Launch of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook
16 Oct. 2012, Hyderabad: A groundbreaking document - the first edition of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook (CBO) - has been inaugurated at the Cities for Life: City and Subnational Biodiversity Summit, on 16 October 2012, in Hyderabad, India. In front of over 400 international delegates, Professor Thomas Elmqvist of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Editor of the assessment, presented published copies to the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Dr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias and ICLEI’s Global Biodiversity Coordinator, Ms. Kobie Brand.
The CBO constitutes the first global assessment investigating the links between urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services. The study has been prepared in response to the Plan of Action endorsed by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, 2010. It was produced by the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), in partnership with the Secretariat of the CBD and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.
"The Outlook provides an overview and response to knowledge gaps in how we understand processes behind urban social-ecological systems and how urbanization is shaping land use," said Professor Thomas Elmqvist.
Drawing on contributions from more than 120 leading scientists, policy-makers, planners, and practitioners worldwide, the assessment states that over 60 percent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be developed. According to the Outlook, this should not be viewed in a negative light, but should rather be seen as presenting a major opportunity to make giant leaps for global sustainability, the reduction of biodiversity loss and the improvement of citizens quality of life. "This report makes a strong argument for greater attention to be paid by urban planners and managers to the nature-based assets within city boundaries, and shows how urbanizing areas represent major opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable and resource-efficient world," Professor Elmqvist added.
The Outlook highlights a wide range of successful initiatives by cities, local authorities and sub-national governments in both developed and developing countries. "Cities need to learn how to better protect and enhance biodiversity, because rich biodiversity can exist in cities and is extremely critical to people's health and well-being," said Professor Elmqvist.
The newly adopted CBD COP11 decision on Engagement of other Stakeholders, Major Groups and Subnational Authorities welcomes the 10 key messages arising from the CBO.
ICLEI is extremely proud to be associated with such a groundbreaking document that illustrates how cities can move from being purely consumers of natural resources, to important generators of ecosystem services. ICLEI has high hopes that this fruitful collaboration will inspire decision-makers the world over to afford greater attention to the relationship between cities and biodiversity.
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