COP 16(2) of UNCBD has drawn to a close

 

By Malini Shankar

Digital Discourse Foundation

Rome 28.02.2025

The resumed session of the 16th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has drawn to a close somewhat inconclusively in Rome. Herculean efforts were made in Rome to launch the Cali Fund to fund DSI or Digital Sequencing Information.

Signatory Nations or Parties are hesitant to deposit the funding in the Global Environment Facility bowing to apprehensions that developed countries will bully emerging economies where the funding is critically required to stymie Biodiversity Loss.

DSI fund makes a start towards equity in Biodiversity Management through the Cali Fund for instance. DSI is a biodiversity funding mechanism to get private sector entities that use Data from genetic resources and natural resources for manufacturing – to share a slice of their profits by making contributions to the Cali Fund which will help Biodiversity rich nations to prevent and reverse Biodiversity Loss.

Typically biotech companies, pharma companies, cosmetic industries, floriculture and sericulture industries, fishing companies, food processing companies have so far not paid back to the ‘genetic pool’ – the resource base of their manufacturing – thus Biodiversity conservation stands to benefit from DSI funding.


How will this fund prevent Biodiversity Loss?

In the Indian context more Protected Areas will likely be earmarked for Tiger Reserves and the funding will help relocate forest dwellers and squatters to outside the periphery of the Tiger Reserve which calls for big compensation packages and creation of sustainable source of livelihood security. Creating alternative dwelling spaces, livelihood options, food security and a “civilised place” for relocated evacuees is an onerous fiscal challenge.


The state level Biodiversity boards are documenting biodiverse wealth so as to allow stakeholders to have a stake in sustainable use of the endemic biodiversity sustainably. It could be anything from sea grass to mangroves to Henna leaves, fish stock or medicinal plants. Ideally the stakeholder population harvests the biodiverse wealth in lieu of protection and patrolling of the Protected Area where the biodiversity thrives.

Or schemes like MNREGA can do with funding when utilised by Islanders for cultivation of medicinal plants. This can lead to infinite yet constructive partnerships for biodiversity conservation.

Constructive engagement can be creative … it only needs collective will.

 

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