Photo: H.E. Roy A. Cimatu, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, elaborated on the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan as one of the high-level speakers at the United Nations Biodiversity Summit under the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development.”
30 September 2020, New York – At the Summit on Biodiversity that was held virtually at the United Nations last September 30, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Roy A. Cimatu called for financing and stronger partnerships to protect biodiversity, which he said is part of humanity’s heritage.
In a pre-recorded statement shown during the Summit, Secretary Cimatu reaffirmed the commitment of the Philippines to work towards an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and to pursue international cooperation to achieve the goals and targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We can accelerate our biodiversity actions with guaranteed financing and strengthened partnerships among nations and across sectors. Innovations specially on containing this pandemic must be shared with one another. Our country’s biodiversity is part of humanity’s heritage. We call on the international community to help us conserve and revitalize it,” Secretary Cimatu said.
Secretary Cimatu also shared the country’s vision for biodiversity where “by 2028, biodiversity is restored and rehabilitated, valued, effectively managed and secured, with ecosystem services maintained to sustain healthy, resilient Filipino communities and delivering benefits to all.” Towards this end, the Philippines has already laid down some enabling mechanisms, and continues to implement measures towards achieving this vision.
Secretary Cimatu said that the projected cost of operationalizing the Philippines’ biodiversity vision exceeds 500 million U.S. dollars, and that biodiversity financing initiatives, which include private sector participation, are being explored.
The Secretary also highlighted that Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, mobilizes government resources to conserve and protect ecologically rich areas of the country. It covers 94 more protected areas in terrestrial and marine ecosystems for conservation, and is a direct contribution to Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. Further, he stated that the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was developed to guide the country in mainstreaming biodiversity strategies and actions across production landscapes.
The video statement of Secretary Cimatu can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y39b3hdg while the recording of the Summit can be watched via UN webTV at http://webtv.un.org/watch/ga-en/5701324957001.
The UN Summit on Biodiversity was convened on 30 September 2020 by the President of the General Assembly at the level of Heads of State and Government under the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development,” on the margins of the High-Level Week of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Summit was mandated to provide political direction and momentum for the development of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The event also demonstrated ambition and commitment to accelerate action on biodiversity for sustainable development, highlighted the connections between biodiversity, societies and economies, and showcased biodiversity’s multiple and essential contributions to sustainable development. - END