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A brief background to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, the CBD, the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation and Plantlife.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” that has been ratified by 196 nations.
In response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity in November 1988 to explore the need for an. international convention on biological diversity. Soon after, in May 1989, it established the Ad Hoc Working Group of Technical and Legal Experts to prepare an international legal instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The experts were to take into account “the need to share costs and benefits between developed and developing countries” as well as “ways and means to support innovation by local people”.
By February 1991, the Ad Hoc Working Group had become known as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Its work culminated on 22 May 1992 with the Nairobi Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio “Earth Summit”). It remained open for signature until 4 June 1993, by which time it had received 168 signatures. The Convention entered into force on 29 December 1993, which was 90 days after the 30th ratification. The first session of the Conference of the Parties was scheduled for 28 November – 9 December 1994 in the Bahamas.
In 2002, the first Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) was adopted by the 6th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CoP6), in decision VI/9, The GSPC’s vision was to halt the continuing loss of plant diversity and to secure a positive, sustainable future where human activities support the diversity of plant life.
In 2010, CoP10 adopted the Updated Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 2011-2020 in decision X/17.
In 2022 at CoP15, in decision 15/13, the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) was invited to prepare a set of complementary actions related to plant conservation to support the implementation of The Biodiversity Plan.
In 2023 the draft GSPC was peer reviewed by members of the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation. It was presented at the 25th Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) in October 2023 and after feedback from Parties it was updated. The latest version of the GSPC with its 22 Plant Actions can be found here.
In 2024, the 3rd iteration of the GSPC, will be presented to CoP 16 in Cali, Colombia and be adopted.
Since its inception in 2004, Global Partnership for Plant Conservation has brought together international, regional and national organisations to contribute to the implementation of the GSPC. The partnership’s aim has been to provide a framework to facilitate harmony between existing plant conservation initiatives, identify gaps where new initiatives are required, and promote mobilization of the necessary resources.
For over 30 years, Plantlife has been a leading global voice for wild plants and fungi, working with our partners to prioritise plant conservation within global biodiversity agreements.
We worked to establish the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation and as an active member of the GPPC, supported the drafting of the Plant Actions which form the updated GSPC.
Plantlife participated in CBD CoP 15, in 2022 in Montreal, Canada to advocate for the renewal of the GSPC; spoke at the GPPC side event at the 25th CBD technical meeting Subsidiary Body on Technology and Technological Advice; convened a side event on the draft GSPC at the 4th CBD technical meeting Subsidiary Body on Implementation in Kenya. Plantlife helped draft the new Plant Actions, and will be in Colombia for the CBD COP 16, to talk to delegates about t he Plant Actions at the GPPC stand and side event.
Plantlife has played as leading role in the Important Plant Areas programme, an important tool for achieving achieving a number of the Plant Actions and targets of The Biodiversity Plan.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Plant Actions contribute to multiple SDGs, including but not limited to:
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The nature and climate crises are inseparable challenges: healthy plant species and habitats provide essential solutions to climate change, absorbing carbon and increasing resilience.
Plant Action 8 is important for Target D of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) as it urges Parties and others to ‘consider current and projected impacts of climate change on species, species distribution and ecosystems when implementing plant conservation activities and encourage the use of genetically, biologically or ecologically appropriate native plant species, including species of conservation concern, in areas planted for carbon sequestration and in nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches for climate mitigation and adaptation’.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Healthy land is central to the wellbeing of the planet’s ecosystems and biodiversity; for food, for shelter, for livelihoods and provides the backbone to a thriving global economy.
Plant Action 2 urges Parties and others to ‘Implement or participate in programmes for the effective restoration of degraded ecosystems and habitats, including to prevent or mitigate the existing drivers of degradation, prioritizing the use of genetically appropriate material of native species, enhancing and conserving soils’.
Plantlife and WWF study on grassland demonstrate how wild plants and fungi are at the heart of climate crisis. Calling world governments to recognise sites for wild plants and fungi
Alistair Whyte, Head of Plantlife Scotland shares his thoughts on Scotland's Plant Relict, Purple Oxytropis
Calling governments around the world to recognise the importance of plants and fungi biodiversity for the planet.
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