Biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, planetary health, and economic prosperity around the world. Yet, it is facing an unprecedented crisis: nearly one million species are at risk of extinction. The current extinction rate is already tens to hundreds of times greater than the average over the past ten million years—and this rate is accelerating.
In response to this urgent situation, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted on December 19, 2022, during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This landmark agreement aims to halt the alarming loss of biodiversity and drive global efforts to restore nature.
The Framework includes four long-term goals to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, alongside twenty-three specific global targets set for achievement by 2030. These ambitious targets are grouped under three key themes: (1) reducing threats to biodiversity (Targets 1-8); (2) meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing (Targets 9-13); and (3) tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming (Targets 14-23).
Here is the TARGET 23:
“Ensure gender equality in the implementation of the Framework through a gender-responsive approach, where all women and girls have equal opportunity and capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention, including by recognizing their equal rights and access to land and natural resources and their full, equitable, meaningful and informed participation and leadership at all levels of action, engagement, policy and decision-making related to biodiversity.”
TARGET 23 represents a significant advancement in the global approach to biodiversity conservation by explicitly integrating gender equality into the core of the Framework’s implementation. Historically, women and girls have played crucial yet often under-recognised roles in managing natural resources and safeguarding biodiversity. However, systemic barriers such as unequal access to land, limited participation in decision-making, and social norms have hindered their full contribution.
By ensuring a gender-responsive approach, TARGET 23 seeks to dismantle these barriers and create enabling environments where women and girls are empowered to participate actively and lead at every level—from grassroots initiatives to international policy forums. Recognising their equal rights to land and natural resources not only advances social justice but also enhances conservation outcomes, as research shows that greater gender equality correlates with improved resource management and sustainable development.
Implementing TARGET 23 will require collaboration across governments, civil society, and the private sector to design and enforce policies that address gender disparities. This includes providing education and capacity-building opportunities, reforming legal frameworks to secure land tenure for women, and ensuring that women’s voices are included in biodiversity-related decision-making processes. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms will also need to be strengthened to track progress towards gender equality in biodiversity actions.
In summary, TARGET 23 underscores that achieving the Convention’s objectives and halting biodiversity loss is inseparable from the pursuit of gender equality. By fostering inclusive participation and leadership, the Framework not only honours the rights of women and girls but also leverages their knowledge, skills, and perspectives to build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
