Biodiversity

Biodiversity quite simply means “all life forms on earth.” Technically speaking the Convention on Biological Diversity defines biological diversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”

The third session of the G8 Environment Meeting will tackle the theme "Biodiversity: a new perspective”, focusing on the vital role that biodiversity plays in the life of every human being. The intricate web of connections between animal and plant life within an ecosystem guarantees its functioning and a constant flow of ‘ecosystemic services’.

The following are considered ecosystemic services:

• Supply services: e.g. food, water, wood and fibre
• Regulatory services: e.g. climate stabilisation, hydrological balance, barriers against the spread of diseases, recycling of wastes, water quality
• Cultural services: e.g. aesthetic, recreational and spiritual values
• Support services: e.g. soil formation, photosynthesis, recycling of nutrients

The goal of reducing loss of biodiversity by 2010, set by the 2002 Johannesburg Summit, has increasingly become a topic of debate and political attention. Indeed, with the approach of  International Biodiversity Year, the G8 Countries in Potsdam recognised the economic importance of biological diversity.

An assessment of the results of the 2010 objective, together with a debate on the economic contribution of biodiversity and ecosystemic services to achieving the Millenniun Development Goals and in mitigating and adapting to climate change, can contribute to a post-2010 strategy and help us identify possible scenarios to bring to the attention of the international community.

The session will follow the Guidelines for Discussion for Session III, under two macro-headings The first, Ecosystems and human wellbeing, offers a general overview of the links between biodiversity and the economy, global change, science and politics; the second, the Syracuse perspective on biodiversity, contains proposals for debate during the third Session that will allow Ministers to discuss the question of biodiversity and identify priorities in the global debate on a post-2010 strategy. These will be reflected in the “Syracuse Charter on Biodiversity,” a document prepared at a preliminary stage and agreed with all countries invited to Syracuse, which the Meeting intends to submit for approval by the participating governments as a policy statement designed to reinforce their commitment to biodiversity.