Convention on Biological Diversity
8th Conference of the Parties

Curitiba, Brazil
March 20 - 31, 2006

Representatives from over 180 countries gathered at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-8) to advance implementation of conservation efforts worldwide.

During the meeting, The Nature Conservancy and partners helped generate significant outcomes related to island biodiversity, protected areas, invasive species and conservation in South America.

Island Biodiversity

Island biodiversity was one of the major themes at COP-8, and significant new conservation and funding commitments were made that will shape island conservation for years to come:

• The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International pledged $6 million in matching funds to support marine protected areas in islands across Micronesia.
• Island leaders from Micronesia to Grenada committed to protecting 20% to 30% of their land and nearshore marine areas by 2020.
• The Global Island Partnership continued to build momentum as a concept and platform for catalyzing island conservation worldwide.
• A strong Program of Work on Island Biodiversity was adopted that provides a framework for all island nations and nations with islands on integrated island conservation.
• Download publications on island biodiversity

With islands comprising one-third of our country programs, The Nature Conservancy is committed to global island conservation.

Protected Areas

COP-8 was a vital opportunity to:

• Review progress since the Protected Areas Program of Work was adopted in 2004 at COP-7
• Emphasize the urgent need for increased financing and technical support to help countries achieve the commitments they’ve made
• Demonstrate tools and approaches to assist governments in establishing ecologically representative and effectively managed systems of protected areas on land and at sea
• Download publications on protected areas

The Nature Conservancy has forged a global strategy for expanding and strengthening national parks and marine sanctuaries around the world.

Invasive Species

Our Global Invasive Species Initiative and South America Invasive Species Program worked together to:

Eragrostis plana, a South African weeping grass, has destroyed ten percent of Brazil's southern grazing lands and severely damaged the cattle industry.  Photo © Silvia Ziller/TNC

• Launch South America Invaded, a Global Invasive Species Programme publication on the threat across South America 
• Develop support among countries to undertake a comprehensive review of invasive species during the next Conference of the Parties in 2008
• Address gaps in international law related to the pathways through which invasive species move
• Download publications on invasive species

Conservation in South America

The Conservancy’s Brazil and South America programs contributed significantly to COP-8, including side events and negotiations targeted at:

In the Brazilian Amazon, the Conservancy works with indigenous communities to find solutions that benefit people and nature. Photo © Marcio Sztutman/TNC

• Enabling functional landscapes biodiversity offsets in the agricultural sector
• Promoting the role of Private Lands Conservation in implementing the CBD
• Developing partnerships for biodiversity with the private sector
• Promoting forest conservation projects in the Atlantic forest that benefit climate, community and biodiversity
• Download publications on South America