FAO launches new action plan to mainstream biodiversity in agricultural sectors

On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched its updated action plan to mainstream biodiversity across all agricultural sectors and prepared to launch several new biodiversity-related initiatives. Highlighting this year’s theme “Be part of the plan”, FAO called on the world community to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the Biodiversity Plan, ratified in December 2022.

Soil is essential for producing 95% of the world’s food, yet over a third of soils are moderately or severely damaged. To address this issue, FAO advocates for sustainable agricultural practices that protect biodiversity and increase the resilience of ecosystems.

FAO aims to mainstream biodiversity into agricultural policies and programs around the world by working with governments, civil society and the private sector. The approach includes a variety of initiatives, from restoring coastal mangroves that support many fish species to promoting agricultural systems that protect biodiversity, improve nutrition and benefit the environment.

This week, FAO presented its 2024-2027 Action Plan for implementing the FAO Strategy on Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Agricultural Sectors. This plan replaces the previous document for 2021-2023 and aims to better achieve the strategy’s goals: reducing the adverse impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity, promoting sustainable methods, and protecting, enhancing and restoring biodiversity. The action plan includes broad support for countries in implementing and monitoring the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

A key element of the new Action Plan is the FAO Biodiversity Knowledge Centre, a comprehensive resource offering access to over 350 tools, guidelines and resources related to biodiversity for food and agriculture. These resources can be searched and filtered by specific Biodiversity Plan goals.

Earlier this month, three FAO-led projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palau and Samoa were approved under the Global Framework for Biodiversity under the Global Facility for the Environment. Launched in August 2023, this fund aims to mobilize investment to achieve the goals of the Biodiversity Plan, with particular benefit to small island developing States and least developed countries. These projects will contribute more than $7.8 million and leverage an additional $14.2 million in co-financing to support indigenous peoples in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, strengthening their stewardship of natural resources.

The conservation, sustainable use and restoration of biodiversity, combined with efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, are key to increasing food and nutrition security worldwide.