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Global Biodiversity Framework Target 2
The first half of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took place from 1-24 October 2021, in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. At the second half of COP15, held in December 2022, in Montreal, Canada, Parties adopted a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) as a roadmap towards the 2050 Vision of "Living in harmony with nature". As a part of the Kuming-Montreal GBF, parties adopted its Target 2: “Ensure that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration, in order to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecological integrity and connectivity.” (Headline Indicator 2: Area under restoration.)
To accomplish this, the target specifies several elements that need to be considered:
Restoration
Restoration refers to the process of actively managing the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Restoration activities can be undertaken for a variety of reasons and across a continuum of actions. Given, the continuum of restoration activities, efforts to reach this target should be specific and identify the type of restoration being undertaken, the overall objectives being sought and the type of area or ecosystem being restored.
Effectiveness
In order for restoration activities to be effective, they need to be appropriately resourced and monitored over time. Further, the potential for restoration should not be regarded as a justification for the further degradation of ecosystems. The target does not require areas to be restored, given that restoration is a long-term process, but that effective restoration activities have been initiated.
Degraded ecosystems
Degradation refers to a persistent (long-term) reduction in the capacity to provide ecosystem services. Degraded land includes natural ecosystems which have included a loss of ecosystem functions and services and transformed ecosystems (such as agricultural areas). An assessment of degraded areas within a country is a necessary first step for monitoring the total percent of degraded ecosystems which are under restoration
Diversity of ecosystems
The target emphasizes restoring all types of ecosystems, whether terrestrial, inland water, marine, or coastal. Restoration efforts must address the unique needs and conditions of each ecosystem type to ensure effective recovery and sustainability.
Enhancing ecosystem functions and services
While restoration activities can be undertaken for various reasons, this target specifies that such activities should be undertaken for the purposes of enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecological integrity and connectivity. These different objectives should be considered in the design and implementation of actions to reach this target.
Connectivity and integrity
An area with high ecological integrity is one which has a composition, structure, function and ecological process close to that of a natural ecosystem. Connectivity ensures the maintenance of natural species habitats. Taking into account both objectives is an important consideration in the design of restoration activities.
The Twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the CBD was held in Geneva from 14 to 29 March 2022 to discuss a proposed list of indicators, including for Target 2, for consideration in developing the monitoring framework for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
To support the monitoring and supporting of Target 2, a Working Group was created in May 2022 composed of experts from FAO, CBD, UNCCD, UNEP-WCMC/BIP Ramsar, IUCN, SER/GRO, and ICRI. The Working Group has collaboratively drafted an Information Note with monitoring suggestions in June 2022.
In parallel, various headline, component and complement indicators have been proposed and were discussed in the 4th meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (Nairobi, 21-26 June 2022), and the technical meeting in Bonn (29 June - 1 July 2022). The final version has been drafted at COP 15 in Montreal (5 -17 December 2022) and submitted in the Recommendation Adopted By The Working Group On The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
FAO has supported the process across technical divisions, and with voluntary contributions from members of the Monitoring Task Force. The Information Note has now been developed to include a draft methodology and was presented during COP15 Restoration Day on 13 December 2022. The methodology has now been modified according the final indicator formulation, according to the Monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework.
Early in 2023, the working group mobilized into a partnership supporting implementation and monitoring of ecosystem restoration, with broadened membership, adding UNEP, UNDP, WRI, SEEA, Restor, CIFOR-ICRAF, CI, and WWF. The new partnership developed a Roadmap for GBF Target 2 to COP 16 and beyond.
