Maarg Manthan · Topic 18.21

Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Environment & Ecology › International Environmental Governance and Conventions · Topic 18.21

The Aichi Biodiversity Targets are a set of 20 targets, under five strategic goals, adopted at the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, as part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 to 2020. The vision was to live in harmony with nature by 2050. The five strategic goals are: A, address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society (Targets 1 to 4); B, reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use (Targets 5 to 10); C, improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity (Targets 11 to 13); D, enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services (Targets 14 to 16); and E, enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building (Targets 17 to 20). Prominent targets include Target 5 (halve the rate of loss of natural habitats), Target 11 (conserve at least 17 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2020), Target 12 (prevent extinctions of known threatened species) and Target 16 (the Nagoya Protocol in force). Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 (2020) concluded that none of the 20 targets was fully met, although six were partially achieved. India set 12 National Biodiversity Targets in 2014 aligned with Aichi targets, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) replaced them from 2022.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · International Environmental Governance and Conventions

At a Glance

Adopted October 2010, Nagoya
Targets 20
Goals Five (A to E)
Period 2011 to 2020
Successor Kunming-Montreal framework
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: International Environmental Governance and Conventions

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the Nagoya Protocol and covers the target set adopted at the same COP. It was replaced by the Kunming-Montreal framework discussed in the CBD topic. Previous topic: Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. Next topic: Marrakesh Climate Change Conference.

What Are the Aichi Targets and Their Goals?

Strategic goal	Targets and content
Goal A	Address underlying causes of biodiversity loss (Targets 1 to 4): awareness, integration into planning, reform of harmful subsidies, sustainable production and consumption
Goal B	Reduce direct pressures and promote sustainable use (Targets 5 to 10): halve habitat loss, sustainable fisheries and agriculture, cut pollution, control invasive species, reduce pressure on coral reefs
Goal C	Improve status of biodiversity (Targets 11 to 13): protected areas, preventing extinctions, genetic diversity
Goal D	Enhance benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services (Targets 14 to 16): restore ecosystems, increase resilience, 15 percent restoration, Nagoya Protocol in force and operational
Goal E	Enhance implementation (Targets 17 to 20): NBSAPs, traditional knowledge, science sharing, resource mobilisation
Target 11	At least 17 percent of land and inland waters and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas conserved by 2020 through effective protected areas
Target 12	Extinction of known threatened species prevented and their status improved

How Did Countries Perform and What Did India Do?

Global Biodiversity Outlook 5, 2020: none of the 20 targets fully achieved; six partially achieved, such as protected areas
Target 11 outcome: about 15 percent of land and 7 percent of ocean protected by 2020, near target on land but short at sea
Reasons: lack of finance, political will, monitoring and mainstreaming
India’s 12 NBTs: National Biodiversity Targets adopted in 2014, aligned with Aichi
NBSAP 2008 and update: India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan, updated in 2014 to include the national targets
Hyderabad COP11: agreed to double biodiversity funding flows to developing countries by 2015
Successor: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted 2022
Lessons: clear indicators, finance and accountability are needed

What Else Should You Remember?

Strategic Plan 2011-2020: the plan within which the Aichi Targets sit
Mission: take effective urgent action to halt biodiversity loss
Vision 2050: living in harmony with nature
UN Decade on Biodiversity: 2011 to 2020, declared by the UN General Assembly
Aichi Prefecture: the Japanese prefecture where Nagoya is located
Target 1: people aware of the values of biodiversity
Target 2: integration of biodiversity values into national accounts and planning
Target 3: reform of subsidies harmful to biodiversity
Target 4: sustainable production and consumption
Target 5: halve or reduce the rate of loss of natural habitats
Target 6: sustainable management of fish and invertebrate stocks
Target 7: sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and forestry
Target 8: pollution brought to levels not harmful
Target 9: invasive alien species identified and controlled
Target 10: pressures on coral reefs minimised
Target 13: genetic diversity of crops and farm animals and wild relatives maintained
Target 14: ecosystems that provide essential services safeguarded
Target 15: ecosystem resilience and restoration of at least 15 percent of degraded ecosystems
Target 17: NBSAPs adopted
Target 18: traditional knowledge respected
Target 20: mobilisation of financial resources
Link to previous: see Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
Link to next: see Marrakesh Climate Change Conference
Link to Target 11: see State of Protected Areas Globally
Caution: target wording and outcome figures should be checked in the official GBO-5 report
Exam hint: remember 20 targets, five goals, Target 11 numbers and that none was fully met
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity: the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan had a mission, a 2050 vision and five strategic goals with targets
Strategic goals: goals A to E covered causes of loss, pressures, status, benefits and implementation

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Targets: 20
Goals: Five
Target 11: 17 and 10 percent
Current affairs link: Kunming-Montreal framework
Common errors: giving 30 percent for Aichi

As an analytical point, the Aichi Targets set clear goals but were mostly missed, because they lacked binding force, adequate funds and strong monitoring. The Kunming-Montreal framework tries to fix this with more measurable targets, a monitoring framework and a funding commitment.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Plan 2011-2020
Result Missed
Fix GBF

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Marrakesh Climate Change Conference. Next topic: Marrakesh Climate Change Conference.

Key People and Terms

Aichi Targets Biodiversity targets for 2020
GBO-5 Global Biodiversity Outlook 5
NBT National Biodiversity Target
NBSAP National biodiversity action plan
Strategic goal Group of targets
GBF Global Biodiversity Framework

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

20 targets in five goals.
Adopted at COP10 Nagoya, 2010.
Target 11: 17 and 10 percent.
GBO-5: none fully met.
India set 12 NBTs.

Do Not Confuse With

Aichi Targets and GBF targets 20 targets to 2020 versus 23 to 2030
Target 11 and 30 by 30 17 and 10 percent versus 30 percent
Aichi Targets and Nagoya Protocol Target set versus legal protocol

Memory Hook

Twenty targets, five goals; seventeen on land, ten at sea; none fully met.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for numbers and results. These points help.

Structure 20, five
Result Missed
Next GBF

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, their performance, and how the Kunming-Montreal framework seeks to improve on them.”

How to Answer

Targets 20, five goals.
Target 11 17, 10.
Result GBO-5.
Next GBF.

GS Relevance

Prelims: number of targets, goals, Target 11, outcome. GS Paper 3: biodiversity targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Aichi Biodiversity Targets?

The Aichi Biodiversity Targets are 20 targets under five strategic goals, adopted at COP10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, as part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 to 2020. They aimed to halt biodiversity loss by 2020 and live in harmony with nature by 2050.

What is Aichi Target 11?

Target 11 aimed that by 2020, at least 17 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, would be conserved through well-connected, effectively managed protected area systems and other effective area-based measures.

Were the Aichi Targets achieved?

No. The fifth Global Biodiversity Outlook in 2020 concluded that none of the 20 targets was fully achieved, though six were partially achieved, such as progress on protected areas and invasive species plans. Reasons included insufficient finance, weak implementation, lack of integration into policy and continued pressures on nature.

What replaced the Aichi Targets?

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 in December 2022, replaced the Aichi Targets for the period to 2030. It sets four goals and 23 targets, including protecting 30 percent of land and sea, restoring 30 percent of degraded ecosystems and mobilising at least US$200 billion a year for biodiversity.

What were India's National Biodiversity Targets?

India adopted 12 National Biodiversity Targets in 2014, aligned with the Aichi Targets, covering areas such as awareness, integration of biodiversity values, reduction of habitat loss, protected area expansion, species conservation, traditional knowledge, access and benefit sharing and resource mobilisation, and it updated its National Biodiversity Action Plan.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 There are 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

True

Under five strategic goals.

2 Aichi Target 11 sets a 30 percent protection goal.

False

It sets 17 and 10 percent.

3 The Aichi Targets were adopted at COP10.