CALI, Colombia, Oct 29 (IPS) – As countries gather in Cali, Colombia, for the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16) of 2024, the fate of biodiversity depends on the balance, and therefore, the sustainability of our food systems. .
Agriculture and food systems are often associated with biodiversity loss. Land use change, climate change, land pollution, overexploitation of wildlife, and the spread of invasive species – the main causes of biodiversity loss – can all be linked to unsustainable agricultural practices.
But there is another side to the coin. Agriculture is essential to the sustainable use of biodiversity, a key goal and, possibly, the greatest achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a road map to a world that lives in harmony with nature.
Sustainable agriculture can improve biodiversity, improve soil fertility and water availability, support pollination and pest control, while also promoting climate change mitigation and healthy eating for all.
Evidence shows that the adoption of agroforestry, for example, planting trees, shrubs, and plants together in the same area, can achieve 80% of the biodiversity levels of natural forests, reduce soil erosion by 50%, and strengthen healthy food 1.3 billion people living in a corrupt world.
Applying an ecosystem approach to fisheries can help restore marine fish stocks, increasing fisheries production by 16.5 million tons.
In Colombia, the Pacífico Biocultural project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), uses several solutions for agricultural food systems in the Pacific region of the country, to help biodiversity and communities, including Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants and small producers, to bloom.
Sustainable forest management systems strengthen production systems and value chains, such as cacao and açaí.
The project works to restore mangroves, which protect the region from coastal erosion and extreme weather conditions. This also improves the yield of pianoa native mollusc useful for both nutrition and subsistence.
The project provided new and existing protected areas with improved equipment and management systems. Ecotourism and bird watching corridors in these areas create new green employment opportunities.
Among the major achievements of the Pacífico Biocultural project, the following stand out:
- Five ethnic land planning tools have been created or revised, covering 195,107.35 hectares;
- Increased effective management of 586.035 hectares in eight protected areas;
- 27 green business programs, seven priority units (UVAs), and six community-based ecotourism programs; again
- Developed and implemented 1,000 hectare Mangrove and Tropical Rainforest Integrated Restoration Programs.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is also leading the implementation of two other projects in the country, in collaboration with the Colombian Ministry of Environment.
The ‘Paisajes Sostenibles – Herencia Colombia (HeCo)’ project, funded by the EU, uses an integrated landscape approach, to achieve sustainability in agri-food systems in two biodiversity regions of Colombia – the Caribbean and the Andes.
In the natural corridor between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Ramsar site Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta of the Caribbean region, the project works on the sustainability of coffee plantations, beekeeping, and tourism production chains in coastal areas.
In Ciénaga, it works on a series of artisanal fishing, mangrove restoration, tourism, and circular economy initiatives to tackle plastic pollution. In the Cordillera Central moorland ecosystem, the project aims to improve the sustainability of livestock management in the high mountains, in collaboration with indigenous peoples.
With an emphasis on the Amazon Biome, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project ‘GCF-Visión Amazonía’, in collaboration with the Colombian Ministry of Environment and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), is helping to implement the REDD+ National Strategy , ‘Bosques Territorios de Vida,’ and the Deforestation Program. It aims directly from deforestation to sustainable forest development.
Colombia is clearly at the forefront of promoting the sustainability of agrifood systems. But although agrifood programs are receiving more attention in biodiversity policies, especially in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), many countries find it difficult to fulfill these promises.
The ability to integrate biodiversity into policies and practices is often lacking in the agri-food sector. The money available is not enough to bring about change.
Today, we must consider how to increase actions and investments to transform agrifood systems. Countries are revising their NBSAPs, to start implementing the GBF.
Including agricultural solutions that are good for biodiversity and consider farmers, fishers, herdsmen and producers is an important first step. Having a framework of policies that enable sustainable agrifood systems will pave the way for peace and nature.
To assist countries in this effort, FAO, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), governments, and partners launched the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative during the COP 16 summit.
It proposes an action plan that includes activities to help create a biodiversity-friendly environment, collect the best data for implementing and evaluating biodiversity-friendly policies, obtain funding, and increase awareness.
The transition to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems will be accelerated by helping countries develop and implement their NBSAPs and aligning them with agrifood policies and interventions.
GBF is an ambitious, challenging program. But in the long run it will pay off for us and future generations. Biodiversity is the foundation of food security and nutrition, and an irreplaceable asset in our fight against climate change and its effects. Yet it continues to shrink faster than at any time in human history.
Nature has great healing power. Let’s give him all the help and opportunities we can so that he can return to his steps by restoring and using in a sustainable way the diverse environment, especially in the pursuit of agriculture. In the future, they will say that this was a revolutionary decade. We are a generation that has the wisdom to take steps to ensure the future.
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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