1.Notes, in the context of the ongoing discussions on the post-2015 United Nations development agenda, the contribution of ecosystem conservation and restoration, and related ecosystem functions and services, to sustainable development and poverty eradication;
2.Recognizes the contribution of private protected areas, in addition to public and indigenous and local community conserved areas, in the conservation of biodiversity, and encourages the private sector to continue its efforts to protect and sustainably manage ecosystems for the conservation of biodiversity;
3.Notes with concern that, according to the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, not enough progress has been made towards Aichi Biodiversity Targets 14 and 15;
4.Invites Parties and other Governments, intergovernmental organizations and other relevant organizations:
(a)Taking into account the ecosystem approach, to develop spatial planning approaches at the landscape and seascape level, to help to reduce habitat loss and to promote ecosystem restoration;
(b)To promote, where appropriate, holistic and integrated planning for ecosystem conservation and restoration in indigenous and local community conserved areas, with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, taking into account customary use and management approaches;
(c)To promote cross-sectoral approaches, including with the public sector, private sector and civil society, to develop a coherent framework for ecosystem conservation and restoration;
(d)Taking into consideration that priority should be given, where possible, to avoiding or reducing ecosystem losses, to promote ecosystem restoration activities, in particular large-scale restoration activities, noting also the cumulative benefits of small-scale restoration activities that can collectively contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate-change adaptation and mitigation, and reducing desertification, in the context of sustainable development;
(e)To provide appropriate incentives to promote, in line with national circumstances, sustainable management and best practices in the conservation and restoration of ecosystems at the national and subnational levels, in the public and private sectors;
(f)To provide support and incentives, in line with national circumstances, to indigenous and local communities in their efforts to conserve biodiversity in indigenous and local community conserved areas with a view to contributing to the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18;
(g)To develop and strengthen monitoring of ecosystem degradation and restoration, with a view to supporting adaptive management and reporting on progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity targets, in particular targets 5, 14 and 15;
(h)To give due attention to both native species and genetic diversity in ecosystem conservation and restoration activities, while avoiding the introduction and preventing the spread of invasive alien species;
5.Welcomes the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative
111 developed by the Republic of Korea in cooperation with the Executive Secretary, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, to support ecosystem restoration activities under the Convention in line with
decision XI/16 and other relevant decisions developed by the Forest Landscape Restoration Mechanism of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other relevant initiatives, contributing to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in particular Targets 5, 14 and 15;
6.Emphasizing the critical importance of coastal wetlands for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, in particular for migratory bird species, sustainable livelihoods, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, invites Parties to give due attention to the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands, and, in this context, welcomes the work of the Ramsar Convention and initiatives that support the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands, including options to build a “Caring for Coasts” Initiative, as part of a global movement to restore coastal wetlands;
7.Reaffirming the importance of public awareness of the role of protected areas and indigenous and local community conserved areas in achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and other relevant Aichi Biodiversity Targets,
proposes to declare 20 February
112 as “World National Parks and Protected Areas Day”, and
invites the United Nations General Assembly to consider declaring 20 February as “World National Parks and Protected Areas Day”;
8.Requests the Executive Secretary, with regard to the proposed thematic assessment on land degradation and restoration of the Intergovernmental Science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to share all relevant information and results with the Platform and to cooperate in the development of next steps, with a view to strengthening synergies and avoiding duplication of work, and to report on progress to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a meeting to be held prior to the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
