Islands in focus now
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Delegates from island countries from across the globe met in the city on Sunday to discuss the threats to their biodiversity wealth ahead of Island Innovations, the Island Summit to be held parallel to the CoP 11 on October 16. India is an active supporter of the Global Island Partnership programme, as its Andaman and Nico-bar Islands are facing a threat to its biodiversity.
Around 45 Island parties are part of the programme. The Island Summit is conducted under the aegis of India and the Seychelles. The United Nations’ Conference on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) programme officer on Island Biodiversity, Mr Oliver Hiller, said, “Tourism, cruise ships and roads cutting through islands pose threats. Invasive alien species are the most critical reasons for extinction of the native species. Islands are the first to suffer.” He said Island Innovations, also known as the Island Summit, celebrates the bright spots, leadership and successes in island conservation and sustainable livelihood.
The October 16 Summit will focus on ecosystem based adaptation, food security, new and innovative financial mechanisms, green and blue economies, and reducing the threat of invasive species. According to experts, 30 per cent of conservation hotspots are on islands such as the Andaman and Nicobar. The extinction rate of species on these islands is 177 times higher and more than 70 per cent of recorded vertebrate extin-ction is taking place on the islands.
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