Publication
Aichi Target 18 beyond 2020: mainstreaming Traditional Biodiversity Knowledge in the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal ecosystems
Publisher:
PeerJ
Date:
04-01-2021
DOI:
10.7717/PEERJ.9616
Abstract: Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) have inhabited coastal areas, the seas, and remote islands for millennia, and developed place-based traditional ancestral knowledge and ersified livelihoods associated with the biocultural use of marine and coastal ecosystems. Through their cultural traditions, customary wise practices, and holistic approaches to observe, monitor, understand, and appreciate the Natural World, IPLCs have been preserving, managing, and sustainably using seascapes and coastal landscapes, which has been essential for bio ersity conservation. The international community has more than ever recognized the central role of IPLCs in the conservation of bio ersity-rich ecosystems, in particular, for the achievement of the Global Bio ersity Targets determined by the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to tackle bio ersity loss. However, much remains to be done to fully recognize and protect at national levels IPLCs’ Traditional Bio ersity Knowledge (TBK), ways of life, and their internationally recognized rights to inhabit, own, manage and govern traditional lands, territories, and waters, which are increasingly threatened. At the 2018 4th World Conference on Marine Bio ersity held in Montréal, Canada, eight themed working groups critically discussed progress to date and barriers that have prevented the achievement of the Aichi Bio ersity Targets agreed for the period 2011–2020, and priority actions for the Post-2020 Global Bio ersity Framework. Discussions in the “Application of Bio ersity Knowledge” working group focused on Targets 11 and 18 and the equal valuation of erse Bio ersity Knowledge Systems (BKS). This Perspective Paper summarizes the 10 Priority Actions identified for a holistic bio ersity conservation, gender equality and human rights-based approach that strengthens the role of IPLCs as bio ersity conservation decision-makers and managers at national and international levels. Furthermore, the Perspective proposes a measurable Target 18 post-2020 and discusses actions to advance the recognition of community-based alternative conservation schemes and TBK to ensure the long-lasting conservation, customary biocultural use, and sustainable multi-functional management of nature around the globe.
0000-0002-4398-0083