CBD-COP 2018 in Egypt
Our topic group has given input to the negotiators at the UN Biodiversity Conference 2018, the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - COP 14, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 17-29 November 2018. ISDRS organized jointly with IUNCBD jointly a side-event where policy briefs were presented on Ecosystem Restoration to reverse loss of biodiversity. Look for our Policy Brief here.

Partnering IUNCBD
On June 13th, 2018, at the inaugural session of the 24th ISDRS Conference at Messina (Sicily, Italy), the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) , represented by its President, Prof. Walter Vermeulen, and the International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD), represented by its President Prof. Pierluigi Bozzi, signed an agreement of cooperation. The objective of the agreement is to stimulate and facilitate common participation of ISDRS members and universities of the IUNCBD in programs of sustainable development and conservation of cultural and biological diversity at all the administrative and spatial scales and to contribute together to integrate the principles and practices of sustainable development and diversity conservation in international, regional and national forums.

Messina, Italy,  2018

Our two tracks 3A and 3B addressed  the SDGs “Life on land” and “Life under water”. The presentations covered a diverse set of topics and case studies that, in essence, examined the question whether it is possible to have development of human communities without compromising existing biodiversity. We also acknowledged the great benefits high biodiversity can provide humanity and whether it is possible to restore deleteriously altered ecosystems to enhance biodiversity.

Below a few key results of the 3b Life below Water track at the Bogotá Conference (2017) are displayed. A wide variety of interesting talks led to the following general conclusions;

• Ecosystem services (ESS) are a bridge concept linking natural, social and cultural sciences with decision makers from different walks of life.
(read more)

State of the Art
(to be added soon)

Recommended Sources: 
1) Recent insights and state of the art knowledge on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity be found on the intergovernmental knowledge platform IPBES - Science and Policy for People and Nature (read more)
2) Look at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on Forests, Oceans, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services
3) Useful courses available at the UN SDG Academy; see for example From the Ground Up: Managing and Preserving Our Terrestrial Ecosystems

Recent discourses on the ISDRS LinkedIn discussion group:

The International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity  (IUNCBD) is an active partner of the ISDRS on this topic. Read more about the IUNCBD here.