Ensure that the management and use of wild species are sustainable, thereby providing social, economic and environmental benefits for people, especially those in vulnerable situations and those most dependent on biodiversity, including through sustainable biodiversity-based activities, products and services that enhance biodiversity, and protecting and encouraging customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.
Introduction
Target 9 primarily concerns wild species management and encompasses various natural benefits provided by wild species to humans including as a food source, a source of income, and for recreation. Furthermore, the goal aims to ensure that those dependent on wild species as part of their livelihood, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, can engage in traditional and sustainable use of such natural resources. Both internationally and in the Nordic region the number of threatened species is constantly increasing, including species that are harvested through hunting, fishing, and other means.
In 2019, IPBES declared a crisis for nature and biodiversity. Despite the ongoing biodiversity crisis, hunting is allowed in national parks and nature reserves, endangered predators are hunted even within their prioritised areas, a number of threatened species are subjected to harvesting, and the number of prioritised species is very low. Countries need a major political effort for biodiversity and wild species, where the goal of the Bern Convention to create tolerance for wild animals is given high priority.
Policy Proposals for National Implementation
Adopt legislation ordering the systematic consideration of species in area management and in all industries on land and at sea.
Enhance mapping and knowledge base of wildlife populations to limit negative impact from hunting and fishing.
Promote and implement ethical management practices when handling human-wildlife conflicts, and increase acceptance of and tolerance for wild animals. Hunting regulations should be tightened, such as reducing the duration of hunting season and banning the hunting of red-listed species.
Promote non-extractive use of nature, such as nature tourism, bird watching and wildlife photography.
Develop national policy instruments that support sustainable use and production by small scale farmers, subsistence farmers, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples.
Strengthen legal protections for Indigenous Peoples’ land and resource rights, ensuring their ability to continue their customary sustainable use and traditional occupations. Protect the customary sustainable use of wild species by Indigenous Peoples. Integrate the support for customary sustainable use, through traditional occupations of Indigenous Peoples, into national development plans, biodiversity strategies, and poverty reduction programs.
Policy Proposals for International Implementation
Strengthen Nordic, European and international cooperation to strengthen the biodiversity protection in fishing quota negotiations.
Protect and ensure the customary sustainable use of wild species by Indigenous Peoples in the implementation of NBSAPs addressing this target both within and beyond national borders.
Support international research initiatives to document traditional occupations and their contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Integrate the recognition and support customary sustainable use through traditional occupations of Indigenous Peoples into national development plans, biodiversity strategies, and poverty reduction programs.
Strengthen legal protections for Indigenous Peoples’ land and resource rights, ensuring their ability to continue their customary sustainable use through traditional occupations.
Support the development of policy instruments that support sustainable use and production by small scale farmers, subsistence farmers, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples.