About CBD and COP15

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), signed by 196 parties (as of February 2021), is a global multilateral treaty for biodiversity conservation that came into effect on 5 June 1992. Also known as the Biodiversity Convention, it has three major goals – conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. With this, the CBD aims to develop national strategies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for development outcomes at the national and global level. CBD has two supplementary agreements – Cartagena Protocol and Nagoya Protocol.

ICIMOD’s engagements at CBD COP15

3–5 December – Fifth meeting of the open-ended working group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

6 December – Biodiversity science workshop

7 December – A global biodiversity observation system to support the implementation and monitoring of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework by parties

7–15 December – ICIMOD information booth

8 December – 30×30 target in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

9 December – Communicating biodiversity: Good practices in science, policy, and practice in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

11 December – Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for green livelihood in arid lands

12 December – Supporting the achievement of biodiversity target 3: A protected and conserved areas partners’ meeting

11–12 December – Fifth science-policy forum for biodiversity and eighth International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS 8)

14 December – Recognising and managing the value of nature’s contribution to people through food systems transformation

14 December – Future mountains in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

14 December – Celebrating the International Year of Mountains: Ensuring mountain biodiversity protection within the post-2020 GBF implementation

Our key messages at COP15

To check the rapid decline of biodiversity in the fragile Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, we need a collective voice to conserve our HKH mountains and biodiversity. ICIMOD is putting forward three key messages at CBD COP15:

Mountain ecosystems matter
Invest in and incentivise restoration
Resilience through nature-based solutions

Why mountains matter for biodiversity

Mountains also play a major role in determining global and regional climates; are the source of most rivers; act as cradles, barriers, and bridges for species; and are crucial for the survival and sustainability of many human societies. They matter for diversity and life in every sense.

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Knowledge products

Invasive alien plant species in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Status and management challenges

nvasive alien species (IAS) are one of the five major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Globally, the growth of international trade and travel has led to a rapid increase in the dispersal and number of invasive species.

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Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Hindu Kush Himalayan countries: A retrospective analysis of Aichi Targets

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011–2020), formally adopted by COP in 2010 in Aichi, Japan provided an overarching global framework on biodiversity whose vision is to value, restore, and conserve biodiversity for the benefit of all people by 2050.

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Compendium of case studies and good practices on protected areas and other effective area based conservation measures from the South Asia sub-region

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has grouped all its member states into 12 sub-regional implementation support networks to facilitate the coordination, communication, and implementation of the agreed national priority actions and other commitments for achieving Aichi Target 11.

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Proceedings of the regional policy dialogue on Aichi Target 11 and beyond: Roadmap for the South Asia sub-region

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat has assigned ICIMOD the task of helping speed up the implementation of all priority actions and achievements of the CBD targets in South Asia.

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Agrobiodiversity in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region -Poster

In the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), one-third of the population is food insecure. The erosion of agrobiodiversity and traditional practices here has deep implications for long-term agro-ecosystems health and food and nutrition security. Global communities must push for collaboration and investment to preserve agrobiodiversity-rich landscapes.

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News and features

Events and updates

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Nakul Chettri

Regional Programme Manager, Transboundary Landscapes, ICIMOD

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Sunita Chaudhary

Ecosystems Specialist, ICIMOD

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Sushmita Kunwar

KMC Associate, Transboundary Landscapes, ICIMOD

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