World faces nature reality check at UN biodiversity conference

By Virginia Furness LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) World leaders, diplomats and nature experts gather in Armenia this week to assess lagging efforts to halt biodiversity loss, with countries off track on most global targets and divisions over funding still unresolved. The 17th UN Conference of the Parties , dubbed COP17, is the first major review of progress under ​the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the landmark 2022 agreement that aims to protect 30% of land and sea ‌by 2030. The climate-focused COP31 begins on November 9 in Antalya, Turkey. While the world is likely to reach an estimated 27.5% of land protection by 2030, scientists say many of the broader goals needed to halt biodiversity loss remain well off track. From pesticide use to unsustainable fishing and subsidies for a host of damaging activities, the deterioration of ecosystems threatens food production, water security and economic stability across the planet. Countries are currently not on ‌track to ​meet 22