United Nations Decade on Biodiversity

At the initiative of Japan, COP10 recommended to the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. UNGA 65 passed Resolution 65/161, which declared the period 2011 – 2020 to be “the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, with a view to contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the period 2011-2020”.

The three objectives of the Decade are to:

• Provide a flexible framework for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
• Support and provide guidance to regional and international organizations with a role in implementation of the Strategic Plan and achievement of the Targets.
• Continue to build public awareness of biodiversity issues.
• The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020: the framework for biodiversity-related conventions The Decade is intended to be a vehicle to support and promote implementation of the objectives of this synergistic Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and to mainstream biodiversity issues into broader development planning and in the economic sectors.
• The Decade will serve as a vehicle for the implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Throughout the Decade, Parties will be encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of, time-bound national strategies for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including interim milestones, and reporting mechanisms on progress achieved.

FAO will support the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets through its instruments and availing itself of its long experience and strong track records on biodiversity. For instance FAO:

• Is the lead Agency for supporting the development and implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Agricultural Biological Diversity (CBD COP Decision V/5) and its three international initiatives on pollinators, soil and nutrition.
• Supported the work of developing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to genetic resources and Benefit Sharing and has especially worked for a special recognition of genetic resources for food and agriculture in the Protocol due to their relevance to food security.
• Signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with the CBD together with more than 25 International organizations and agencies.
• Renewed the Joint Work Plan of the Secretariats of the CBD, FAO and its Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for the decade 2011-2020 which provides a frameworks for cooperating on Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.