A coalition of organisations sign an open letter to the UK Government
On the EDGE Conservation convened a coalition of UK organisations to sign an open letter urging the UK Government to conserve our evolutionary heritage, through conserving evolutionarily distinct species across the Tree of Life.
The forthcoming fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) presents a historic opportunity to achieve global transformative change, and the country Parties will have pivotal roles to play in delivering a strong global commitment to biodiversity in a revised framework.
On The EDGE Conservation (OTEC), which hosts the PDTF, has supported our technical submissions in the run up to the CBD COP15. To enlist government level support, OTEC convened a coalition of experts for a roundtable discussion on the 25th November 2020. Nine of UK’s leading environmental NGOs, foundations, agencies, and networks signed a letter to the UK Government calling for an improved articulation of the post2020 framework’s species goal, and the adoption of two indicators that track the status of EDGE species and loss of phylogenetic diversity. In addition, the letter calls for the UK to incorporate these values into its own biodiversity strategies both in the UK and beyond in the overseas territories.
The letter was addressed to the UK Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment, the Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith, and sent in advance of a virtual panel discussion event organised by OTEC on the 8th December. On this panel, Lord Goldsmith discussed unique and overlooked species alongside US former Vice-president Al Gore; former NGS Chief Scientist and the founder of ZSL’s EDGE programme Jonathan Baillie; and Nisha Owen, OTEC Director of Conservation and Chair of the PDTF.
The letter signatories have demonstrated their support for the importance of the conservation of our evolutionary heritage, and the panel discussion showcased this topic at a high-level, and we welcome further government support in the upcoming CBD COP15 as the Parties finalise the post2020 global biodiversity framework.
