On 22
May 2009: the 16th International Day for
Biological Diversity
Cambridge, UK, 22 May
2009 - The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators
Partnership (2010 BIP) is a global initiative,
funded by the Global Environmental Facility
(GEF) that brings together over 40 international
organizations to develop biodiversity indicators
and assess biodiversity loss.
The 2010 BIP Secretariat,
hosted by the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring
Centre, launched a new version of its website
on the International Day for Biological
Diversity: 22 May 2009.
The website, www.twentyten.net,
will be a unique portal to provide comprehensive
information on global biodiversity indicators
and trends; with an emphasis on reporting
towards the "2010 Biodiversity Target".
The theme of 2009 International
Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is Invasive
Alien Species - which present one of the
greatest threats to biodiversity and the
ecological and economic well-being of society.
Each year the cost of damage caused by invasive
species is estimated to be in the region
of US$ 1.4 trillion. (Information: Global
Invasive Species Programme, www.gisp.org).
This year's International
Day for Biological Diversity marks the countdown
to the publication of the third edition
of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3).
The publication will be launched on IDB
(22 May) 2010, which has been designated
as the International Year of Biodiversity
the United Nations. Over the next year the
2010 BIP partners will be working together
to produce indicator results and storylines
for inclusion in this publication.
In April 2002, 191 nations
committed themselves to "achieve by
2010 a significant reduction of the current
rate of biodiversity loss at the global,
regional and national level as a contribution
to poverty alleviation and to the benefit
of all life on Earth" at the 6th Conference
of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators
Partnership was established in a response
to this target, to develop and promote the
biodiversity indicators selected by the
CBD for measuring progress towards this
target.
The 2010 Biodiversity
Indicators Partnership is a global initiative
to track progress towards achieving the
"2010 biodiversity target" to
significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity
loss by 2010.
The 2010 BIP is a collaboration
of over 40 international organizations and
agencies developing global biodiversity
indicators and is the leading source of
information on trends in global biodiversity.
The three main objectives
of the 2010 BIP are:
1. To generate information
on biodiversity trends that is useful to
decision makers.
2. To ensure improved
global biodiversity indicators are implemented
and available.
3. To establish links
between biodiversity initiatives at the
regional and national levels to enable capacity
building and improve the delivery of the
biodiversity indicators.
The website should be
available in all six languages of the United
Nations later in the year.
Quotations / comment
available from: Dr Damon Stanwell-Smith,
Project Coordinator, 2010 BIP
Dr. Matt Walpole, Head
of Ecosystem Assessment Programme, UNEP-WCMC
Ms. Anna Chenery, Communications
Focal Point, 2010 BIP
Other 2010 BIP, UNEP-WCMC
and/or GEF representatives
About UNEP
The United Nations Environment
Programme, established in 1972, is the voice
for the environment within the United Nations
system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate,
educator and facilitator to promote the
wise use and sustainable development of
the global environment. To accomplish this,
UNEP works with a wide range of partners,
including United Nations entities, international
organisations, national governments non-governmental
organisations, the private sector and civil
society.
About GEF
The Global Environment
Facility, established in 1991, unites 178
countries in partnership with international
institutions, non-government organisations
and the private sector to address global
environmental issues while supporting national
sustainable development initiatives. Today
the GEF is the largest funding organisation
of projects to improve the global environment.
An independent financial organization, the
GEF provides grants for projects related
to biodiversity, climate change, international
waters, land degradation, the ozone layer,
and persistent organic pollutants. Since
1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record
with developing countries and countries
with economies in transition, providing
US$8.3 billion in grants and leveraging
US$33.7 billion in co-financing for over
than 2,200 projects in more than 165 countries.
