Side Event

Transforming practices in agricultural landscapes: tools to facilitate best practice for biodiversity

Organizer
Zoological Society of London

Date and Time
16 October 2012 12:15 - 13:45

Meeting
Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11)

Land conversion is the primary driver of biodiversity loss with over 50% of deforestation due to agriculture, yet the CBD recognises that businesses are amongst the least engaged of stakeholders. This session brings together conservation organisations that are working with progressive businesses to transform practices at a production landscape level. The session will present to the assembled biodiversity practitioners, legislators and businesses new tools that facilitate best practice and act to manage and reduce biodiversity loss, with discussion around the effectiveness of current agri-business tools. The challenge at hand will be discussed – with a keynote presentation on the global status of the most pertinent current driver of biodiversity loss: the palm oil sector - and the session will ask where the key leverage points for change exist. A particular focus will be on how we can improve engagement between conservationists, legislators and the agri-business sector and work towards improved landscape management and the introduction of standardised biodiversity monitoring and reporting procedures for all agri-industry. This session aligns with the key Business and Biodiversity agenda item for COP11 and substantive issues arising from COP10 to include 13.5 Agricultural biodiversity. It addresses key action points for the COP by presenting tools that can facilitate the engagement of businesses in integrating biodiversity concerns into decision-making and reporting, and by generating discussion around the effectiveness of tools and mechanisms for agri-landscapes. The event targets NGOs, legislators and businesses interested in business-biodiversity and landscape management.