Convention on Biological DiversityPlant Conservation Report Page 20TARGET 5:PROTECTION OF 50 % OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREASFOR PLANT DIVERSITY ASSUREDIntroductionThis target aims to improve site-basedprotection of <strong>the</strong> most important <strong>plant</strong>s and<strong>plant</strong> habitats around <strong>the</strong> world. ‘Protection’encompasses both legal protection mechanismsand o<strong>the</strong>r on-<strong>the</strong>-ground <strong>conservation</strong> activitiesas <strong>the</strong>y are both required to effectively safeguardimportant sites <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong> diversity.measure of ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> effectiveness of <strong>the</strong> protectionor <strong>the</strong> quality of <strong>conservation</strong>. The ImportantPlant Areas (IPAs) programme methodology,an approach widely used to address this target,aims to conserve <strong>the</strong> best areas <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong>s around<strong>the</strong> world. Sites are identiied using standardcriteria and <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>conservation</strong> is promotedthrough various mechanisms, not just <strong>for</strong>malprotection. Community-based <strong>conservation</strong>, withan emphasis on delivering sustainable livelihoods<strong>from</strong> <strong>plant</strong> resources, is recognized as one of <strong>the</strong>most effective approaches to <strong>plant</strong> <strong>conservation</strong>in IPAs.The importance of maintaining prime biodiversitysites has long been recognized. Intact natural areasprovide a range of valuable ecosystem services,and reducing habitat fragmentation allows <strong>plant</strong>populations to build resilience by facilitatingexchange of pollen/seed, thus maintaining diversegene pools and diverse <strong>plant</strong> resources <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>future. These lagship sites also have intrinsicvalue, often with deep cultural resonance <strong>for</strong>citizens at national and local scales. Despite all<strong>the</strong> uncertainties <strong>for</strong> biodiversity inherent withinclimate change scenarios, it is certain that existingareas of high <strong>plant</strong> diversity are, and will remain,important as both refuges and resources, and<strong>the</strong>se areas will be <strong>the</strong> building blocks <strong>for</strong> futuremitigation measures against biodiversity loss.ProgressSigniicant progress has been made with Target 5.Over 10% of <strong>the</strong> Earth’s surface is now oficiallyclassed as protected areas. This, however, is not aTo date sixty-nine countries <strong>from</strong> all continents,have participated in Important Plant Area (IPA)initiatives 26 that contribute to Target 5. Morethan 50% of <strong>the</strong>se countries have taken stepsto identify important <strong>plant</strong> sites and at least24% (17 countries) have ongoing programmesthat are addressing <strong>conservation</strong> issues as wellas documenting sites. For example China hasdesignated 14 IPAs, and established 418 naturereserves accounting <strong>for</strong> 24.19% of <strong>the</strong> area ofIPAs Many national projects have been initiatedas a result of regional workshops: in Central andEast Europe, <strong>the</strong> Mediterranean, <strong>the</strong> Himalayas,<strong>the</strong> Caribbean, <strong>the</strong> Arab region, south-east Asia,sou<strong>the</strong>rn Africa and <strong>the</strong> UK overseas territories.Some IPAs are within oficially protected areas(in Europe this is approximately 66%) though <strong>the</strong>percentage of IPAs protected does not necessarilymean <strong>the</strong> site is maintained in good condition.What is urgently needed in many countries, are <strong>the</strong>resources to develop <strong>conservation</strong> methodologieson <strong>the</strong> ground, which will provide successful <strong>plant</strong><strong>conservation</strong> tools and protocols.It is essential that <strong>the</strong>se actions to conserve<strong>plant</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> ground (a 3-5 year timeframe)are undertaken alongside <strong>the</strong> actions aimed atintegrating <strong>the</strong> <strong>conservation</strong> of <strong>plant</strong>s into policy,legislative and institutional frameworks (a 10-20year timeframe), to ensure sustained results <strong>for</strong>this target.FutureThe <strong>conservation</strong> of important areas <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong>diversity remains a core element of <strong>plant</strong><strong>conservation</strong> activities in all countries as abasis <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> provision of ecosystem services26 http://www.<strong>plant</strong>life-ipa.org/reports.asp
and maintaining <strong>the</strong> diversity that supportssustainable livelihoods. Formal protection of<strong>the</strong>se sites alone, though critically important,will not result in safeguarding <strong>the</strong> diversity onimportant areas <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong>s. Affecting change inpolicy, legislation and institutional frameworks(required by this target) is a long-term process,but to be successful in conserving <strong>plant</strong> diversity,this target must be driven by on-<strong>the</strong>-ground<strong>conservation</strong>. Community-based <strong>conservation</strong>that works to improve livelihoods, healthcare andquality of life, is proving <strong>the</strong> most effective wayof implementing this target in many areas of <strong>the</strong>world.Climate change considerations imply that <strong>the</strong>reare many uncertainties in future patterns of<strong>plant</strong> diversity. Whe<strong>the</strong>r mitigation measures tomaintain biodiversity focus on building resiliencewithin <strong>plant</strong> populations (by illing gaps near/within existing areas) or increasing landscapepermeability (creation of wildlife corridors),existing important areas <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong> diversitywill remain a cornerstone of <strong>conservation</strong> inany climate change scenario. The Gran CanariaDeclaration II on Climate Change and PlantConservation (April 2006) recognized that <strong>the</strong>development of national networks of areas thatare important <strong>for</strong> <strong>plant</strong>s provide <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>for</strong>in situ <strong>conservation</strong> matrices. These matrices,that incorporate sites and corridors in <strong>the</strong> widerlandscape, will provide a mechanism to helpprotect <strong>plant</strong> diversity <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> effects of climatechange.The <strong>conservation</strong> of <strong>the</strong> IPAs <strong>for</strong> medicinal<strong>plant</strong>s in <strong>the</strong> HimalayasIn 2006, fifty-three IPAs <strong>for</strong> medicinal<strong>plant</strong>s (sites of international significance <strong>for</strong><strong>conservation</strong> recognized at national level) wereidentified across <strong>the</strong> Himalayas by organizationsin Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan ina regional project with Plantlife International.Larger IPAs were identified according to criteriawith a significant number of smaller sites atlocal level, often nested within <strong>the</strong>m. IPAswere found to be useful <strong>for</strong> landscape planningand <strong>conservation</strong> monitoring, based on <strong>the</strong>gross geography of <strong>the</strong> Himalayan IPA network.Protected area networks in <strong>the</strong> region shouldbe reviewed to ensure <strong>the</strong>y have good coverageon <strong>the</strong> east-west and altitudinal axes. Involvinglocal communities was found to be fundamentalto conserving medicinal <strong>plant</strong>s at <strong>the</strong> local leveland projects continue to be developed on <strong>the</strong>sesites involving all stakeholders (traditionaldoctors, cultural leaders and industry) tofacilitate IPA <strong>conservation</strong>.Working with local communities to prioritizeImportant Plant Areas (IPAs) <strong>for</strong> medicinal <strong>plant</strong>sin <strong>the</strong> Himalayas (Photo: Plant Life International).Medicinal <strong>plant</strong> cultivation in <strong>the</strong> Himalayas(Photo: Plant Life International).Plant Conservation ReportPage 21 Convention on Biological Diversity