CTI-CFF attends the virtual discussion on “Coral Reefs and the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework”

The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and member countries of CTI-CFF attended the virtual discussion on “Coral Reefs and the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” on  3 November 2020 convened by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) for participants in the Asia Pacific region.

The session covered the content of the ICRI recommendations on the CBD post-2020 framework. The recommendations are as follows:

1.     Calls for prominent recognition of coral reef ecosystems within the text of the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). ICRI agrees that the Global Biodiversity Framework should have goals and targets that focus on biodiversity at the ecosystem level. It is also important that the framework triggers actions that will enhance the integrity and resilience of these ecosystems, so they can continue to support human society into the future;

2.     Encourages setting goals, targets and milestones with timescales appropriate for achieving the stabilisation and recovery of coral reef ecosystems, if immediate prioritization is achieved; and 

3.     Calls for the inclusion of a set of available, measurable coral reef indicators that are foundational in determining progress against goals and targets within the post-2020 GBF. The Recommendation identifies a set of six coral related indicators for adoption and highlights a further five indicators for priority development, particularly helpful to provide improved information on ecosystem integrity, function, intactness, resilience.