UNEP launches new 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership website

UNEP On 22 May 2009: the 16th International Day for Biodiversity

Cambridge, 22 May 2009 – The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP) is a global initiative funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) that brings together over 40 international organizations to develop biodiversity indicators and assess biodiversity loss. The 2010 BIP Secretariat, hosted by the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, will launch a new version of its website on the International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May 2009.

The website (http://www.twentyten.net) will be a unique portal to provide comprehensive information on global biodiversity indicators and trends; with an emphasis on reporting towards the "2010 Biodiversity Target".

The theme of 2009 International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) is Invasive Alien Species - which present one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and the ecological and economic well-being of society. Each year the cost of damage caused by invasive species is estimated to be in the region of US$ 1.4 trillion. (Information: Global Invasive Species Programme, www.gisp.org).

This year's International Day of Biodiversity marks the countdown to the publication of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3). The publication will be launched on IDB (22 May) 2010, which has been designated as the International Year of Biodiversity the United Nations. Over the next year the 2010 BIP partners will be working together to produce indicator results and storylines for inclusion in this publication.

In April 2002, 191 nations committed themselves to "achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth" at the 6th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biodiversity. The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership was established in a response to this target, to develop and promote the biodiversity indicators selected by the CBD for measuring progress towards this target.

The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership is a global initiative to track progress towards achieving the "2010 biodiversity target" to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

The 2010 BIP is a collaboration of over 40 international organizations and agencies developing global biodiversity indicators and is the leading source of information on trends in global biodiversity.

The three main objectives of the 2010 BIP are:

1. To generate information on biodiversity trends that is useful to decision makers.

2. To ensure improved global biodiversity indicators are implemented and available.

3. To establish links between biodiversity initiatives at the regional and national levels to enable capacity building and improve the delivery of the biodiversity indicators.

The website should be available in all six languages of the United Nations later in the year

Quotations / comment available from:

Dr Damon Stanwell-Smith, Project Coordinator, 2010 BIP

Dr. Matt Walpole, Head of Ecosystem Assessment Programme, UNEP-WCMC

Ms. Anna Chenery, Communications Focal Point, 2010 BIP

Other 2010 BIP, UNEP-WCMC and/or GEF representatives

About UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organisations, national governments non-governmental organisations, the private sector and civil society.

About GEF

The Global Environment Facility, established in 1991, unites 178 countries in partnership with international institutions, non-government organisations and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest funding organisation of projects to improve the global environment. An independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing US$8.3 billion in grants and leveraging US$33.7 billion in co-financing for over than 2,200 projects in more than 165 countries.