WCC 2020 Res 008 - Activity Report

With reference to operative statement 1 (promote the inclusion of river protection and connectivity within the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.6); Conservation International staff have been working with IUCN members (eg, TNC, WWF) to ensure rivers are properly included with GBF targets 2 and 3. This included campaigning for inclusion of relevant text in the targets, prior to and at CBD COP 15, and production on explanatory documentation (see links below). This also included a first guidance document on assessing extent and types of inland water protection, for target 3 (see link included below). These actions also address operative statements 2d (encourage countries to support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems) and 3f (support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems).

With reference to operative statement 3b (‘balance development by enacting durable legal protections and enhanced governance for rivers, including riparian buffer protections and other IWRM approaches and tools’) Conservation International is conducting studies on geographic extent of riparian systems and restoration opportunities.

With reference to operative statements 3c and 3 f (‘restore rivers or stretches, and their associated ecosystems, in which sufficient connectivity and flows could feasibly be restored; and support protection and restoration of rivers and their associated ecosystems’) Conservation International is part of the working group of the Freshwater Challenge to restore 300,000 km of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030 (see link below). Conservation International has made its own commitment to the Water Action Agenda, to support this (see link below).