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Dr. David A. Galbraith
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February 2009
Much progress has been made toward the sixteen targets of the GSPC since 2002, although some of the targets have proven difficult to actually measure. A global status report on progress was completed in 2008 and given to the Parties to the CBD. The status report is available on-line as a PDF file at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-09/information/cop-09-inf-25-en.pdf.
Here is a quick summary of progress at the global level and in Canada toward the global targets:
Target 1: A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora
Global Progress: List is considered 85% complete now, and is expected to be finished in 2010 and available on-line.
Canadian Progress: Essentially complete (Many individual contributions, such as the Flora of North America project, various provincial floras, and the work of NatureServe and other agencies mean that a working list of plants in Canada is available, although it is always being refined).
Target 2: A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and International Levels
Global Progress: 50% of countries have some form of Red List, or list of species at risk; less than 5% of plant species have been formally assessed for their conservation status, however, using the rigorous standards of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Canadian Progress: This is essentially complete at a working level for Canadian vascular plants. A General Assessment of the status of species in Canada was completed in 2005, and will be updated for 2010.
Target 3: Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience
Global Progress: A wide variety of protocols and models were identified in the global status report, relevant to all targets.
Canadian Progress: Much expertise in all relevant fields is available in various sectors, but there is no central 'clearing house' for plant conservation protocols at present. Much biodiversity information in Canada is shared through CBIN, the Canadian Biodiveristy Information Network, which is Canada's formal clearning house for CBD information.
Target 4: At least 10 per cent of each of the world's ecological regions effectively conserved
Global Progress: About 11.5% of the world's terrestrial surface is now protected in some way, but there has been no assessment yet as to what proportion of each ecological region has actually been protected.
Canadian Progress: The protected areas network in Canada includes about 9% of Canada's territory: 11 million hectares.
Target 5: Protection of 50 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity assured
Global Progress: So far about 70 countries have contributed to various "Important Plant Areas" programs (IPAs), and about 50% of these have some on-going program to protect areas for plant diversity. A smaller group, 17 countries, were identified in 2008 as having a working IPA program.
Canadian Progress: Many important areas for plant diversity are protected within various parks or natural areas in Canada, but we do not have a national criteria to identify IPAs or a specific program to protect them at present.
Target 6: At least 30 per cent of production lands managed consistent with the conservation of plant diversity
Global Progress: "Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management" will be global measure in 2010; minority of countries today have sustainable forestry programs.
Canadian Progress: The important goal of sustainable management principles, including conservation of biodiversity, is included in many biodiversity action plans at the federal and provincial levels. A quantitative assessment of how all "production lands" fit under the target is not yet available, but it is worth noting that according to Agriculture and Agrifood Canada's fourth Sustainable Development Strategy, 95% of Canadian farms have had some sort of assessment toward their sustainability. WIthin forestry, over 1.4 million square kilometers of production lands have been certified as meeting Sustainable Forest Management standards.
Target 7: 60 per cent of the world's threatened species conserved in situ
Global Progress: There are still too few protected areas with high plant diversity around the world to get close to this target. It is also linked to Target 2 for a working list.
Canadian Progress: The goal of Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA) and provincial species at risk programs is in situ conservation; List of threatened species in Canada is available through the SARA public registry.
Target 8: 60 per cent of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10 per cent of them included in recovery and restoration programmes
Global Progress: The number of species in ex situ conservation is growing, but many collections are not genetically representative; at present few linked to in situ recovery.
Canadian Progress: Canada's national seed gene bank, Plant Genetic Resources Canada (PGRC) includes listed endangered species as part of its goals. At present we do not have a national assessment of ex situ capacity or programs, however.
Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops and other major socio-economically valuable plant species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained
Global Progress: The Global Plant Diversity Trust has been established, but a quantitative assessment has not completed, in part because of difficulties in actually measuring genetic diversity.
Canadian Progress: No overall national assessment has been completed to date, but many programs exist for individual species, wild relatives of crop plants.
Issues: There is a lack of protocols for assessing genetic diversity, and in assessing linkages to associated indigenous and local knowledge.
Target 10: Management plans in place for at least 100 major alien species that threaten plants, plant communities and associated habitats and ecosystems
Global Progress: Essentially complete as plans are in place for more than 100 species, but achievement does not mean invasive species problem solved.
Canadian Progress: Many invasive species management plans in place but there is much more to do. Canada has had an Invasive Alien Species Strategy since 2004. Many programs are lead under the auspices of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Issues: There is an urgent need to understand linkages between invasive species and climate change.
Target 11: No species of wild flora endangered by international trade
Global Progress: Approx. 300 plant species now included in CITES Appendix I; over 28,000 in Appendix II; CITES effective for listed species but few are listed.
Canadian Progress: Canada is a signatory to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is enforced nationally and provincially.
Issues: Continued work by CITES is needed to bring appropritate plant species into the Appendices.
Target 12: 30 per cent of plant-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed
Global Progress: Progress has been mixed. Forest sustaiabiloty standards, certification, and programs for agriculture exist in place in many countries; much weight is on certification for consumer education
Canadian Progress: National and provincial agencies have goals of sustainable management of resources, agriculture, forestry jhave well-developed programs
Issues: Internationally there is an urgent need for agreed standards and definitions. There are now new IUCN standards for wild collection of medicinal plants which are helpful models.
Target 13: The decline of plant resources and associated indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care, halted
Global Progress: Progress under this target is difficult to assess. There is has been positive growth of awareness of issues but no progress on sub-targets thought important in 2006.
Canadian Progress: Canada has a variety of relevant national, provincial programs, and many programs are being undertaken by NGOs, but assessment of actual progress is difficult because of the complexity of the issues covered in the target.
Issues: Target wording could be improved; it has been noted that this target has sweeping implications, difficult to quantify.
Target 14: The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, educational and public-awareness programmes
Global Progress: There has been some progress in raising awareness, including about GSPC, but there is not enough education programming about plants and their importance.
Canadian Progress: The botanical gardens sector is seen as key to this target. About 4 million per year visit gardens in Canada, and many such institutions work hard to connect their visitors to educational programming aout plants. More engagement with educators, curricula is needed.
Target 15: The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities in plant conservation increased, according to national needs, to achieve the targets of this Strategy
Global Progress: Progress considered significant in several programs, but overall difficult to assess, considered inadequate; very few formal needs assessments conducted
Canadian Progress: No needs assessment completed
Issues: Overall resources for conservation, including HR support, still thin
Target 16: Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels
Global Progress: GSPC itself has been trigger for much grass-roots organizing several sectors have responded strongly, including agriculture, botanical gardens
Canadian Progress: CBCN, other conservation efforts have continued; much more being done at local level
Issues: Resources for developing, maintaining networking activities hard to secure in sustainable way
Last updated: 12 February 2009