Governments to Integrate Biodiversity Conservation Across Agri Sectors

Governments from 167 countries have signified that protecting biodiversity across all agricultural sectors is vital to attain sustainable development including food security and addressing climate change. This transpired during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP13) which was held in Cancun, Mexico in December 2016.

According to the Conference Declaration, the international community should engage various governmental and economic sectors aside from the environment ministries to protect biodiversity. The governments committed to follow a detailed action plan to mainstream conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for the well-being of life.

"This is a turning point," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. "The agriculture sectors and biodiversity have often been regarded as separate and even conflicting concerns, yet they are inextricably connected. Agriculture is by nature a major user of biodiversity, but it also has the potential to contribute to its protection," she added.

Read the Conference Declaration from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).