This Global Biodiversity Framework provides a strategic vision and global roadmap for the conservation, protection, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems over the next decade. Slow Food requires a roadmap that includes ambitious goals and takes into account the role of the people who have protected their local nature since ancient times. The first draft of the Global Biodiversity Framework recognizes the urgent need for policy action at global, regional and national levels to change economic, social and economic models so that trends that exacerbate biodiversity loss can stabilize by 2030 and allow for net recovery of natural ecosystems by 2050.
“Slow Food has participated in the consultation processes during the UN Conference on Biological Diversity and delivered two key messages: that a global biodiversity strategy must be people-centered and include food diversity indicators,” he commented. Marta Messa, Director of Slow Food Europe. These indicators range from pasture diversity to the number of seed farmers and smallholder farmers working on local food biodiversity. “Indicators should also include trends in the diversity of sustainable farming practices, sustainable fishing practices, food processing techniques and processed products (eg breads, cheeses, meat). These are all crucial in our efforts to support productivity, sustainability and biodiversity resilience,” Messa adds.
The High Level Segment of the UN Conference on Biological Diversity has endorsed the Kunming Declaration, which commits the parties to developing, adopting and implementing an effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework that sets the target for biodiversity recovery by 2030. “This is an important first step in working with the global framework for biodiversity will continue, “Messa commented. “The declaration mentions the effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in achieving a successful framework, while some states and the EU have pledged to increase funding for biodiversity. We at Slow Food will closely monitor the implementation of this declaration and ensure that indigenous and local voices are heard.”
For more than 20 years, Slow Food has worked on projects to protect biodiversity that supports agriculture and food production: plant species and varieties, animal breeds, beneficial insects, microorganisms, ecosystems, and the diversity of traditional knowledge and cultures. “Now more than ever, if we want to ensure good, clean and fair food for all, we need to start with biodiversity and reverse the production model, which continues to cause environmental and social disasters and weaken the foundations of food security for present and future generations,” he commented. Edie Mukiibi, Vice President of Slow Food. “For us, biodiversity means soil, water, food, traditions, cultures: protecting them is the only way to combat climate change, malnutrition, pandemics and economic crises.”
For more information, see the Slow Food settings paper If biodiversity is alive, so is the planet, which discusses the biggest challenges facing our planet and suggests possible solutions, starting with agroecological practices.
The UN Conference on Biological Diversity ends on 15 October. World Food Day follows it the next day and COP 26 just a few weeks ahead. These are important milestones in the discussions in order to address the many crises we face and ultimately commit to a better future for all. Slow Food is picking up momentum to celebrate World Food Day with a theme Our business is our future: there is no better slogan to emphasize the connection between food and our planet and the need to preserve it, as emphasized at the UN Conference on Biological Diversity. “As we at Slow Food have always stated, food is tied to many other areas of life, such as culture, politics, agriculture and the environment. Through our food choices, we can work together to influence food cultivation, production and distribution and change. biodiversity by living in harmony with Mother Nature and preparing our food in the ways of our ancestors “, comments Dalรญ Nolasco Cruz, member Indigenous Terra Madre Advisory Board. On 16 October, the Slow Food Indigenous Peoples network will hold an event in Quito, Ecuador, highlighting a very sensitive issue: mass migration in the south of the country due to a lack of opportunities in rural areas. Participants promote traditional food heritage and try to find measures to support women and create opportunities in rural areas. โThe lack of opportunities, protection and respect for our human and indigenous rights (including the right to land) jeopardizes our way of life and forces many of us to change,โ Dalรญ continues.
Source: Slow food
Source: The Nordic Page