COP16: Inadequate Commitments for Biodiversity – Plants and Health
The COP16 on biodiversity, known as the “COP of implementation,” concluded on November 1st in Cali, Colombia, with little progress on the central issue of mobilizing funding. Debates revolved around the concept of “biodiversity credits.” Inspired by carbon credits, whose effectiveness has been questioned by several studies, these credits are not favored by nature conservation groups and some NGOs who criticize the use of market-based instruments in the environmental sector. Advocates believe these credits could help contribute to the fund for biodiversity preservation and restoration by 2030, as outlined in the global biodiversity agreement adopted at COP15 in Montreal.
Established in 2022, the fund was only meagerly funded ($400 million) during COP16, far from the stated goal of $200 billion per year by 2030. Taking action for nature is becoming increasingly urgent, as highlighted by the new Red List of threatened species presented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). With an increase of 3,000 animal and plant species combined, approximately 166,000 species are at risk.
### State of Trees and Animals
The focus was on the state of trees, with over a third of the world’s species facing extinction. Among them are the Indian chestnut, known in Europe for its medicinal properties, the large-leaved mahogany from Latin America used in construction and furniture, numerous eucalyptus and magnolia species, and endemic species from certain islands or archipelagos. In the animal kingdom, the common hedgehog is now “almost” threatened with extinction. On a slightly more positive note, an agreement was reached to better include indigenous and local communities in negotiations on nature and climate, recognizing their invaluable ancestral knowledge.
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