122 - Conserving and protecting coral reefs through the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

122 - Conserving and protecting coral reefs through the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Latest version in this language: Version for electronic vote | Published on: 01 Sep 2020

NOTING that coral reefs are found in more than 100 countries, cover only 0.2% of the sea floor, but support at least 25% of marine species and underpin the wellbeing, food and economic security of hundreds of millions of people;

FURTHER NOTING the unique vulnerability of coral reefs to anthropogenic impacts, including global threats from climate change and ocean acidification, as well as local impacts from land-based and maritime pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing practices;

CONCERNED that global assessments have found that live coral cover has declined by almost 50% since 1870, and that this decline is accelerating;

FURTHER CONCERNED that Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have not achieved Aichi Target 10, which seeks to maintain the “integrity and functioning” of coral reefs, and that the 6th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) report advised governments to prepare for the decline and possible collapse of coral-reef ecosystems;

WELCOMING the efforts of CBD Parties and other stakeholders, including the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in developing a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, within the context of the 2050 vision, that considers coral reefs;

RECALLING Recommendation 6.106 Cooperation for the conservation and protection of coral reefs worldwide (Hawai‘i, 2016) which asks states to “develop and strengthen international, regional and national initiatives on the conservation of coral reefs…,” as well as Resolution UNEP/EA.4/RES.13 Sustainable coral reefs management adopted by the 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4, Nairobi, 2019), which calls for “…enhanced streamlining and coordination of the numerous international policy instruments” related to coral-reef conservation; and

WELCOMING the commitment of G7 Environment Ministers and IUCN Government Members to “continue strengthening the conservation/protection of coral reefs…”, and to promote and contribute to the work on the development of “a new coral reef target as part of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework”;

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, at its session in Marseille, France:

1. CALLS ON IUCN Members, government agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to:

a. explicitly recognise and incorporate the unique contribution of coral reefs in efforts to achieve existing international goals, including the CBD Aichi Targets, the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to strengthen regional and global cooperation in this regard;

b. work towards the prominent inclusion of coral-reef ecosystems in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, noting this may be as a measurable, outcome-based 2030 target, as well as in the monitoring frameworks or any other elements of the framework, and to prioritise coral-reef integrity and functioning, including the provision of ecosystem services;

c. engage in ICRI’s Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, including through participation in regional networks and the application of indicators and best practice identified through the Network, to strengthen local and global monitoring capacity; and

d. encourage and support the identification of financing mechanisms for coral-reef ecosystems, to support remedial measures, monitor coral reef status, improve governance mechanisms, and implement resilience-based management for coral reefs with a view to achieving relevant global goals; and

2. REQUESTS the Director General and Secretariat, to promote all elements of paragraph 1 above, and most urgently paragraph 1b, in IUCN’s provision of advice to CBD Parties relevant to the adoption of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Retaining and improving the health and function of coral reefs is an important key to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030. Shallow, warm water coral reefs occur in the waters of more than 100 countries with 85% of these reefs under the jurisdiction of just 25 states. Coral reefs support food systems, economies, human health and have important cultural significance. The urgency of addressing coral reef decline remains and warrants special attention.

Recent global assessments show coral reefs to be on a catastrophic trajectory. Almost 50% of living coral has been lost since 1870 and the losses are accelerating. In light of predicted global population growth and climate change scenarios, direct and indirect pressures on coral reefs will continue to increase over the next 30 years to 2050 and beyond.

Aichi Target 10 is not appropriate to carry forward in its current form, however it did succeed in drawing attention to coral reefs and stimulated increased activity and funding for marine conservation. Pressures on coral reefs have increased and coral reef ecosystems continued to decline. Poor implementation has been attributed to complex, ambiguous wording without clear ambition, and challenges addressing multi-sectoral pressures. The timeline was unrealistic and supporting guidance and tools were late; the required monitoring and data not available making it impossible to measure progress.

There are more than 230 international policy instruments related to coral reefs, 73 binding instruments at the global and regional scale, and 591 commitments. For society to continue to benefit from coral reefs substantialy, coherent and effective implementation needs urgent attention, as committed to by States through UNEA Resolution UNEP/EA.4/13.

It has been shown that proactive policies to protect and restore the health of the world’s coral reefs have potential to generate substantial economic gain, provide important societal benefits including to local communities, and help deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

There is an active and engaged community of Nations, organisations and experts already convened on the issue of coral reef conservation and protection, in particular through the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and its associated Networks, including the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). Work is ongoing within ICRI to contribute a proposal on how to consider coral reefs within the CBD-Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including how to measure change, defining capacity requirement and resource opportunities. New elements that will be available to support a coral reef target include:
● New indicators to add to the existing indicators in use at the global scale (e.g. live coral cover) and improve ability to measure change;
● GCRMN will deliver an updated global status of coral reefs in 2020 which will serve as an updated baseline for coral reefs;
● The Allen Coral Atlas is a digital atlas that uses remote sensing and machine learning to develop new coral maps, also due by 2020;
● New technologies and integrated monitoring are areas of active work, helping to fill gaps in measurement of change in the status and functioning of coral reefs;
● Following the adoption of a new Implementation and Governance plan for GCRMN, a strengthened network for improving national, regional and global monitoring efforts.

  • Association Française du Fonds Mondial pour la Nature - France [France]
  • Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water [Australia]
  • Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz [Germany]
  • Coastal Oceans Research and Development - Indian Ocean (East Africa) [Kenya]
  • Coral Triangle Center [Indonesia]
  • Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco [Monaco]
  • Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine [Haiti]
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland [Australia]
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment [Seychelles]
  • Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism [Palau]
  • Ministère des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération de Monaco [Monaco]
  • The Nature Conservancy [United States of America]
  • Western Indian Ocean Marine Sciences Association [Tanzania]
  • Wildlife Conservation Society [United States of America]
  • World Wide Fund for Nature - International [Switzerland]

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