Side Event

The use of agricultural biodiversity to improve food security and resilience under climate change: An essential contribution to Aichi Target 13

Organizer
UNEP, Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research, Bioversity Intrenational

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

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

Climate change presents significant challenges to the food security and livelihoods of small scale farmers, rural communities and indigenous peoples. It also threatens valuable biodiversity on which farmers, pastoralist, fishers and forest dwellers depend. Experiences from around the world have shown that the enhanced use of biodiversity in and around agricultural ecosystems can make a significant contribution to improving food security, strengthening social-ecological resilience and conserving diversity. The side event will present examples of UNEP GEF supported initiatives in Nepal and Sri Lanka where rural communities, working with a wide range of other stakeholders, are undertaking actions to use agricultural biodiversity to meet some of the challenges of climate change and to improve food security, livelihoods and resilience. The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to share their experiences on the use of agricultural biodiversity and to discuss how using agricultural biodiversity to meet today’s challenges can provide a practical contribution to achieving Aichi Target 13.