The Aichi targets are a global policy effort to preserve biodiversity, established by the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and 191 countries have committed to deliver these targets by 2020. The 20 targets form a global strategic plan that aims to reduce the pressures on biodiversity and improve its status (www.cdb.int). It is clear that it will be challenging to meet these targets by 2020, but how will we be performing against biodiversity targets over the next 25 years time?
A particularly important target, from a landscape perspective, is Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, that states; “By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascapes”. Target 11 also seems to act as an overarching framework for most if not all of the other 19 Aichi targets, placing landscape approaches at the heart of Aichi target delivery (Blackie & Sunderland 2015).
This presentation will outline some of the current efforts aimed at delivering Aichi target 11 within a UK context, and where we could be in 25 years time.
Blackie and Sunderland (2015) Mapping landscape guidelines and principles to the Aichi targets. CIFOR infobrief.