Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the foundation for the survival of all living creatures and indispensable to the prosperity of humankind. The Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan was decided at a Cabinet Meeting in November 2007. This Strategy describes the basic ideas and the government's measures on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in a comprehensive way in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2010 is both the target year of the 2010 Biodiversity Target and the International Year of Biodiversity. The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture in this important year.
With an eye to this milestone year of 2010, the ministers discussed on means of promoting the conservation and sustainable use of global biodiversity, in light of the experiences of Japan, which has a long history of harmonious coexistence with nature.
Following points were reaffirmed in the discussion:
●Biodiversity constitutes the indispensable foundation of our lives and of global economic development
●Unprecedented efforts will still be needed to achieve the 2010 Target
●Support for the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the access to and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources)
As a result, the G8 ministers adopted the “Kobe Call for Action for Biodiversity” to call upon all countries to work together to promote necessary actions.
Outline of the “Kobe Call for Action for Biodiversity”
Achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target and Follow up Actions
●Encourage implementation of the ten Activities included in the “Potsdam Initiative-Biological Diversity 2010.”
●Promote international collaboration for development and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
●Promote international collaboration for preparation and publication of the 3rd Global Biodiversity Outlook.
●Initiate a dialogue process to consider options for following up the 2010 Target, including, for example, the development and adoption of a post-2010 target.
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
●Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity considering the models of sustainable natural resource management as recognized in satoyama in Japan (SATOYAMA Initiative).
●Promote sustainable forest management by addressing illegal logging and related trade, and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas
●Strengthen collaboration for designation and management of protected areas and integrate into networks of globally important ecosystems for biodiversity conservation.
●Enhance the implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
●Welcome the International Year of the Reef: 2008 as a means to raise awareness of the vital importance of coral reef ecosystems to people worldwide.
Private Sector Engagement
●Strengthen dialogue among various stakeholders including the business sector, NGOs and researchers.
●Work to mainstream the concept of biodiversity in society through, where appropriate, developing partnership with the private sector and extending exchanges of information about successful experiences and practice.
●Encourage corporate social responsibility and promote private investment in sustainable management of biodiversity.
Strengthening Scientific Capabilities for Monitoring of Biodiversity
●Further promote international collaboration in research, monitoring, assessment and information sharing of biodiversity so that impacts of climate change can also be monitored.