The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
In response to this crisis, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in December 2022 (CBD 2022a). The Framework has a Vision of a world of living in harmony with nature where “by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” There are four Goals that describe the outcomes to be achieved by 2050 so that this vision can be realised. There are then 23 Targets that detail actions to be achieved by 2030 in order to achieve the 2030 Mission, which is “To take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and planet by conserving and sustainably using biodiversity and by ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources, while providing the necessary means of implementation.” (CBD2022a). The accompanying Monitoring Framework lists a suite of ‘headline’ indicators for monitoring progress (CBD 2022b), supported by a long list of ‘component’ and ‘complementary’ indicators for optional use.
The first three Goals (i.e. A-C) align directly to the three objectives of the Convention: a) conservation of biological diversity; b) sustainable use of the components of biological diversity; and c) fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, with the fourth Goal concerned with ensuring that there are adequate means of implementation for the Framework. There are eight Targets outlining action necessary to reduce threats to biodiversity (i.e. supporting Goal A); five Targets concerned with meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing (i.e. Goals B and C) and 10 Targets for actions needed to implement the KMGBF (i.e. Goal D).
Here we analyse key species-specific elements of the Framework, namely the outcomes described in Goal A, and actions in Target 4, which is concerned with urgent recovery measures for species that need them. We assess each element in detail drawing on both the negotiations leading up to the adoption of the KMGBF and relevant literature to promote understanding that supports operationalisation of this Goal and Target. Whilst we do not focus on other Targets (such as Targets 1, 2 and 3 on habitat conservation, or Targets 5 on overexploitation and 6 on invasive alien species) we recognise the crucial importance of those Targets in achieving the species elements of Goal A, given habitat loss, overexploitation, and invasive alien species are the primary drivers of species decline.