Side Event

"Biodiversity and Health: strengthening our synergies and seeking collaboration" by SCBD, WHO, DIVERSITAS, EcoHealth Alliance and partners.

Organizer
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Date and Time
8 October 2012 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11)

Biodiversity and human health have inextricable links, as biodiversity can offer critical health-supporting ecosystem services and benefits. It is also increasingly acknowledged that public health arguments are an opportunity for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Anthropogenic practices, such as land use change, expansion of agriculture, and trade of wild animals and livestock, are often detrimental to the preservation of biodiversity and also present direct risks to public health through wide-ranging implications for zoonotic disease emergence and transmission, food and water security, and overall human well-being. In recognition of these critical linkages and growing pressures, the CBD is developing strong engagement with the health sector to support the CBD’s mandate to achieve biodiversity mainstreaming and support achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. These efforts are rooted in new scientific knowledge on the linkages between biodiversity, ecosystems and human health provided by partner scientific organizations. This endeavor also allows for important gains in capacity building, poverty reduction and sustainable development. This side event by the CBD Secretariat, Parties and partners will provide updates and encourage dialogue for the future based on learnings and achievements between the health and biodiversity communities, including the CBD-WHO Regional Capacity-Building Workshop, development of outreach materials, and the formalization of partnerships with scientific organizations and other key partners.