Motion 009

Introduction
Grasslands and savannah biomes, including the Cerrado, Pampas, Humid Chaco, Orinoquia, Pantanal, and Miombo, are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. They provide essential ecosystem services such as climate regulation, water security, and food production. However, these ecosystems face alarming rates of native vegetation conversion driven by agricultural commodity production, particularly soy and beef. This motion addresses gaps in existing regulatory frameworks, like the EUDR, which currently focus on forest ecosystems and exclude critical non-forest biomes.
Rationale for the Motion
Deforestation and land conversion in these biomes lead to severe biodiversity loss, disruption of carbon storage, and hydrological cycles, threatening local and global sustainability goals. Moreover, the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, traditional communities, and small-scale farmers are at risk due to land grabbing, socio-economic exclusion, and violence. While legal instruments like the EUDR are advancing forest protection, they fall short of covering non-forest ecosystems, undermining global conservation efforts.
Actions and Strategies
The motion proposes developing specific guidelines to include grasslands and savannahs. Specific actions include:
Traceability and Risk Categorization: Developing targeted guidelines for supply chain transparency and risk assessment in these ecosystems.
National Policy Alignment: Encouraging exporting countries to adopt stringent sustainability and human rights standards.
Funding Priorities: Mobilizing international environmental funds to support conservation, ecological restoration, and incentives for small-scale producers.
Resources Required
Implementing this motion will require financial, technical, and human resources, including:
Collaboration with international organizations, governments, and civil society to develop traceability frameworks.
Capacity-building programs for local communities and stakeholders to ensure compliance with new guidelines.
Increased funding from global mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to support ecosystem-specific initiatives.
Why a Motion is Necessary
While other avenues, such as voluntary corporate commitments, have made progress, they lack the enforceability and comprehensiveness needed to address the systemic issues driving land conversion. A formal IUCN motion ensures that these critical ecosystems gain visibility and prioritization at an international level, fostering political commitment and the integration of non-forest ecosystems into global regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion
By adopting this motion, the IUCN demonstrates leadership in advocating for inclusive and effective conservation policies that bridge the gap between forest and non-forest ecosystem protection. This initiative will enhance global biodiversity conservation, support vulnerable communities, and contribute to achieving climate and sustainability goals.