Forty-first Session of the Executive Council UNESCO, Paris, 24 June 1 July 2008

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1 Restricted Distribution IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 Paris, 15 May 2008 Original: English INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO) Forty-first Session of the Executive Council UNESCO, Paris, 24 June 1 July 2008 Item of the Provisional Agenda IOC CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAMME OF WORK ON MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Summary: The Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls for a contribution of IOC for its implementation. The present paper reviews the contributions of IOC to the CBD in the light of relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD and the Programme of Work. In the light of the IOC Medium-Term Strategy , the Executive Council is invited to (i) review the present scope of the Commission s contributions to achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity, and the cooperation with the Convention Secretariat; (ii) determine the need, if any, for modifications in this respect; and encourage the further liaison of IOC s scientific, technical and capacity-building activities with relevant normative action under the Convention. (SC-2008/CONF.203/CLD.6)

2 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 Background 1. Several Decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) call for an active role of IOC to implement the objectives of the Convention and its Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity ( ). These Decisions are reviewed in Table 1. Table 1 Decisions 1 of CBD COP concerning IOC [Ref. Decision Decision II/10 Conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity (COP II, Jakarta, 6 17 November 1995) Decision IV/5 Conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity, including a programme of work (COP IV, Bratislava, 4 15 May 1998) Relevant text 13. Invites international and regional bodies responsible for legal instruments, agreements and programmes which address activities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity, including the United Nations General Assembly, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Office for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization including its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Commission on Sustainable Development, the International Coral Reef Initiative, regional fisheries bodies, migratory species agreements, secretariats of regional agreements for the conservation of the marine environment and other relevant international and regional organizations and institutions, to review their programmes with a view to improving existing measures and developing new actions which promote conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, taking into account the recommendations for action by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its second meeting, and provide information on their actions on a regular basis to the Conference of the Parties and, in a first instance, as soon as possible through the Executive Secretary. Furthermore, these various institutions are invited to cooperate with the Conference of the Parties through the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice in planning and implementation of programmes affecting marine and coastal biological diversity, so as to reduce any unnecessary duplication or gaps in coverage; Annex Programme of work on marine and coastal biodiversity 12. Global. At the global level, UNEP (including the Global International Water Assessment), FAO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations and other relevant bodies should be encouraged to implement the programme of work. These organizations should be invited to inform the Convention on their efforts to implement the Convention. 1 Official translations available in English, French and Spanish only

3 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 2 Decision Decision IV/5 (cont d) Relevant text Operational objective 5.2: To identify gaps in existing or proposed legal instruments, guidelines and procedures to counteract the introduction of and the adverse effects exerted by alien species and genotypes which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species, paying particular attention to transboundary effects; and to collect information on national and international actions to address these problems, with a view to prepare for the development of a scientifically-based global strategy for dealing with the prevention, control and eradication of those alien species which threaten marine and coastal ecosystems, habitats and species. Activities: (a) To request views and information from Parties, countries and other bodies; (b) To analyse the information for the purpose of identifying gaps in legal instruments, guidelines and procedures; (c) To evaluate the information on the effectiveness of efforts to prevent the introduction of, and to control or eradicate, those alien species which may threaten ecosystems, habitats or species; (d) To identify means to support capacity-building in developing countries to strengthen their ability to conduct work related to alien species. Time schedule: (minimum three-year period) Ways and means: The activities will be carried out by the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with Parties, countries and other relevant bodies and in cooperation with UNEP, IOC and IMO. It is proposed that a conference with global participation be held and that a Party or specialized institution will be able to host the conference. It is anticipated that the peer review process will be followed for the output of this programme activity. Budgetary implications: Costs related to communications and staff travel servicing the conference. Voluntary contributions for holding the conference are needed. Decision VI/3 Marine and coastal biological diversity (COP VI, The Hague, 7 19 April 2002) 2. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue facilitating the implementation of the specific work plan on coral bleaching as contained in annex II to recommendation VI/2 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the work plan on physical degradation and destruction of coral reefs as contained in annex I thereto, setting priorities as appropriate, with special emphasis on small island developing States and the least developed States, in active collaboration with the International Coral Reef Initiative and its partners, the regional seas programmes of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations

4 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 3 Decision Decision VI/3 (cont d) Decision VII/5 Marine and coastal biological diversity (COP VII, Kuala Lumpur, 9 20 February 2004) Relevant text Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other relevant organizations; 54. Requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with Parties and other Governments and the International Seabed Authority, and in collaboration with international organizations, such as the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, if appropriate, to compile information on the methods for the identification, assessment and monitoring of genetic resources of the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction; compile and synthesize information on their status and trends including identification of threats to such genetic resources and the technical options for their protection; and report on the progress made to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice; Annex I Elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biodiversity Operational objective 2.2: To make available to the Parties information on marine genetic resources in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction and, as appropriate, on coastal and marine genetic resources under national jurisdiction from publicly available information sources. Suggested activities (a) To compile and synthesize information on the methods for the identification, assessment and monitoring of genetic resources of the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, and information on their status and trends including identification of threats to such genetic resources and the technical options for their protection and report on the progress made to SBSTTA. (b) To identify activities and processes under national jurisdiction or control which may have significant adverse impact on deep seabed ecosystems and species beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, in order to address Article 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ways and means Activity (a) should be carried out by international organizations, such as the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the United Nations

5 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 4 Decision Decision VII/5 (cont d) Relevant text Environment Programme, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, as appropriate with the support of the Executive Secretary. Activity (b) should be undertaken by Parties and other States. Operational objective 2.3: To gather and assimilate information on, build capacity to mitigate the effects of, and to promote policy development, implementation strategies and actions to address: (i) the biological and socio-economic consequences of physical degradation and destruction of key marine and coastal habitats including mangrove ecosystems, tropical and cold-water coral-reef ecosystems, seamount ecosystems and seagrass ecosystems including identification and promotion of management practices, methodologies and policies to reduce and mitigate impacts upon marine and coastal biological diversity and to restore mangrove forests and rehabilitate damaged coral reef; and in particular (ii) the impacts of mangrove forest destruction, coral bleaching and related mortality on coral-reef ecosystems and the human communities which depend upon coral-reef services, including through financial and technical assistance. Suggested activities (a) Activities on coral bleaching and physical degradation and destruction of coral reefs as adopted in decision VI/3 and as amended in decision VII/5 are contained in appendices 1 and 2 below. Other activities relevant to non-coral ecosystems will be developed by Parties and, where appropriate, by regional organizations. Ways and means The Executive Secretary should facilitate implementation, through active collaboration with International Coral Reef Initiative and its partners, the regional seas programmes of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other relevant organizations. The other activities should be carried out by Parties acting individually or under regional agreements and regional and international organizations. Annex III Improvement of available data for assessment of progress towards the global goal (i) The Ad Hoc Study Group on Indicators of Coral Bleaching and Subsequent Effects was established September 2000 under the auspices of IOC/UNESCO with three major objectives: to develop possible molecular, cellular,

6 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 5 Decision Decision VII/5 (cont d) Relevant text physiological, and community indicators of coral bleaching that are reliable in their ability to detect early stress signals; examine potential mechanisms of reef corals for adaptation/acclimatization to global environmental change; investigate long-term response of reef corals to large scale changes in environmental variables. The group will meet annually for three years and distribute findings through annual reports and a final publication. (ii) The Global Coral Reef Management Network (GCRMN) is a global network of coral reef scientists, Governments and local communities for monitoring and assessment of coral reefs, in terms of both biophysical and socio-economic parameters needed for management. GCRMN is co-hosted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the World Fish Center (ICLARM). The World Fish Center also hosts ReefBase, the official database of GCRMN, with data of over 8,000 coral reefs over the world. UNEP, together with IOC/UNESCO, is a sponsor of the GCRMN and a member of the GCRMN Management Group and the GCRMN Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. Note: emphasis in blue bold added. 2. IOC is currently contributing to the CBD Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity with a number of its programmes and through cooperative activities with other entities of UNESCO. These activities contribute especially to High-Level Objective 3 of the IOC Medium-Term Strategy , Safeguarding the health of ocean ecosystems. The contributions are reported for the biennia (33 C/5) and (34 C/5). Table 2 IOC contribution to the CBD Programme of Work Programme element 2 Operational objective IOC contribution 1. Implementation of integrated marine and coastal area management (IMCAM) 1.1 To apply appropriate policy instruments and strategies, including building of capacity, for the effective implementation of IMCAM [IOC Action 3 4c: Enhance development and implementation of decision-support tools that improve integrated ocean and coastal management] 2 As in the CBD Programme of Work (COP 7 Decision VII/5) 3 From the IOC Medium-Term Strategy annexed to Resolution XXIV-2 The ICAM Programme (Ocean Sciences) has developed A handbook for measuring the progress and outcomes of integrated coastal and ocean management (33 C/5) that addresses jointly ecological, socioeconomic and governance aspects. It held a workshop as a preparatory activity to the development of guidelines for marine spatial planning (33 C/5); both initiatives place emphasis on ecosystem-based management approaches and marine spatial planning will be tested in the Ha Long Bay World Heritage site of great biological interest and the

7 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 6 Programme element 2 Operational objective IOC contribution 2. Marine and coastal living resources 2.2 To make available to the Parties information on marine genetic resources in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction and, as appropriate, on coastal and marine genetic resources under national jurisdiction from publicly available information sources. [IOC Action 4b: Facilitate science related to ocean and coastal resource management] Vietnamese Cat Bà Biosphere Reserve as well as in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve in India (34 C/5). The IOC-UNESCO-IUCN Expert Group on Biogeography on Open and Deep Ocean Areas, which has benefited of the support of the Governments of Australia, Canada, Germany and Mexico and the J.M. Kaplan Foundation, has produced a bioregionalization system for these areas in the form of a report submitted to the 13 th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological (SBSTTA) to the CBD. This report provides information on the location and proxies for assessing the presence of ecosystems in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction hosting genetic material of actual or potential value. 2.3 To gather and assimilate information on, build capacity to mitigate the effects of, and to promote policy development, implementation strategies and actions to address: (i) the biological and socio-economic consequences of physical degradation and destruction of key marine and coastal habitats including mangrove ecosystems, tropical and cold-water coral-reef ecosystems, seamount ecosystems and seagrass ecosystems including identification and promotion of management practices, methodologies and policies to reduce and mitigate impacts upon marine and coastal biological diversity and to restore mangrove forests and rehabilitate damaged coral reef; and in particular (ii) the impacts of mangrove forest destruction, coral bleaching and related mortality on coral-reef ecosystems and the human The IOC Coral Bleaching Working Group (Ocean Sciences) of the GEF/WB Global Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building programme was established to develop indicators for coral bleaching and to examine specific physiological mechanisms for coral bleaching, as well as the local ecological factors that cause bleaching and its after-effects, and differences between direct human stresses and those related to climate change (continuous). The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), sponsored by the IOC (Ocean Sciences), works to improve management and conservation of coral reefs by providing manuals, equipment, databases, training, problem solving, and help with finding funds for reef monitoring, all coordinated in a global network. The project includes regular global assessments of the Status

8 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 7 Programme element 2 Operational objective IOC contribution 2. Marine and coastal living resources (cont d) communities which depend upon coral-reef services, including through financial and technical assistance. of Coral Reefs of the World (continuous). 3. Marine and coastal protected areas [IOC Action 2c: Increase the understanding of the impacts of climate change and variability on marine ecosystems and their living resources] 2.4 To enhance the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity of marine living resources in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction 3.5 To facilitate research and monitoring activities that reflect identified global knowledge gaps and priority information needs of MCPA management. [IOC Action 4c: Enhance development and implementation of decision-support tools that improve integrated ocean and coastal management] (See 2.2. above). Moreover, this operational objective will be linked with the IOC future involvement in the Census of Marine Life (CoML) programme and its follow-up, as well as with relevant activities under the Marine Crosscutting Network of Diversitas, which is co-sponsored by UNESCO. IOC is participating, jointly with MAB and the World Heritage Marine Programme in the UN- Oceans Task Force on Marine Protected Areas and Other Areabased Management Tools. Moreover, the IOC-MAB Marine Spatial Planning project has been linked with the CBD, as the project will provide guidelines relevant for implementing areabased management in support of the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention. 4. Mariculture 4.1 To promote use of techniques, which minimize adverse impact of mariculture on marine and coastal biological diversity. The IOC will attempt at applying and expanding the results of the FAO-GEF-UNEP-UNESCO- UNDP-WHO-World Bank International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) as far as the Assessment s mariculture component. 5. Invasive alien species 5.1 To achieve better understanding of the pathways and the causes of the introduction of alien species and the impact of such introductions on biological diversity. The IOC Programme on Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) addresses issues related to introductions of HAB species and their related ecological and socioeconomic consequences.

9 IOC/EC-XLI/2 Annex 9 page 8 Programme element 2 Operational objective IOC contribution 5. Invasive alien species (cont d) [IOC Action 2b: Further develop the research and monitoring required for the prevention of marine environment degradation, and the maintenance of biodiversity and the sustainable use of marine habitats] 6. General 6.2 To undertake effective collaboration, cooperation and harmonization of initiatives with relevant conventions, organizations and agencies while recognising their independent mandates. Coordination between IOC and CBD on a regular basis is also ensured through their participation in UN-Oceans. 3. There is scope for further expanding while at the same time streamlining the contribution of IOC programmes and activities to the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on marine and Coastal Biological Diversity. As IOC is also expected to be invited to participate in the in-depth review of the Programme of Work foreseen for 2010, it is suggested that this be done in the context of the current cooperation between the IOC and the CBD secretariats (for reference see current MoU appended hereafter 4 ), taking into account the discussions, advice and deliberations of the IOC Executive Council at the present session. 4 In English only

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