Countries and communities are dependent on their biodiversity and the rich variety of species to fuel their development. Ecological diversity underpins social, economic and cultural diversity.
Seventy percent of the estimated 1.1 billion people living in extreme poverty, two thirds of who are women, live in rural areas and conservation of biodiversity resources is essential if development is to be sustainable.
Examples of issues being discussed in this stream include:
- How managed land and seascapes, including protected areas, sustain delivery of ecosystem services;
- The strong links between economic, social and cultural factors contributing to the sustainable use of species will be showcased, including success stories from the Mediterranean region;
- How to conserve and manage marine and fresh water resources will be emphasized, with particular emphasis on the Mediterranean Sea due to Barcelona’s location;
- The role protected areas, land and seascape management, and innovative governance structures can play to conserve natural resources and prevent biodiversity loss in all; and
- The means to monitor the status of species and threats to them.
