The 11th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took place in Hyderabad, India, from 1-19 October 2012. About 194 countries' environment and forest ministers attended the conference, along with representatives from international organizations including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Nearly 8,000–10,000 delegates discussed on biodiversity and biosafety-related topics. This article will explain to you about COP 11 Hyderabad which will help prepare the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

COP 11 - Demands & Discussions

Demands of Developing and Developed Countries

• Namibia, an African nation, demanded that developed countries honor the fund allocation commitments they made to save biodiversity in the 2010 protocol.
• Developed countries upheld their demand for the establishment of a baseline for the investments already made and the amount of additional funding required.

Discussions

• In 2010, the Nagoya Protocol's 20 Identified Targets were discussed in order to learn about any implementation issues.

COP 11 - Logo

• The Royal Bengal Tiger appears on the top of the CBD logo, a woman holding a bird and a leaf appears in the center, and a dolphin appears at the bottom of the circle.
• All terrestrial creatures are represented by the Royal Bengal tiger. It also symbolizes the wildlife of India.
• One of the key goals of CBD is to stop the loss of biodiversity, which includes saving the Royal Bengal Tiger, an endangered species.
• As a result, it communicates the unique characteristics of the originator and its activities.
• The ocean is symbolized by the dolphin. Since the Delphinidae family is the largest in the Cetacean order and is widespread around the planet, it serves as a metaphor for all aquatic life.
• The Mother Earth, who gives us food, shelter, and all of our other basic needs as humans and other living things, is represented by the Woman.
• The logo is round. The earth is pictured as a circle. Additionally, it stands for the concept of our nature—the circle of life.
• Since a circle has no beginning or finish, it represents the cosmos as a whole.

COP 11 - Outcomes

• One of the most significant outcomes of the CoP is the Parties' commitment to double international financial flows for biodiversity by 2015.
• Over the next eight years, this will result in additional financial flows to developing countries totaling approximately US $ 30 billion, or approximately Rs. 1,50,000 crore.
• The Hyderabad Pledge, made by India during its presidency of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), commits US $50 million to strengthening the country's institutional mechanism for biodiversity conservation.
• The funds will be used to improve technical and human capabilities at national and state-level mechanisms in order to achieve the CBD goals.
• The country has also set aside funds to encourage similar capacity development in developing countries.
• India has established the Biodiversity Governance Awards in collaboration with UNDP. The first such awards were presented at the CoP 11 meeting.
• CoP-11 is expected to issue a road map for implementing the Strategic Plan and Aichi targets, as well as to facilitate the early entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing and to set targets for mobilizing resources to implement the Strategic Plan.

COP 11 and India

• The hosting of CoP-11 in India is a culmination of India's biodiversity agenda over the last few years.
• The event allows India to consolidate, scale up, and showcase its biodiversity initiatives and strengths.
• With a strong institutional, legal, and policy framework, India has the potential and capability to emerge as the world leader in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, as well as to set the global biodiversity agenda in the context of sustainable livelihoods during the UN Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020.
• The hosting of CoP-11 would also highlight the importance of balancing economic development, demographic pressures, and environmental conservation in developing countries such as India, as well as the need to raise awareness among various stakeholders about the importance of better use and management of biological resources.
• CoP-11 would provide a unique platform for displaying, promoting, interacting, learning, and networking about biodiversity experiences and knowledge.

Programs Launched During COP 11

BirdLife International

• BirdLife International is an alliance of non-governmental organizations working to protect birds and their habitats on a global scale.
• Preventing the extinction of bird species, finding and protecting important bird locations, conserving and rebuilding vital bird habitats, and empowering conservationists globally are among BirdLife International's top aims.
• During COP11, BirdLife International on October 16, 2012, launched an e-Atlas of marine-important bird areas.
• The e-Atlas might play a significant part in preserving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• It aims for protecting 10% of coastal and marine regions by 2020 by serving as an inventory and carrying data on over 3000 important bird sites from across the world.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change established under the enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006.
• It works to strengthen tiger conservation in accordance with the powers and functions delegated to it by the Act. It is the apex body that administers Project Tiger.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) announced its intention to establish a national database for tigers, India's national animal.
• This would provide each of these large cats with a special identity code and number.

*To know more about the topic, click this link National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Conclusion

Despite talks and worries, the COP 11 meeting was unable to come to a firm conclusion about the mobilization of resources and the setting up of funds. The Indian Prime Minister set aside a $50 million fund to improve the system for protecting biodiversity in India and other developing countries. To get better results and meet the impending obstacles, a number of steps and things were critically discussed, and worries were voiced.

FAQs

Question. What was COP 11?

Question. What was the main objective of COP 11?

Question. What are the Aichi Biodiversity Targets discussed at COP 11?

Question. What was the Hyderabad Pledge?

Question. What were some significant outcomes of COP 11?

MCQs

1. Where was COP 11 held?

A) Paris

B) New York

C) Hyderabad

D) Nairobi

2. What was the Hyderabad Pledge?

A) A commitment to double biodiversity funding

B) India’s pledge of US $50 million for biodiversity conservation

C) The agreement to set up global biodiversity monitoring centers

D) A funding pledge for the development of wildlife sanctuaries

3. Which protocol was discussed at COP 11 regarding genetic resources?

A) Kyoto Protocol

B) Cartagena Protocol

C) Nagoya Protocol

D) Montreal Protocol

4. What is the primary goal of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets?

A) To reduce carbon emissions

B) To protect endangered species

C) To halt biodiversity loss

D) To regulate international trade

5. Which species was prominently symbolized in the COP 11 logo?

A) Lion

B) Bengal Tiger

C) Elephant

D) Peacock

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Explain the significance of COP 11 in the global biodiversity conservation framework.

Answer: COP 11 was a crucial milestone in the global effort to conserve biodiversity. It focused on reviewing the progress made since the adoption of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and creating strategies for the future. The conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and environmental experts to reaffirm their commitment to halting biodiversity loss. The Hyderabad Pledge by India, which allocated US $50 million for biodiversity conservation, was one of the key outcomes. Additionally, the conference facilitated a global dialogue on integrating biodiversity into national development plans, thereby ensuring that economic growth does not come at the cost of ecological sustainability.

Q2: Analyze the role of India in COP 11 and its contribution to global biodiversity efforts.

Answer: India played a central role in COP 11, both as the host country and through its commitment to biodiversity conservation. The Hyderabad Pledge, in which India pledged significant financial support for biodiversity conservation, was a critical moment in the conference. India's leadership was also reflected in its initiatives to promote sustainable use of biological resources and strengthen institutional mechanisms for biodiversity management. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, India's role in COP 11 highlighted its responsibility to contribute to global conservation efforts, especially in developing countries.

Q3: Discuss the challenges in implementing the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and how COP 11 addressed these challenges.

Answer: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets face several challenges in their implementation, including lack of financial resources, inadequate political will, and difficulties in integrating biodiversity conservation with economic development. COP 11 addressed these challenges by reaffirming the commitment to increase financial flows for biodiversity conservation, setting concrete targets for resource mobilization, and emphasizing the need for stronger international cooperation. The outcomes of the conference, including the Hyderabad Pledge and the roadmap for implementing the Aichi Targets, aimed to overcome these barriers by promoting capacity building, raising awareness, and fostering partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society.

Previous Year Questions on  COP 11 hyderabad

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Question: "What are the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and how were they discussed at COP 11?"

Answer: The Aichi Biodiversity Targets are 20 global biodiversity goals aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2020. At COP 11, discussions focused on the progress made towards these targets and how to overcome challenges related to implementation. The conference emphasized the need for increased funding, strengthened governance, and better integration of biodiversity into national policies. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to meet these ambitious targets.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Evaluate India’s role and contributions during the COP 11 held in Hyderabad."

Answer: India’s role at COP 11 was pivotal in advancing the global biodiversity conservation agenda. As the host country, India showcased its biodiversity efforts and made significant contributions, such as the Hyderabad Pledge, which committed US $50 million for biodiversity conservation initiatives. India also emphasized the integration of biodiversity conservation with development goals and raised awareness on the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. India's leadership in COP 11 underscored its commitment to being a global player in biodiversity conservation.