(Nairobi, Kenya) UN Biodiversity Scientific Body Recognizes Valuable Role of Unique Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management.

The IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment¹ highlights how around 50,000 wild species of animals, plants, and fungi are used for energy, medicine, materials, and other purposes and a fifth of the global population relies on wild plants for food and income. These species are equally fundamental for the survival of the ecosystems that support them and are a cornerstone to the livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). At the same time, the accelerating global biodiversity crisis, increasing human populations, technological advancements, and growing use and trade threaten wild species and their  vital role for people and the planet.

The Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Management of Wildlife (CPW), a partnership of 13 organizations, remains committed to continue to support and help strengthen sustainable wildlife management as one of the tools to address these challenges. This commitment was underlined during the discussions on Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) twenty-fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-25) held in Nairobi, Kenya last week. The negotiations recognized how the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) has elevated the significance of sustainable wildlife management for the conservation of wildlife. SWM can provide a ground-up approach especially contributing to  the achievement of KMGBF Target 4, which aims to  halt the decline of biodiversity and support management actions for the recovery and  conservation  of species and natural resources, as well as Targets 5 and 9, which aim to ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, and providing benefits for people – actions that go hand-in-hand with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In an effort to provide an up-to-date overview of developments in the SWM field, the CPW hosted a side event for CBD Parties and other participants on the sidelines of SBSTTA-25. During this event, the Partnership officially launched its practical work plan for 2023-2025.

With experience in producing the CBD’s Voluntary Guidance for a Sustainable Wild Meat Sector adopted at the 14^th meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the CBD (CBD CoP14) (see CBD/COP/DEC/14/7), the CPW has been recognized by the CBD Parties as a key partner that the Secretariat of the CBD. The draft decision adopted by SBSTTA25 calls on the CBD Secretariat to  collaborate with the CPW to identify other areas beyond the wild meat sector that might require complementary guidance, and to take into consideration the seven key elements[1] of effective policy for the sustainable use of wild species that were identified in the IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species.

One of CPW’s first tasks will be to collaborate with the CBD Secretariat in responding to the recommendation by SBSTTA-25 Plenary on Agenda Items 4 and 6. This will involve conducting a gap analysis, in line with the mandate of the Convention and the goals and targets of the KMGBF, to identify areas not adequately covered by existing guidance developed by relevant multilateral environmental agreements and international organisations.

The draft decision adopted by SBSTTA 25  for consideration and adoption by the 16^th meeting of the CoP to the CBD (CBD CoP16), encourages CBD Parties to work together with partners, in particular through the CPW, to develop indicators for monitoring the status of and trends in the use of wild species, social, economic and environmental benefits and the implications for groups in vulnerable situations, taking into consideration the indicators of the monitoring framework. This is something which is clearly aligned with the CPW workplan which includes an activity to begin the process to create clear and effective monitoring frameworks and indicators for the Targets relevant to wildlife – particularly Targets 4, 5 and 9.

The draft decision also contains numerous other areas where the CPW can play a role. This includes the development of guidance to address the identified gaps.  The decision also  proposes to CBD CoP16 that the Executive Secretary collaborate with the CPW, Parties and others, including IPLCs, women and youth, to facilitate regional dialogues to build a common understanding regarding the application of the seven key elements of the IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species.

Established a decade ago through CBD Decision XI/25 the CPW continues to fulfil its mission to increase cooperation and coordination on sustainable wildlife management issues among its members, where such adds value, in order to promote the sustainable management of terrestrial vertebrate wildlife in all biomes and geographic areas, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to human food security, livelihoods and well-being.

¹ Key elements from the IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species in developing and implementing policies on sustainable use are: 1) inclusive and participatory decision-making; 2) the inclusion of multiple forms of knowledge and the recognition of rights; 3) the equitable distribution of costs and benefits; 4) policies tailored to local social and ecological contexts; 5) monitoring social and ecological conditions and practices; 6) coordinated and aligned policies; and 7) robust institutions, from customary to statutory.

Notes

Read the Science Brief for Sustainable Use Targets of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for more information on the importance of KMGBF for sustainable wildlife management

Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW)

The Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) is a voluntary partnership of 13 international organisations with substantive mandates and programmes to promote the sustainable use and conservation of wildlife resources. The mission of the CPW is to increase cooperation and coordination on sustainable wildlife management issues among its members, where such adds value, in order to promote the sustainable management of terrestrial vertebrate wildlife in all biomes and geographic areas, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to human food security, livelihoods and well-being.

Current members include:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat
• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Secretariat
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC)
• International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO)
• TRAFFIC – The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

Contact

CPW Secretariat: wild-life@fao.org