A new website has recently been developed with tools and resources to assist governments and other stakeholders in the fight to protect endangered species and their habitats. In this blog post, we provide a few details about what it is and why it is important.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
At the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15), held in Montreal in 2022, an important announcement was made when the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted. The framework outlines a series of targets that countries around the world need to work towards for human populations to achieve a sustainable coexistence with nature. As with many international targets, whether they will be met depends on multiple factors, but if we are to halt and reverse the decline of species and natural habitats it is crucial we make every effort to achieve them on as wide a global scale as possible.
IUCN
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), created in 1948, is a membership union of government and civil society organisations working to advance sustainable development and create a just world that values and conserves nature. It is currently the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge and resources of more than 1,400 Member organisations and 16,000 experts.
The Global Species Action Plan
In recognition of the importance of the Global Biodiversity Framework IUCN experts, partners, Members, and other stakeholders collaborated to develop the Global Species Action Plan in consultation with governments and biodiversity-related conventions. This action plan is a tool to guide countries in their efforts to implement targeted actions that mitigate the loss of species and restore their habitats.
The new website - GSAP SKILLS
IUCN has now announced the opening of a new website, GSAP SKILLS. It is an online knowledge hub providing open-access user guides to the tools and resources listed in the GSAP, alongside training support, and technical guidance.
Why is it Important?
The existential threats to many species of wildlife and their habitats are a global problem, as are the behaviour patterns that are serving to worsen climate change. As such, the solutions, by definition, are also global in scale. Meetings of nations, such as the COP events, are crucial to establishing a united approach to mitigating the significant threats facing our planet. However, setting targets is only effective when implemented effectively.
Many organisations, such as The Aspinall Foundation, and governments across the globe, can utilise the tools and resources on GSAP SKILLS. With so much information to consider, the website brings together data from multiple sources, and information about the work already being done in individual projects, with a focus on achieving the targets set by the Global Biodiversity Framework.
We feel sure this will prove to be a valuable source of information for everyone involved in, or with an interest in, the work being carried out to protect vulnerable species and their habitats.