CBCDGF BCON Working Group Position Statement for CMS COP14

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) will be hosted in Samarkand from 12-17 February 2024. It is the first COP to be hosted in Central Asia, and the first major biodiversity conference since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in 2022.

We need to recognize that -

Populations of migratory species are in decline around the world. Human-caused threats, including habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, plastics pollution and global climate change, are widely recognized as drivers of these declines.

Strengthening international and transboundary cooperation for the conservation of

migratory species is imperative. Collaborative action among international community, governments, social organizations and the public is essential to improve the conservation status, achieve the recovery of threatened migratory species. 

Ecological connectivity is essential to promote habitat connectivity, maintain the health of wildlife populations, provide critical ecosystem services, and achieve the overall conservation of natural ecosystems.

The CMS Strategic Plan and concerted actions can help advance the implementation of many targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Respect indigenous peoples, local communities, women and youth to the conservation of migratory species, in particular Human-based Solutions (HbS), Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood have great potential in responding to the dramatic loss of biodiversity.

Therefore:

-The importance of “nature without borders” needs to be recognized. Maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity, including but not limited to protected species and habitats associated with the provision of ecosystem services; including, where appropriate, the establishment of additional transboundary protected areas; as well as the establishment of ecological corridors based on the best available scientific data, in accordance with international law and legislation at the national level, and the promotion of initiatives to strengthen existing corridors, improve their effective management and other effective regional conservation measures, thereby contributing to the maintenance of their functioning.

- There is a need to mainstream biodiversity conservation and migratory species priorities.

-We need synergy of policies, mechanisms and objectives among MEAs - including the three Rio Conventions, BRS Conventions, Ramsar Convention, CITES, CMS, the BBNJ Agreement, and the Plastics Treaty under negotiation, etc;

- Low-carbon transition needs to be integrated with ecological conservation to reduce the impact of global climate change on migratory species. Focus on “Peoples vs. Plastics” to reduce the long-term impact of plastic pollution on the natural environment and organisms, as well as the enormous difficulties and energy consumption required for future treatment;

- It is necessary to actively adopt nature-based solutions, recognize the value of the services of forests, grasslands, wetlands, oceans and other ecosystems in regulating climate, maintaining biodiversity, and cleaning pollution, and give play to the self-purification and resilience of nature through the protection and restoration of nature, so as to achieve a virtuous cycle of ecological environment at a low economic cost and promote the protection of biodiversity.

- The need to actively adopt Human-based Solution that recognize Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood plays an important role in promoting the effective conservation of biodiversity in areas of intensive human activity, balancing conservation and development. The important contribution of indigenous and local communities, women and youth in the protection of migrants needs to be fully respected.

Hereby, we would like to call for:

-that people of different countries and regions facing the common crisis can enhance understanding, bridge gaps to achieve timely and effective change under the guidance of scientific goals and path;

-enhancing the central role and centrality of Parties in the conservation of biological diversity and the protection of migratory species, demonstrating ambitious goals and promote practical measures to contribute to the conservation of migratory species globally through reason and wisdom. We look forward to greater consensus and cooperation among Parties;

-respecting the role of non-party stakeholders, especially the people of all countries, as the main actors in addressing climate change, and adopt Human-based Solution. Fully recognize the importance of the participation of different stakeholders in promoting scientific decision-making, equitable governance and benefit-sharing, resource complementarity and maximum synergies. Commends the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the host, Uzbekistan, for their efforts and contributions to making the Conference an inclusive occasion with the participation of as many stakeholders as possible;

-continuing to strengthen scientific research and relevant international cooperation on the protection of migratory species on a global scale, so as to provide accurate and strong basis for goals, pathways and implementation. China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation(CBCGDF) has participated in the Asian Great Bustard Action Plan since 2020. CBCGDF works with Pakistan Raptor Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre in 2023 to jointly develop a “Raptor multi-Species Action Plan” to protect raptors and make a substantial contribution to preventing their extinction.

-more countries and regions to strengthen cooperation to maintain and enhance the ecological connectivity of fragile ecosystems within transboundary habitats, transboundary protected areas and within the migration range of specific species.

We sincere hope that the successful convening of the Conference will achieve practical outcomes and gain positive evaluation from future generations, so as to provide inspiration and guidance for the future civilization and era of mankind.

Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood Working Group

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation