Nations pledge to meet Aichi targets by 2020

Dulapally: In a significant development, representatives of various nations discussed the Aichi targets for their respective countries. Aichi targets include reducing direct pressure on biodiversity and promotion of sustainable use; addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society; and improving the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity. 

India has combined some of the Aichi targets and came up with 12 National Targets. The “Aichi” targets are coming up for review for formulating new framework for Biodiversity conservation and preservation beyond 2020. The Telangana State Forest Academy hosted the Asia Youth Biodiversity Network (AYBDN) meet from October 14 to 20 at Dulapally. AYBDN is part of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBDN) established under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the United Nations (UN). After COP-11, this is the second UN program organised at Hyderabad. 

Telangana is the first state in India to start documentation of biodiversity work being done by farmers in Komram Bheem Asifabad District through Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). The participants were taken on a day-long tour to Amrabad Tiger Reserve to understand the conservation measures taken by the Telangana. 

About 40 representatives from 21 Asian countries participated. China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Malaysia, Vietnam and others took part in the workshop. The PCCF of Telangana State Forest Department P K Jha, gave away certificates to all the participants. Director of TS Forest Academy Dr K Tirupatiah presided over the closing function.