This year’s International Day of Biodiversity, on 22 May, marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). As a sister convention, we would like to warmly congratulate CBD on its 25 years of actions to protect the world’s biodiversity and its remarkable achievements at national and global levels.
The development of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, the Aichi Targets, the scientific guidance for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for biomes around the world, the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization and the creation and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans are a just few examples of the milestone achievements and major headway that has been made in the implementation of the Convention.
CITES and CBD are amongst the most widely accepted and well-known international biodiversity related agreements. The two Conventions address international concerns about biodiversity loss. Each reflects the period in which they were developed in both their focus and in their approach.
Several mechanisms have been established to promote greater co-operation in the implementation of CITES and CBD at the international level. These have included agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Convention Secretariats, references to the respective Convention within various decisions and resolutions, and in the case of CITES, adoption of a specific resolution devoted to co-operation and synergy with CBD. At Secretariat level, we have enjoyed excellent cooperation through the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions.
Biodiversity loss has an enormous impact on our planet, for both the natural environment and human beings. Safeguarding biodiversity is among of the key elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While we are still facing tremendous challenges, with the political will of the world’s governments, we can protect the world’s biological diversity. We, at CITES, will continue our collaboration with CBD to save our common heritage for this and future generations.
David Morgan
Officer in Charge
Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)