CTI-CFF attends the virtual discussion on “Coral Reefs and the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework”

The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, along with member countries of CTI-CFF, attended a virtual discussion on “Coral Reefs and the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” on 3 November 2020, convened by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) for participants in the Asia-Pacific region.

The session covered the ICRI recommendations on the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The recommendations are as follows:

1. Calls for prominent recognition of coral reef ecosystems within the text of the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). ICRI emphasizes that the framework should include goals and targets focused on biodiversity at the ecosystem level and trigger actions to enhance the integrity and resilience of these ecosystems, so they can continue to support human society in the future.
2. Encourages setting goals, targets, and milestones with timescales appropriate for achieving the stabilization and recovery of coral reef ecosystems, provided immediate prioritization is achieved.
3. Calls for the inclusion of available, measurable coral reef indicators that are foundational in determining progress against goals and targets within the post-2020 GBF. The recommendation identifies six coral-related indicators for adoption and highlights a further five indicators for priority development, which provide improved information on ecosystem integrity, function, intactness, and resilience.