The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a program under the Convention on Biological Diversity which establishes 16 targets at global, regional and national levels to understand and preserve plant diversity while using it sustainably.
These goals will help reduce biodiversity loss and make our world more sustainable for future generations.
Target 1: Identify the world’s areas important for plant diversity
At the GSPC Forum in Dujiangyan, China, participants expressed their congratulations for China’s accomplishments in implementing its National Plant Conservation Strategy and pointed out its immense value in supporting life on Earth. They recognized a vast international community comprised of government bodies and non-government organisations as well as botanical gardens, universities, researchers and many individuals working towards realizing its goals.
GSPC targets provide a global framework for work being done at national and international levels, including measures designed to ensure (I) Plant diversity is understood, documented, recognized, conserved in sustainable ways while being utilized equitably, (II) Conservation measures must be urgently undertaken as sustainable use can have adverse impacts on biodiversity (III) Education regarding plant biodiversity’s importance is promoted (IV) Capacity building networking facilitation is encouraged (V) biological invasions must be prevented while their effects managed
Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species
Due to the 2018 Liaison Group Meeting, a draft set of plant conservation targets have been created that will form part of the CBD’s new global biodiversity framework to be adopted in 2021. These draft targets fully align with this post-2020 biodiversity framework as well as reflecting extensive international stakeholder consultation.
This Target recognizes the need for all countries to access comprehensive and authoritative global and national expertise as well as online information systems, documentation and inventories of their floras and natural habitats. Furthermore, subglobal assessments can also play a pivotal role since up to 60% of plant species reside exclusively within one nation (Beech et al. 2010).
The Global Soil Preservation Campaign recognizes the serious threats to plant diversity posed by habitat loss and degradation, unsustainable harvesting methods, pollution, invasive species invasion and pollution as global problems that necessitate mitigation efforts. They further note that there are no scientific reasons for any known species going extinct and this should never happen; any extinctions should be seen as unacceptable and any attempts at extinction must cease immediately.
Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a program under the Convention on Biological Diversity that works to halt biodiversity loss among plant species through 16 targets.
Plants are essential to our lives and planet. However, they continue to face numerous threats – from habitat degradation and species extinction, to being described by biologists and saved. But there is good news: biologists are documenting new species while saving species and protecting habitats.
This goal seeks to develop and disseminate plant conservation knowledge and information necessary for planning and implementing conservation actions, while simultaneously raising awareness of their value and importance, including ways of making plant conservation mainstream in policy decisions through dissemination of information, education and training initiatives involving indigenous and local communities in these activities.
Target 4: At least 15 per cent of each ecological region or vegetation type secured through effective management and/or restoration
Plant diversity is an invaluable asset and its loss has never been so pressing. Thanks to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 2022, an agreed set of targets have now been set in order to confront this challenge head-on.
Target 4 calls for at least 15 percent of each ecological region or vegetation type to be secured through effective management and/or restoration, an important milestone towards slowing species extinctions globally.
This goal contributes to both Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 ‘Healthy and resilient ecosystems are maintained’ and Aichi Biodiversity Target 12 ‘By 2020, all known threatened species have been prevented from going extinct’, as well as several international agreements and programs relevant to biodiversity such as:
Target 5: At least 75 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity protected
As news of species extinctions flood in, many people have become disillusioned that conservation efforts are impossible. But plant-focused approaches, including identifying important areas and conserving them; in situ protection mechanisms like protected areas; ex situ collections management and monitoring all together could reduce species loss at an incremental pace.
Respondents noted the significance of the Global Society for Plant Conservation in advancing plant conservation efforts, arguing that without it progress would have been much slower. They urged further strengthening of the GSPC at international and regional levels as well as including consideration of plant diversity values into decision making processes at all levels, along with communicating its importance through public awareness programs.
Target 6: At least 75 per cent of production lands in each sector managed sustainably
Agriculture is one of the world’s biggest industries, employing billions and providing livelihoods to billions more. When managed sustainably, it can also play a pivotal role in solving other sustainability crises like biodiversity loss and nutrient pollution.
West African farmers enrolled in a Bank-supported project are adopting climate-smart agricultural practices and increasing crop yields with improved, drought-tolerant varieties as well as more efficient water management techniques. The benefits for local communities range from increased incomes and soil conservation, sequestration of carbon as well as protection.
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, adopted in 2002 and renewed in 2010, marked a key turning point in efforts to stem biodiversity loss. It established 16 outcome-oriented GSPC targets as international norms, and these are being updated and aligned with draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework through wide consultation processes.
Target 7: At least 75 per cent of known threatened plant species conserved in situ
Adopted at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2002, a global strategy to conserve plants was instrumental in slowing plant species loss. It included 16 targets which were updated annually until 2010, eventually becoming national policies.
These goals are ambitious yet largely attainable, calling for action both at species and habitat levels, taking into account areas that support plant biodiversity. Furthermore, they include measures related to information provision, research activities, and capacity building.
Targets include living collections, which are especially important for species producing seeds that do not survive desiccation in conventional seed banks. Living collections can provide an economical means of meeting the 75 per cent target for threatened plant species.
Target 8: At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections
Plants are essential to our planet and survival. However, their populations have become increasingly threatened in recent decades; thus the GSPC’s 16 targets aim to mitigate any further loss of plant diversity.
Ex situ collections (of rare species held in gene banks, botanical gardens, zoos and translocation sites) play an invaluable role in supporting in situ or wild population conservation by providing material necessary for further conservation actions. Unfortunately, the upkeep of living collections can be costly; thus its justification must be assessed individually for each taxon.
Domestic gardening – both for private gardens and horticulturists – can play an invaluable role in ex situ plant conservation. By increasing availability of rare and endangered taxa for use in horticulture, domestic gardening can contribute to Target 8 while simultaneously helping reduce plant extinction rates through allowing their reintroduction back into their historical ranges. However, much more work needs to be done. You can even skip traveling to offline casinos and play casino games like slots online (find more information or 더 많은 정보 찾기 about top slots platforms) and reduce your carbon footprints to prevent it.
Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their wild relatives and other socio-economically valuable plant species conserved
Plants provide us with food, medicine and biofuels while serving as the foundation for life and sustainable development. They play an essential role in watershed protection and carbon sequestration – we cannot afford to lose biodiversity any further!
In 2002, the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity approved the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), setting 16 outcome oriented targets to conserve plants worldwide. It should be remembered that these targets should be seen as pragmatic rather than exhaustive.
Target 9 calls for 70 per cent of crop genetic diversity including wild relatives and other socio-economically valuable plant species to be conserved while respecting, preserving and upholding local knowledge and indigenous perspectives. It’s an ambitious yet doable goal if we work together.
Target 10: Effective management plans in place to prevent new biological invasions
Plant conservation must play an integral part of any new global biodiversity framework, to ensure plant-specific actions continue and become visible within the global community, while aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at the fifteenth Conference of Parties.
As the 16 targets set out by GSPC are intentionally broad and open to interpretation, this paper’s analysis offers tangible proof that early management investments can avoid massive future costs — in fact, even one year’s delay could save USD$1449.4 billion according to modelled species and country-level delay times (Supplementary Material 3). Furthermore, this analysis highlights the need for better coordination to avoid biological invasions; existing national interagency groups often lack proper charters while government agency and nongovernmental staff working on biological invasion issues often have various other responsibilities as well.