Finland and Peru endorse the Countdown 2010 initiative to halt the loss of biodiversity
Paris, 21 September 2006. At the last day of the Conference on Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation, the Finnish Minister for the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam and Alex Mamud Venegas from the Peruvian Ministry for Agriculture undersigned the Countdown 2010 Declaration committing themselves to unprecedented efforts to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target to significantly reduce the loss of biodiversity.
Finland will prepare the EU Environment Council Conclusions on the European’s Commission Biodiversity Communication: “Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond”, with a focus on the strategy and the EU action plan to 2010 and beyond. The Finnish Government also promised to implement the Second Finnish National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2006 -2016 and to start a national education and awareness raising campaign with a focus on biodiversity.
The Peruvian Governments promised to integrate biodiversity issues in all relevant sectors and to foster cooperation at regional level through the integration of the 2010 Biodiversity targets into regional strategies and agendas.
Both Governments work together in the BIODAMAZ project – a project that addresses the pressing environmental problems in the complex Peruvian Amazon region. These efforts will be supported through the launch of a regional initiative in collaboration with the Andean Community. The project is thus a concrete response to the 2006 Paris Conference on Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation.
“As a result of our cooperation in this project, scientists were able to monitor very rare types of forests including new tree and bird species. Together with local authorities and communities, we aim to protecting this unique habitat,” highlight Minister Enestam and Alex Mamud Venegas.
The goal of Countdown 2010 is that all Governments, at every level, take the necessary actions to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. To this end, the Countdown 2010 partners work together to draw public attention to commitments made to preserve biological diversity.
“By confirming to take action on the 2010 biodiversity commitment, Finland and Peru demonstrate how North and South can join forces to put paper into action. An example to follow by others!” said Tamás Marghescu, Director of IUCN’s Regional Office for Europe.
The Conference on Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation (Paris, 19 to 21 September 200 6) developed the “Message from Paris” which is intended to kick-start a process for charting and implementing a road map towards the integration of biodiversity into European economic and development cooperation. More than 400 participants from around the globe from the development and environment sectors including more than 50 Ministers and Executive Secretaries participated in the conference.
