International Year of Biodiversity Raises Issues with Biodiversity Targets

Designated as the International Year of Biodiversity, 2010, has raised biodiversity awareness but has also invoked demands for greater biodiversity efforts to preserve its current state.  Despite targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to prevent biodiversity loss,  Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of IUCN and GEG Forum Participant, argues that “global aspirations need to be much higher than this to avert the accelerating and catastrophic decline in the variety of life forms on Earth.” The CBD has 2020 marked for ‘more modest interim’ targets and 2050 is the target date in which all biodiversity loss will have stopped. However, Marton-Lefèvre argues that these targets are not enough.  The 2020 target should be moved to 2015 and 2050 target should include preservation of ecosystems in addition to biodiversity. Download the In Nature piece, here.

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