlife and Safari Management and – since January 2014 – the School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation have developed significant activities in the field of biodiversity and have started communities oriented initiatives at the interface between cultural and biological diversity. Field studies have been carried out in partnership with Umfurudzi Park. The photo gallery shows the training activities of the students in the 2013 and 2014 missions.   The School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation showcases quite a diverse range of disciplines in the areas of aquatic ecology, conservation, freshwater and fishery sciences, natural resources management and conflict resolution, ornithology, terrestrial ecology and more. The School offers two programs: degree in Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation and degree in Freshwater and Fishery Sciences. Projects include prestigious awards from research funders: the International Foundation for Science (IFS), the British Ecological Society (BES), the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and Oxfam GB, among others. The School also collaborates with strategic partners: Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority, Birdlife Zimbabwe, Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe, Umfurudzi Park, Pioneer, Hurungwe Safaris, Ubuntu Unleashed, East African Lakes Observatory Network. Representatives of the School are part of several national boards such as Zimbabwe National Biodiversity Forum, the UNDP Equator Initiative Prize Technical Review Committee, the World Commission on Protected Areas (WPCA) and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB).

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Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Zimbabwe – brief introduction iuncbd.org.

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: VI ANNUAL IBADAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT (ISDS) 2015 iuncbd.org.

The IUNCBD network participates to this Conference, marking the final year of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD: 2005-2014). This Stakeholders Meeting is regarded as one of the major stakeholder meetings to be held prior to the UNESCO World Conference on ESD (10-12 November).   The conference reflects on the successes and challenges the RCE movement has faced, with a view to charting a post-2014 agenda in reference to the Global Action Programme on ESD. The major objective of the Conference is to identify a tangible commitment of the RCE community to effective ESD implementation beyond 2014. Input and recommendations based on the discussions will be shared at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD. This will be a great opportunity to bring together a wide variety of stakeholders – from cities, communities, governments, the private sector, international organizations, and academia – to share experiences and expertise as well as to discuss and launch activities that reinforce the fundamental role that education plays in achieving a sustainable future worldwide. IUNCBD representatives will actively attend the Conference, bringing the standpoint of the network members to the debates on the achievements, challenges and opportunities of the Regional Centres of Excellence mobilised to deliver education for sustainable development (ESD)

THE 9TH GLOBAL RCE CONFERENCE (Stakeholders’ Meeting) Okayama, Japan 4 to 7 November 2014 iuncbd.org.

The University of Ibadan Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), a member of IUNCBD Network since July 2014.organized the 5th Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit (ISDS). Held during August, 25-29, 2014, the ISDS was organized in collaboration with the African Sustainable Development Network (ASUDNET) and Nigeria Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NSDSN). It counted with the support from several international donors.   At its fifth edition, this yearly summit is becoming a notable event at national and international scale. The  theme chosen for the 2014 edition was “Sustainable Development in Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post-colonial Africa: Issues and Contexts.”  The keynote speeches were delivered by two outstanding experts such as Professor Sola Olopade, Clinical Director, Centre for Global Health, University of Chicago, USA, and Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, USA. The Coordinator of IUNCBD, Professor Pierluigi Bozzi, delivered a presentation titled “The future of sustainable development: linking education science policy and society”   The Research topics addressed by the summit include: Development models and their sectorial impacts; Inter-generational analysis of politics, leadership and governance; Perspectives of sectorial development (health, agriculture, education, transport and infrastructure, industry, business, entrepreneurship, oil and gas, housing, among others); Indigenous knowledge and development practices, tourism and heritage management; Environmental and natural resources management; Africa in the dynamic world of science and technology; Regional economic blocks, partnerships and education for sustainable development in Africa; Conflicts in pre-colonial, colonial and post- colonial Africa. A rich panel of Invited international experts, scholars, researchers, and students presented a total of 84 papers, for an audience of over 180 participants, including researchers, development practitioners and students from USA, Italy, Finland, Ghana, and Nigeria. The summit concluded with policy recommendations with far-reaching implications for development practice and sustainable development solutions in Africa.

FIFTH ANNUAL IBADAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT (ISDS) CESDEV Ibadan University, Nigeria AUGUST 25 – 29, 2014 iuncbd.org.

“Establishment of the IUNCBD University Network – Chepkoilel University Centre for Culture and Biological Diversity”, Eldoret, 2011 November 28th iuncbd.org.

Photo Gallery International Biodiversity Day>>

The IUNCBD University Network celebrated the  International Day for Biological Diversity at Arba Minch University (AMU), Ethiopia.  Arba Minch University – IUNCBD Network member – hold the  “4th Symposium on Biodiversity and Nature Conservation – Aquatic Biodiversity”, 2013 May 22-23. Arba Minch University is located in an astonishing cultural and biological diversity spot area in the South of Ethiopia. Research papers on the following topics have been invited to be presented at the Symposium: Theme 1: Water and Biodiversity Water Resources Management Watershed Management and Restoration Aquatic Biodiversity Inland Water Biodiversity  Theme 2: Ecosystem and Biodiversity Ecosystems Analysis, Protection & Remediation Biodiversity Conservation & Management Environmental Impact Assessment Terrestrial Biodiversity Wetland Biodiversity Agro-biodiversity  Theme 3: Alternative Energy Sources Energy Resources Management Bio-fuels Technology Renewable Energy Production  Theme 4: Climate Modeling & Natural Resources Climate Change & Natural Resources Management Biodiversity in a Changing Climate Carbon Trading  5: Societal Challenges Gender and Natural Resources Conservation Human Population Growth Vis-à-vis Biodiversity Social and Cultural Issues in relation to Biodiversity and Natural Resources Biodiversity Conservation Vis-a-Vis Poverty Reduction Economics of Biodiversity Intellectual property, Biogenetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Biodiversity and Tourism Development

4th Symposium on Biodiversity and Nature Conservation – Aquatic Biodiversity , Arba Minch University (Ethiopia), 2013 May 22-23 iuncbd.org.

prova iuncbd.org.