A TERRITORIAL TO BIODIVERSITY

Transcription

1 RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH 21&22 June, 2018-Cuenca, Azuay (Ecuador) Organized by: With the technical support of:

2 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIODIVERSITY, A TERRITORIAL RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO BIODIVERSITY Cuenca-Azuay 21 & 22 June, 2018 Convention Center Hotel Oro Verde (Av. Ordóñez Lasso-Cuenca)

3 I. A Biodiversity conference in a mega-diverse territory Ecuador is one of the 17 mega diverse countries in the world. Its territory is home to 75% of the planet s vertebrate animals, that is, approximately 219 thousand species, even though it only has an extension of less than 0,1% of the Earth s surface. Due to a combination of multiple factors such as: its geographic location in the centre of the planet, the Andes mountain range and the influence of the Amazon basin together with the currents of the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador is the perfect setting for life. In addition to its continental territory, it has the Galapagos Archipelago, Natural Patrimony of Humanity. Ecuador s Constitution (2008) was conceived with a bio-centric approach, reaching the institutionalization of the Nature Rights 1, where biodiversity and ecosystem services are incorporated as cultural assets, essential for the construction of a sustainable development model, in which humans wellbeing and their right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment are a priority. That model guarantees the survival of all beings that inhabit it. The Constitution and National Development Plan are pillars of this political agenda. Both take inspiration on the roots of thought of the native people of America and propose the Good Living or Sumak Kawsay (in Quechua language), as a new way of citizen coexistence in diversity and harmony with nature. 1. Art Individuals, communities, peoples, nationalities and groups are owners and will enjoy the rights guaranteed in the Constitution and international instruments. Nature will be subject to those rights recognized by the Constitution. Art Nature or Pacha Mama, where life is reproduced and takes place, has the right to have its existence fully respected and to the maintenance and regeneration of its life cycles, structure, functions and evolutionary processes. Every individual, community, people or nationality may demand from the public authority the fulfillment of the rights of nature. To apply and interpret these rights, the principles established in the Constitution will be observed, as appropriate. The State will encourage natural and legal persons, and groups, to protect nature, and it will promote respect for all elements that form an ecosystem. 4

4 Thus, being a mega-diverse paradise and the first to recognize Nature Rights Constitutionally, Ecuador is the perfect setting for the International Conference on Biodiversity A Territorial Rights based Approach to Biodiversity, which aims to emphasize the role of regional governments to achieve the Aichi Targets and the commitments in the post 2020 framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity that this year celebrates 25 years. RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH The Conference will take place in the city of Cuenca, capital of the Azuay Province. Cuenca is the third most important city in Ecuador, recognized by UNESCO as Patrimony of Humanity. It is a city of mountains crossed by four rivers, and home to the first Ramsar wetland registered in Ecuador: El Cajas National Park. The Conference will be part of the agenda for the 194th anniversary of Azuay, celebrated on June 25 each year. II. Regional governments of Ecuador and the world: Key actors for urbanrural articulation and sustainable development In Ecuador, regional governments have been demanding a leading role to territorialize the global goals. Nowadays, with the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, it is evident that the decision and policymaking need to be oriented towards a sustainable development model, which gives visibility to rural territories and strengthens their participation in the decision-making processes, giving them a voice to contribute to planning, and receiving investments that help overcome the inequity gaps that catalyze rural abandonment and forced migration. Grouped by CONGOPE (Consorcio de Gobiernos Provinciales del Ecuador in Spanish), we insist in a holistic vision towards sustainable development, in which urban-rural articulation becomes indispensable and environmental capacities are aligned with economic development. We are responsible for provincial environmental management competencies, such as irrigation, agricultural or economic development, all key competencies for the achievement of the SDGs, specifically, 1,2,12,13 and 15, as well as the Aichi Targets. Despite this, it would seem that our role in fulfilling those goals has not been sufficiently visible; in addition to recognizing the economic difficulties and insufficient skills that have implied greater responsibilities by the National level. Due to the territorial scope of the competencies, we are the appropriate instance to assume an action plan focused on addressing direct threats to biodiversity, in the creation of spaces for democratic governance, and ecosystems management. 5

5 Provincial governments in Ecuador do not shun on responsibilities, on the contrary, demand more space in the decision-making processes, greater recognition of territorial work, and consequently, bigger effort to reach a real decentralization that responds to the needs of territories and the effectiveness of the State. In the effort to insert regional governments in the global discussions, many Provincial Governments of Ecuador together with CONGOPE have become part of the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development, nrg4sd, an international association with over 15 years track record in advocating before the United Nations System for the key role of regional governments in the achievement of the global goals on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development. Furthermore, nrg4sd promotes decentralized cooperation (North-South), exchange of experiences and mutual learning among its members, all to capacitate regional governments with leadership to implement the global goals. At present, nrg4sd acts as the Coordinator of the Advisory Committee of Subnational Governments of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In such position, nrg4sd plays a key role in the global biodiversity agenda, specifically working towards the achievement of the Aichi Targets and the involvement of regional governments in the development of the post-2020 agenda. Besides, at technical level and based on mutual learning and capacitating of regional governments, nrg4sd leads the Regions for Biodiversity Learning Platform (R4BLP), a global initiative formally recognized and backed by the CBD Secretariat. As a result of all the aforementioned, the voice of regional governments is now more present and powerful in the global discussions, and there is a formal recognition among different instances of the United Nations that the great global goals will not be achieved without an articulated multilevel work. In this sense, regional governments play a crucial role as a link between the National and local levels, as well as through the execution of their competencies, even though they vary depending on the State s decentralization, these are key for the achievement of the global goals. Nowadays the main aim is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, therefore more than ever we emphasize the role played by the regional governments in the articulation of urban and rural territories for their cohesion and balanced development. 6

6 III. 2018, a crucial year for Biodiversity: 25 year of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) The CBD is the result of an important effort led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with the purpose of generating an international instrument that allows the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and equal distribution of the benefits obtained by the utilization of genetic resources. RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH In the celebration of the CBD-COP-10, in Nagoya (Japan), another milestone was reached by resolving the Strategic Plan for Biological Diversity, which establishes the Aichi Targets: 20 goals, grouped into 5 strategic objectives, whose compliance horizon is next to expire in the year In this same framework, the X/22 Decision of the Action Plan of Subnational Governments, Cities and other Local Authorities for Biodiversity was adopted, with the aim of providing support and guidance in the implementation of the National commitments for biodiversity conservation. The decision also established the Advisory Committee of Subnational Governments, to ensure a dialogue structure among regions and the Convention s Parties. The evaluations of the progress of the Aichi Targets, such as the one presented by Conservation International and WWF in 2016, alert about the insufficient velocity for the achievement of the global goals in the year The achievement of these goals is fundamental for environmental sustainability, economy and social wellbeing, and it can become the foundation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, thus is why it is necessary to intensify our actions and commitments towards the achievement of these goals, with greater quality in our policies, financing and governance spaces that allow stopping the loss of services and functions provided by nature. At present, the CBD Secretariat and its agencies are working to generate contributions that feed the discussion of the themes to be discussed in the next Conference of the Parties (COP 14), such as the integration of biodiversity in the energy, mining infrastructure, manufacturing and health sectors. 7

7 Biodiversity in the 2030 Agenda In the international framework, leaders around the world adopted the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, a group of goals set to eradicate poverty, protect our planet and ensure prosperity for everyone. Each of the 17 goals includes specific objectives, 169 in total, which are set to be achieved in the next 12 years. SDG 15 encapsulates life on Earth and focuses on biodiversity conservation. In addition, biodiversity is a fundamental cornerstone of this comprehensive agenda, as it contributes to women empowerment, the fight against climate change and hunger, and safeguards the rights of indigenous people and native communities. Climate Change and Biodiversity Many ecosystems have the ability to adapt to a changing environment; however, this depends on their adaptation capacities, genetic diversity, migration skills and availability of habitats, as well as disturbances in their interactions and ecologic releases. Unfortunately, we are facing a panorama of gradual changes, biologically important climatic attributes like the frequency and intensity of extreme events (such as extreme temperatures and severe rainfalls) are modifying in a vertiginous way, for which some species cannot even move, let alone adapt themselves. 8 Direct human pressure onto our natural resources, added to the abrupt climate change we are facing nowadays, poses a danger to biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity also leads us to discuss fundamental issues like agro-biodiversity, which according to FAO (2007), is considered to be domesticated biodiversity of relevance for food and agriculture, constituted by: plants, animals, microbial genetic and fungal resources; necessary organisms to sustain key actions of the agro-ecosystem and interactions between abiotic factors, as well as socioeconomic and cultural dimensions, such as local and traditional knowledge. International Conference on Biodiversity A Territorial Rights based Approach to Biodiversity, on the road to CBD COP 14 The nrg4sd celebrates annually its General Assembly meeting, and this year, it will take place in Cuenca, Azuay, in its capacity of nrg4sd s President for the South. The General Assembly is an extraordinary opportunity for regional governments to get to know our association and its work. The event will be held alongside the International Conference on Biodiversity A

8 Territorial Rights based Approach to Biodiversity, which will serve as an opportunity to gather efforts and position the voice of regional governments towards the CBD-COP 14, to be held in November 2018 in Egypt. RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH The Provincial Government of Azuay, consequent with its Eco-democracy strategic planning, is member of nrg4sd since Together with CONGOPE and the technical support of the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador, Azuay proposes the celebration of this international event, which will be gathering wills and key actors until its realization on June, The Provincial Governments in Ecuador have generated spaces for debate and exchange of experiences in order to contribute to the improvement of the public management of Provincial, Municipal and Parochial GADs in the matter of conservation of the Natural Heritage, through the knowledge of a set of actions and public policies developed and implemented with remarkable success both Nationally and internationally. The National experience, added to our international peers, aims to generate a proactive and hopeful message during the Conference, which may motivate us to continue learning and acting in our territories hand in hand with civil society and academia. Conceived as a space for academic, scientific, social and political discussion on biodiversity and sustainable development, the Conference will bring the opportunity to position a cross-cutting topic affecting environment as a whole, and therefore the economic development models too. It will also mainstream the issue into the public debate, particularly through Universities, who we aspire to summon and showcase their research efforts in the topics to be discussed. General Objective: Promote and develop better strategies and decisions in all levels of government, capable of accelerating the effective and efficient implementation of biodiversity conservation commitments, as well as to create the contribution of regional governments to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 14). Specific Objectives: Identify and exchange experiences in public policies, programs and best practices led by regional governments towards biodiversity conservation in their territories. Strengthen the dialogue between regional governments and other levels of government, academia and key actors 9

9 around the biodiversity topics, to identify concrete actions in legislative and executive matters, capable of promoting multilevel articulation and the execution of projects aimed to achieve the global goals. The themes to be discussed during the Conference are: 1.- Aichi Targets, SDGs, Climate Change and the role of regional governments; 2.- Endangered species, fragile and threatened ecosystems; 3.- Gender and Biodiversity; 4.- Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity; 5.- Biodiversity integration in industrial, infrastructure and biocommerce sectors. With a methodological proposal for the work within interactive panels between speakers and public, the Conference aims to gather different levels of government, Universities and research organizations, the private sector, NGOs, and civil society that work with biodiversity and are involved in the topics to be discussed. Furthermore, the Conference aims to act as a platform for the show-case of research projects developed by Universities and related to the Conference s topics Registration and more information: Further information about the Conference will be available at and or contacting by to: ptenorio@azuay.gob.ec and nrg4sd@nrg4sd.org 10

10 RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH International Conference on Biodiversity: A Territorial Rights based Approach to Biodiversity June , Cuenca, Azuay (Ecuador). Convention Centre Hotel Oro Verde Cuenca-Ecuador. Previous event: June, nrg4sd annual General Assembly (Casa de la Provincia). Admission for no members: 20 June, 16h00. Permanent Exhibitions: 1. Exhibition on the spectacled bear conservation and the Andean baron. 2. Universities Fair: exhibition on biodiversity research projects. Fine crafts and gastronomy fair: PRODUAZUAY (toquilla, makana, footwear, jewellery, basketwork, ceramics, wood; products made with sanitary certification). 11

11 *Preliminary Agenda FIRST DAY: 21 june 09h00-09h30 Registration. 9h30-10h30: Welcome and Opening Session. Opening: Paul Carrasco (GPA); Natalia Vera (nrg4sd); Co-organizing organizations. Key-note Speakers: Tarcisio Granizo, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador (MAE-EC) The Biodiversity Plan of Ecuador: progress towards compliance with the Aichi Targets and articulation with subnational levels. CBD Delegate, The territories path for the achievement of the Aichi Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 10h45-12h00 Simultaneous panels: From Eco-Democracy to action: bottom-up strategies and participatory dialogue. Panel 1: Bottom-up strategies and participatory dialogue for the conservation of endangered species. Side Event: The spectacled bear and the Andean baron (Azuay Prefecture, Morona Santiago Prefecture, in the framework of the grant agreement with nrg4sd). Panel 2: Bottom-up strategies and participatory dialogue for the rehabilitation and conservation of ecosystems and habitats. Panel 3: Viability assessment of the Aichi Targets. 12h00-13h00 Simultaneous Panels: WOMEN AND BIODIVERSITY Panel 1: Women s role in agro-biodiversity conservation Ecosystem approach to climatic management and progress towards SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Panel 2: Women s role in Biodiversity conservation Ecosystem approach to climatic management and progress towards SDG 15: Life on land. 12h00-13h00 Simultaneous Panels: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND BIODIVERSITY. Panel 1: Dialogue on Biodiversity and indigenous peoples: The contribution of traditional knowledge and collective action for a global Biodiversity policy. Panel 2: Dialogue on Biodiversity and indigenous people: Biodiversity and sustainable development models, emphasizing agro-ecology. 12

12 13h00-14h30 LUNCH RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH 14h30-16h00 III Simultaneous Panels: PUBLIC POLICIES AND BIODIVERSITY. Panel 1: State vision, territorial planning, fragile and threatened ecosystems. Panel 2: Regulation and mitigation of human activities with pressure on biodiversity. SECOND DAY: 22 de junio 09h00-09h30: Master Conference: Challenges and opportunities for Biodiversity conservation in Ecuador (National Biodiversity Institute). 09h40-11h00: Simultaneous Panels: Biodiversity and the role of regional governments. Panel 1: Aichi Targets, SDGs and the New Urban Agenda The challenge of territorial balance and the urban-rural interdependency for biodiversity conservation. Panel 2: Regional approach for mainstreaming Biodiversity in mining, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and health sectors. Panel 3: Participatory governance models: multilevel articulation between central State and subnational governments. 11h20-13h00 REGIONS PANEL: Biodiversity, territories and climate change: regional governments for the conservation and management of Biodiversity (Examples of public-private alliances and multilevel management for biodiversity conservation, mitigation and climate change adaptation; experiences exchange of decisions and provincial programmes for the conservation of biodiversity as a tool for climate change mitigation). 13h00-14h30 LUNCH 15h00-17h00 Results, conclusions and closure: Towards the COP14: a common agenda of Regions for Biodiversity. Closure Panel: The voice of regional governments towards the COP 14 in Sharm El-Sheik, celebrating 25 years of the Convention of Biological Diversity. - Reading of nrg4sd common position towards COP

13 RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH Organized by: With the technical support of: