New Action Plan launched for implementing FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors as biodiversity-related projects approved

FAO Emphasizes Biodiversity’s Role in Sustainable Food Production on International Day for Biological Diversity

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has highlighted the critical importance of biodiversity in ensuring food diversity and transforming food production systems. This comes as the organization celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity and launches its updated action plan for mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors.

Understanding the Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity encompasses a wide range of living organisms, from bees and earthworms to coral reefs and rainforests. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized that biodiversity is essential for farming, fishing, harvesting, and cultivation. It supports food networks and contributes to the livelihoods of various communities worldwide.

Supporting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

The theme for this year’s International Day for Biodiversity is “Be Part of the Plan,” encouraging public support for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. FAO plays a crucial role in this plan, as agrifood systems offer scalable solutions for conserving and sustainably using biodiversity.

Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture

FAO advocates for sustainable agricultural practices that protect biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience. By collaborating with governments, civil society, and the private sector, FAO aims to integrate biodiversity considerations into food and agricultural policies and programs.

2024–27 Action Plan for Biodiversity

FAO has launched its 2024–27 Action Plan to implement its strategy on mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors. The plan focuses on reducing negative impacts of agriculture on biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices, and conserving biodiversity.

• The action plan supports countries in implementing and monitoring the Biodiversity Plan.
• It includes FAO’s Biodiversity Knowledge Hub, a resource center with over 350 tools and guidelines on biodiversity.

Investing in Biodiversity Projects

Three project concepts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palau, and Samoa have been approved under the Global Environment Facility’s Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. These projects will direct over $7.8 million and leverage $14.2 million in co-financing to achieve targets of the Biodiversity Plan, supporting Indigenous Peoples in conserving biodiversity.

Biodiversity’s Role in Combating Hunger and Malnutrition

With up to 783 million people suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition affecting a significant portion of the global population, conserving and sustainably using biodiversity is crucial for food security and nutrition.

Key Facts and Figures on Biodiversity

• 95 percent of global food production depends on soil, with over one-third of soils being moderately to highly degraded.
• About 50,000 wild species are utilized for various purposes including food and medicine.
• 35 percent of crop production relies on animal pollinators.
• Coral reefs are home to 25 percent of the world’s known marine species.
• There are around 8,800 livestock breeds used for food and agriculture, with 28% at risk of extinction.

To learn more about FAO’s work on biodiversity, visit FAO’s biodiversity page.

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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

The article addresses the following SDGs:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
3. SDG 15: Life on Land

Specific Targets Under the SDGs

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

The following indicators are mentioned or implied in the article to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 2.4: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.
• Indicator for Target 14.2: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
• Indicator for Target 15.3: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: fao.org

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