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Dear Friends and Colleagues How Community-Based Biodiversity-Friendly Farming Can Stem Biodiversity Loss The alarming loss of biodiversity has been described as a “silent killer”. A new report showcases 338 community-based solutions from over 75 countries across 6 continents to help farmers and other agricultural practitioners adopt ecologically-friendly practices that protect soils, water, forests, and fish stocks. About 85% came from developing countries. The report shows how smallholder farmers are nourishing communities the world over and that the innovative solutions they apply can also be replicable, while demonstrating that communities are at the heart of biodiversity protection and sustainable use of its resources. The Post-2020 global biodiversity framework could thus benefit from increased attention to community-based solutions. The report further shows the close relationship and interdependency between biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. The report identifies “steps to success” that are common across the 338 solutions and correspond with the current Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Strategic Goals. The steps include:
The report also identifies recommendations to funding partners, policy makers, researchers and program planners focused on removing barriers to community engagement in sustainable farming solutions as well as providing enabling governance framework and funding structures. With best wishes Third
World Network ____________________________________________________________________________ FARMING FOR BIODIVERSITY PROVEN SOLUTIONS MEET GLOBAL POLICY Analysis report based on a worldwide Solution Search Gwinner,
V. & Neureuther, A. Executive Summary FARMING FOR BIODIVERSITY – LESSONS LEARNED REPORT The Convention on Biological Diversity’s Executive Secretary Cristiana Pasca-Palmer describes the loss of biodiversity as a “silent killer”. For many of us, the loss may not feel immediately palpable in everyday life. By the time we feel what’s happening and recognize the changing face of the Earth, it may be too late. There is still hope for preserving what’s left of the world’s rich diversity of life. Producers and consumers that adopt and spur demand for sustainable farming practices — such as those that protect soils, water, forests, and fish stocks — play a key role in stopping biodiversity loss. But too often, these innovative actors and their solutions operate unseen and unheard — silent, like the issue they face. We must, then, be willing to search for them. As part of a global initiative, Solution Search: Farming for Biodiversity set out in 2017 to identify, reward and spotlight the people and approaches that have successfully driven the adoption of biodiversity-friendly agriculture. Initially aiming for 100 submissions, the contest’s 26 partner organizations unearthed 338 proven solutions. The solutions came from a diversity of sources, ranging from established international research institutions to young scientists testing a proof of concept, from private companies to community led initiatives, and from foundations to family-run projects. The six winners of the contest (pages 9-10) exemplify this diversity. The solutions not only showcase biodiversity-friendly farming approaches that work on the ground, but also point to valuable lessons for the global policy frameworks needed to protect our shared environment. While solutions vary in approach and scale, this report identifies “steps to success” that are common to all of them and correspond with the current Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Strategic Goals:
This shows that communities – be they producer or consumer communities – are at the heart of biodiversity protection and sustainable use of its resources. Efforts to stop biodiversity loss should seek to strengthen and support the positive potential of community involvement, underpinned by a better understanding of what motivates human behavior and decision-making. The Post-2020 global biodiversity framework could therefore benefit from increased attention to communities and behavior insights. Using proven solutions as case studies, the report further shows the close relation and interdependency between biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals. The final section of the report (pages 30-32) identifies recommendations for funding partners, policymakers, researchers and program planners focused on removing barriers to community engagement in sustainable farming solutions as well as providing enabling governance framework and funding structures.
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