Harmonized Perspectives - CDKN Global

General introduction to the thematic of Biodiversity / EcosystemsBiodiversity / Ecosystems in generalFrom a general way the richness biodiversity is not evenly distributed in the world, it is found only in afew regions, generally located in the tropics. The same dynamic applies to countries considered megadiverse.Under these conditions, Central America becomes very relevant and it enjoys these attributes due to itslocation and its unique shape of the isthmus, which has allowed him to play an important role not onlyin the region but in the hemisphere. Of the seven countries of Central America they occupy just 0.51% ofthe territory emerged from the planet, but in these countries are concentrated about 9% of the world'sbiological wealth. Additionally, two of the nine countries known to be mega-diverse 48 are in the region,these are Costa Rica and Guatemala. On the other hand, the region is a cultural bridge, of an encounterbetween maya-nahuátl and macro macro chibcha.The representativeness of species, gives a special importance to Central America in terms ofits natural wealth, since it contains about a million different species of organisms, which coexistwith about 40 million Central Americans, yet it is regrettable that more half of this population lives inpoverty. Paradoxically, Central America ranked tenth in vulnerability in relation to climate change,which makes them more prone to extreme natural events affecting the quality of life of thepopulation 49 , although it is estimated that Central America produces less than 0.5% carbon on theplanet 50 .However, there are opportunities in the region to take benefit of, such as the American Systemof Protected Areas (SICAP) and the Technical Committee on Biodiversity 51 . Then there is also theinitiative of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC), a multinational proposal, responsible for theconservation and protection of ecological connectivity in an effort to work through the Central Americanisthmus, being its core objective to maintain and protect landscape and environment, and providessupport for important issues such as biodiversity, communication, environmental economics, policiesand legislation in Central America. Similarly, Central America has the Central American Policy forIntegrated Risk Management (PCGIR), the Action Plan for Integrated Water Management (PACADIRH),and the Central American Strategy for Integrated Water Resources Management (ECAGIRH) RegionalDisaster Reduction Plan (PRRD), among others.In that sense, it is important to use these instruments and highlight the importance of biodiversity in theprovision of goods and services necessary for the survival of humanity. But we also must recognize thatbiodiversity has intrinsic value, which also requires conservation. At the same dimension it should benoted, the contribution that biodiversity for disaster risk reduction and climate change is today one ofthe greatest challenges to be solved.Under these conditions an agenda must be elaborated with binding and integrated initiatives for theconservation of biodiversity through the management of protected areas, this as an opportunity forimproved disaster risk management with greater intensities and increased by climate change . Thisapproach will substantially benefit the sustainable development of Central America; otherwise it wouldbecome a growing threat.48 The countries with the greatest biodiversity index of the Earth are called Megadiverse, nine of these are found in America(Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela), four in Africa and six in Asia. It isestimated that as a whole they harbor more than 70% of the biodiversity of the planet, assuming their territories are 10% of thesurface of the planet.49 Rajendra Pachauri, Nobel Prize 2007.50 http://www.eclac.org/mexico/cambioclimatico/estudio.html51 CCAD: Technical committees have been established in compliance with Article IX of the Convention Establishing the Commissionon Environment and Development, CCAD (1989), which creates and Technical Committees to which they are entitled to advise theCommission and carry out specific tasks are conferred by it; they will be coordinated by a Secretary.16