Side Event

Does biodiversity matter for development? EU's development cooperation launches its B4Life Flagship Initiative.

Organizer
Directorate-General for Development Cooperation, European Commission

Date and Time
16 October 2014 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The EU Biodiversity for Life (B4Life) flagship initiative is designed to help developing countries protect ecosystems, combat wildlife crime and develop green economies. It takes the novel approach of emphasising the economic benefits of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems in the interest of sustaining livelihoods and reducing poverty. The EU shares the widely agreed idea that biodiversity conservation and poverty eradication are intrinsically linked and must be tackled together. Development is not sustainable if it damages the environment, causes biodiversity loss or depletes natural resources. In line with the EU’s Agenda for Change (its policy blueprint to target its resources where they are most needed and can be the most effective), B4Life will provide the means to step up the EU's efforts to support livelihoods through halting biodiversity loss and combating wildlife crime. At this side-event, a panel of guest speakers will exchange perspectives about how B4Life could make a difference through acting on four priority areas – good governance of natural resources; healthy ecosystems for rural development and food security; biodiversity contributions to greening economy; addressing wildlife crisis.