Technical rationale: All terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems provide multiple ecosystem services. However some ecosystems, such as those that provide ecosystem services related to the provision of water, are particularly important in that they provide services that are essential for human wellbeing and specifically for the lives and livelihoods of women, and indigenous and local communities, including the poor and vulnerable. Accordingly, priority should be given to safeguarding or restoring such ecosystems, and to ensuring that people, especially women, indigenous and local communities and the poor and vulnerable, have adequate and secure access to these services.

Implementation: Ecosystems which provide essential services and that contribute to local livelihoods should be identified through participatory processes at local, national and global levels and in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention. Tools for mapping ecosystem services and for the valuation of ecosystem services are now available and/or are being tested. The resulting information should be integrated into development plans to ensure that these ecosystems receive the necessary protection and investments. Sound distribution and recognition of property rights, including traditional and customary rights, can contribute to ensuring adequate and equitable access to ecosystem services.⁴⁹

Indicators and baseline information: Indicators for this target include the health and well-being of communities who depend directly on local ecosystem goods and services and biodiversity for food and medicine. Other possible indicators could include the status and trends of linguistic diversity, numbers of speakers of indigenous languages, and other indicators of the status of indigenous and traditional knowledge.


⁴⁹The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. (2009) TEEB for Policy Makers, Summary, Chapter 4.