3GTW Resource Kit

Taxonomy, Biodiversity and the WSSD Plan of Implementation

“Biodiversity, which plays a critical role in overall sustainable development and poverty eradication, is essential to our planet, human well-being and to the livelihood and cultural integrity of people. However, biodiversity is currently being lost at unprecedented rates due to human activities; this trend can only be reversed if the local people benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, in particular in countries of origin of genetic resources, in accordance with article 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention is the key instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of genetic resources. A more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity will require the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries… “
(WSSD Plan of Implementation, Paragraph 44)

BioNET-INTERNATIONAL welcomes the recognition in the WSSD Plan of Implementation of the key role of taxonomy and biodiversity in sustainable development. Especially welcome is the specific reference in the Plan (para 44(s)) to the vital importance of implementation of the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) and recognition that the biodiversity objectives agreed by the world’s governments at the WSSD cannot be achieved without the provision of new resources to developing countries. The Plan Of Implementation recognition of the need to implement the GTI is perhaps the most powerful high-level commitment to taxonomic capacity building yet from governments world-wide. (Notably, earlier this year the 183 countries which are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity also reached agreement on the GTI Programme of Work , an agreement that Considers capacity development at the national and regional levels as a driving force in implementing the programme of work (CBD Decision VI/8, April 2002)).

“[Actions are needed to] Promote the implementation of the programme of work of the Global Taxonomy Initiative.”
(WSSD Plan of Implementation, Paragraph 44(s)).

Following adoption of the Plan of Implementation at the WSSD the UN General Assembly is considering endorsement of the Plan which seeks to address poverty eradication, consumption patterns, management of the natural resource base, the impact of globalisation, health and sustainable development linkages and regionally specific issues. BioNET-INTERNATIONAL is committed to being a partner in seeking to help implementation of the agreements made at Rio in 1992 and in Johannesburg in 2002.

More information
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs.html

3GTW Statement to WSSD on Taxonomy and Sustainable Development