There is a gulf between developed and developing countries on the issue of setting national targets for expenditure on biodiversity conservation for the next ten years. This appeared on the second day of the 12-day United Nations conference on biological diversity today.

The differences emerged when the Working Group 2 in the 11th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity began discussions on resource mobilisation. The focus was on how nations could raise money to implement the 20 goals set out by the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020.

The targets include reduction of the rate of loss of natural habitats by half and bringing at least 17 per of terrestrial and inland water and 10 per cent of marine areas under protected area by 2020. It is estimated that on the higher level financing of over $300 billion is needed by all the over 170 parties to the CBD for complete implementation of the Aichi targets till 2020.

"While many developing countries felt that biodiversity expenditure targets should be set for each country, some countries felt that it was too premature, as there is no consensus on fixing a baseline year for targets."

David Ainsworth, Information Officer, Secretariat of the CBD, said the Working Group 2 was likely to set up a contact group, which will have in-camera discussions with countries opposing the proposal of setting targets.

Contact groups are set up when there is no consensus on an issue. Countries opposing a proposal give their views and sometimes their specific recommendations, which are then put before the CoP. Consensus also failed to emerge on the issue of financial mechanism for raising resources. “A second contact group is also likely to be set up at the end of the day on this issue, if there is no consensus,” Ainsworth said.

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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