International Symposium on Biodiversity Conservation & Sustainable Development in Arid Areas

December 16 - 17, 2021   Time: 15:00-19:00 Beijing time

 

The 15^th meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Kunming, southwest China from October 11 to 15, 2021, revived ambition and forged consensus for global biodiversity conservation. The 《Kunming Declaration》demonstrates the political commitment of the Parties to reaching the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (the framework).

 

In order to ensure the operation of the framework, the CBD will, in particular, urge developed country Parties to invite governments and financial institutions from other developed countries to provide adequate financial support to developing country Parties, especially the least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing countries, and to assist in activities for capacity building and knowledge sharing in a bid to implement the framework.

 

Seventy percent of the world's LDCs are located in the arid areas of Africa, and about 60% of the continent is arid or semi-arid areas, whose population accounts for 4% of the global total. In Central Asia, the arid areas’ population takes up 1% of the global total and the economy accounts for only 0.35% of the world economy. Because of the special geographical location, the arid areas have given birth to complex, diverse and unique biological resources. 

However, because of their fragile ecosystem, arid areas are sensitive to climate change. The problem of land degradation isprominent, socio-economic development lags behind, biodiversity is under serious stress, and   biodiversity conservation is facing great challenges in these areas.Notable is the case of the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world, which has reduced by more than 90% in its water area due to agricultural development. As a result, all populations of fish and aquatic organisms bred in the Aral Sea have almost disappeared.

The principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development issued by the United Nations is "leave no one behind", that is, the more than 7 billion people in the world should all benefit from the goals of the agenda. However, we will never be able to achieve the goals if we do not protect and attach importance to biodiversity and restore the ecosystem service functions supported by biodiversity, especially some ecological fragile areas like Arid Areas. 

 

In view of this, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences and The Alliance of International Science Organizations will jointly hold an International Symposium on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Arid Areas in December 16-17, 2021.

 

The symposium will invite representatives of relevant international organizations, scientific research institutes, local government and enterprises to participate. By sharing and exchanging the value, conservation status, problems and challenges of biodiversity in arid and ecologically fragile areas, the meeting aims to raise the awareness and sense of urgency of all global and regional stakeholders in taking actions to protect and sustainably use biological resources in arid areas, and call on all parties to work closely to build a shared future for All Life in arid areas, actively participate in actions for biodiversity conservation in arid areas and contribute wisdom and solutions to the discussion, consultation and implementation of the framework from the scientific community and stakeholders.

 

Representatives of all interested parties are welcome to attend the symposium for exchanges of views with each other. 

 

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EvUl2x7yQAGljFgkjMolww

Date: December 16, 2021 - December 17, 2021

Location: Online, Zoom platform