Information Note from the Secretariat on the CBD COP-9

Transcription

1 Strasbourg, 3 November 2008 T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 [Inf24e_2008.doc] CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Standing Committee 28th meeting Strasbourg, November 2008 Information Note from the Secretariat on the CBD COP-9 Document prepared by the Directorate of Culture and of Cultural and Natural Heritage This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire.

2 T-PVS/Inf (2008) INFORMATION NOTE FROM THE SECRETARIAT ON THE CBD COP-9 Introduction: This information note includes: 1. The Enhanced Memorandum of Co-operation signed between the CBD and the Bern Convention Secretariats on 23 rd May 2008, during the CBD COP-9; 2. The press release issued by the CBD Secretariat on that occasion; 3. A brief summary of CBD COP-9 Decisions more relevant for the Bern Convention, where specific references to regional tools or measures that may apply to the Bern Convention have been underlined. ***

3 - 3 - T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Enhanced Memorandum of Co-operation between the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern, 1979) Signed in Bonn (Germany) on 23 rd May 2008

4 T-PVS/Inf (2008) Enhanced Memorandum of Co-operation between the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern, 1979) The Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (hereinafter referred to as the CBD Secretariat ), represented by its Executive Secretary, and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (hereinafter referred to as the Secretariat of the Bern Convention ) represented by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Recalling the Memorandum of Co-operation signed on 13 March 2001 between the CBD Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Bern Convention, and in particular its Article 6; Recalling the objectives of the CBD, namely the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources; Recognising that the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (hereinafter referred to as the Bern Convention ) is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation which covers the natural heritage of the European continent and extends to some states of Africa, and which aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to promote co-operation in that field; Recalling further that the CBD stresses the importance of, and the need to promote, international, regional and global co-operation among states and intergovernmental organizations and the non-governmental sector, as well as desires to enhance and complement existing international arrangements for the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components; Recalling the 1994 Monaco Declaration on the role of the Bern Convention in the implementation of worldwide international instruments for the protection of biodiversity; Recalling also the Strasbourg Declaration on the role of the Bern Convention in the conservation of biological diversity adopted on 30 November 2004; Recalling further the Action Plan adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member states at the Warsaw Summit in May 2005, and in particular paragraphs II.7 and IV.3 on promoting sustainable development and stepping up co-operation with the United Nations and its specialised agencies in order to promote the universal values of the Council of Europe in the human rights field and to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals in Europe; Recalling that at its 7th Meeting, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention (Strasbourg, 1-5 December 1997) decided to strengthen the co-operation with the CBD by establishing a Memorandum of Co-operation; Recalling further decision VI/27 of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP), which acknowledges the important role that regional and sub regional mechanisms and networks play in promoting the implementation of the CBD, which, inter alia, provide forums for the preparation of regional inputs to meetings of the CBD and for translating decisions of the COP into regional actions;

5 - 5 - T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 Recalling also decision VII/26 of the COP, which recognised that enhanced co-operation and improved co-ordination at national level will be important in efforts to meet the 2010 target; and urged further enhanced co-operation between the CBD and all relevant international conventions, organisations and bodies, strengthening and building on existing co-operative arrangements to enhance synergies and reduce inefficiencies in a manner consistent with their respective mandates, governance arrangements and agreed programs, within existing resources; Recalling further decision VIII/16 of the COP, which requested the Executive Secretary to liaise with the conventions, organisations and initiatives with which the CBD Secretariat has already signed memoranda of co-operation with a view to advancing implementation of the Convention in line with the decisions of the Conference of the Parties, including the possibility of developing joint work programmes, and further noted the need for enhanced co-operation among the Rio conventions and the biodiversity-related conventions at the level not only of their respective secretariats, but of their respective scientific and technical bodies; Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Institutional Co-operation 1. The Secretariats will co-operate for the preparation of the meetings of their respective governing and subsidiary bodies and invite each other to relevant meetings, subject to the applicable procedures. 2. The Secretariats will inform their respective Member States/Contracting Parties of their cooperative activities, and will seek to promote consultation and cooperation among themselves, with a view of promoting synergies at national level. 3. The Secretariats will co-operate in promoting exchanges of experiences and promoting best practices on issues of relevance to their mandate, including, as appropriate, through the Clearing House Mechanism of the CBD. 4. The Secretariats will co-operate on issues related to public awareness and communication with all relevant stakeholders including youth, women, NGOs, local authorities, local communities and the private sector. Article 2 Exchange of Information and Experience 1. The Secretariats will organise an annual meeting for a regular exchange of information on their respective activities. Each party will cover its own travel costs. 2. The Secretariats agree to exchange information on matters of mutual relevance including, as appropriate: a. Scientific and technical information, including where appropriate ongoing consultations, discussions and fact-finding processes on new and emerging issues; b. technical guidance of relevance to the two Convention processes; c. components of the programmes of work implemented under the two Conventions that are of mutual interest, including in particular the programme of work on protected areas, invasive alien species, plant conservation and adaptation to climate change; d. activities related to monitoring status and trends of relevant components of biodiversity regarding global and European targets; e. other activities of relevance to the two Conventions.

6 T-PVS/Inf (2008) Article 3 Collaboration on the Implementation of the Conventions and their respective Programmes of Work 1. The Secretariats will co-operate in the organisation of regional meetings including preparatory meetings for the Cops. 2. The Secretariats will co-operate to support implementation of the two Conventions in Europe and achievement of the 2010 Biodiversity Target. 3. The Secretariats will explore the possibility of collaboration on the implementation of relevant programmes of work, including those mentioned under Article 2 paragraph 2 c. Article 4 Public Awareness and Engagement of Major Groups 1. The Secretariats will support realisation of the objectives of the two conventions through implementation of the Global Initiative on communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) in accordance with decision VIII/6 of the COP: a. The Secretariats will co-operate on issues related to public awareness and communication and in particular for the celebration of the International Biodiversity Day, the 2010 International year on biodiversity and related global awareness campaigns. b. The Secretariats will co-ordinate their action to raise understanding within the business community on the two conventions and opportunities for action. 2. The Secretariats will explore opportunities for building on the education network of the Council of Europe to support education on biodiversity, the objectives of the Bern Convention and the three objectives of the CBD. Article 5 Reporting The Secretariats will report on the implementation of this agreement to their respective governing bodies and seek further guidance on new areas of co-operation. Article 6 Entry into Force, Amendment and Termination 1. This Memorandum will enter into force upon signature by the Parties and will supersede any previous agreement between the Secretariats. 2. The Secretariats may, by mutual agreement, review and amend this Memorandum. 3. This Memorandum may be terminated by either Secretariat giving a six-month written notice. Signed this 23 day of May 2008 at CBD COP-9 in Bonn (Germany) For the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Dr AHMED DJOGHLAF Executive Secretary For the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats Mr. ELADIO FERNANDEZ-GALIANO On behalf of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

7 - 7 - T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity PRESS RELEASE Not an official document UN Biodiversity Convention Secretariat teams up with Europe s Bern Convention to stop the loss of biodiversity in Europe Bonn - 23 May 2008 To support efforts to meet the 2010 global goal to reverse and stop the loss of biodiversity, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity today signed a strategic partnership with the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, known as the Bern Convention. The agreement will allow the Bern Convention, which comprises 40 members including some African countries to serve a regional nod for the implementation of the three objectives of the most subscribed international legal instrument aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resources as well as to share the benefits of biodiversity fairly among all people and nations. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the three Conventions adopted at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and has 191 members. The partnership signing comes as all 191 members of the Convention are meeting in Bonn, Germany, for a two-week conference of the Parties aimed at finding agreement on new measures that can be taken to reduce the loss of biodiversity and enhance the development agenda of the convention which include also the access and benefit sharing of the world s genetic resources.. There are estimates that species are becoming extinct at a rate of times the natural rate of extinction and, when compounded by a C rise in global average temperatures due to climate change. As a result, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that approximately per cent of known plant and animal species may be extinct by the end of the 21 st century. This agreement is of high political significance as its shows the way ahead in ensuring coherence at international and regional levels on biodiversity in one of the region of the world that has demonstrated leadership and vision in promoting the biodiversity agenda. said Dr Ahmed Dogleg, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is also significant that has we meet here at the 9 th UN Convention on Biological Diversity, hosted by Germany, a country that has demonstrated its commitment to Europe, that European leadership is being displayed in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the motto of the meeting, One nature, one world our future. Mr. Dogleg added that it was also agreed that twining arrangements will be finalized in the near future with the other sister regional convention known as the African Convention on Nature and Conservation of Natural Resources, administered by the African Union, when it will enter into force. Mr. Elation Fernandez-Galliano representing the Council of Europe, the host organization of the Bern Convention, said the new agreement will help conserve biodiversity at the global and regional levels. "Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity at the regional level is a fundamental way to achieve the objectives of the Convention, he said. We in Europe have been working a long time to develop specific European instruments on protected areas, invasive alien species, on adaptation to climate change, and threatened flora and fauna. We hope that through this agreement, the Council of Europe and the Bern Convention will help Parties to better implement the CBD and meet the 2010 target."

8 T-PVS/Inf (2008) Johan Flaubert, General Director, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany, speaking on behalf of the country president of the Bonn meeting said the new agreement would streamline implementation efforts to conserve biodiversity. Conserving biodiversity is such a critical issue that we must mobilize all possible partners in our global effort. This agreement is a step in that direction and I am very pleased to see that this first step has been initiated by an European regional convention here in Bonn, the UN sustainable development city. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitat (Bern Convention) The Bern Convention is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, which covers the natural heritage of the European continent and extends to some States of Africa. Its aims are to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to promote European co-operation in that field. Adopted and signed in Bern, Switzerland, in September 1979, it came into force on 1 June It counts among its Contracting Parties 40 member States of the Council of Europe, as well as Burkina Faso, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and the European Community. The Bern Convention co-ordinates the action of European States in adopting common standards and policies for the sustainable use of biological diversity, thus contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of Europeans and the promotion of sustainable development. The Convention is a fundamental treaty at European level for biological diversity. For more information, please contact Carolina Larsen Diaz at +33 (0) ; carolina.lasen-diaz@coe.int The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity is the international framework for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of its benefits. With 190 Parties, the CBD has near-universal participation among countries who have committed to preserving life on Earth. The CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community. The headquarters of the Secretariat of the Convention is located in Montreal. For additional information, please contact Marie Amanita Khan at ; marie.khan@cbd.int

9 - 9 - T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 CBD COP-9: Extracts from some key decisions of relevance to the Bern Convention This note includes references to the following Decisions adopted at CBD COP-9: - Decision IX/3: Global Strategy for Plant Conservation - Decision IX/4: IAS - Decision IX/2: Bio fuels - Decision IX/5: Forest biodiversity - Decision IX/7: Ecosystem approach - Decision IX/15: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - Decision IX/16: Biodiversity and climate change - Decision IX/18: Protected areas - Decision IX/20: Marine and coastal biodiversity - Decision IX/21: Island biodiversity - Decision IX/27: Co-operation with other Conventions 1. Global Strategy on Plant Conservation: In Decision IX/3, the COP urged Parties to nominate focal points and develop national and regional strategies for plant conservation. It urged Parties and invited others to further enhance implementation, and decided to consider the development and implementation of the Strategy beyond 2010, taking into account current and emerging environmental challenges on plant diversity, including an update of the current targets. The COP requested SBSTTA, prior to COP 10, to provide proposals for the consolidated update of the Strategy, and to consider the review of the implementation of targets 3, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 13 that are related to sustainable use of plant diversity during the in-depth review of the work programmed on sustainable use. The COP requested the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with others, to: - develop a toolkit to enhance implementation; - identify regional tools for the exchange of information; - facilitate capacity building, technology transfer, and financial support programmers to assist developing countries, including those with high levels of biodiversity and those that are centers of origin; and - coordinate regional workshops on implementation and to compile results for consideration by SBSTTA. 2. Invasive Alien Species: Decision IX/4 ( In-depth review of ongoing work on alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species ) includes sections on gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory framework; and follow-up to the in-depth review of the work programmed, which contains sub-sections on: national, regional and subregional activities and capacity building; exchange of information on best practices and lessons learned, and development of tools; management of pathways and assessments; communication, education and public awareness; and provision of resources. The COP encouraged Parties to use the risk assessment guidance and other procedures to close identified gaps on IAS. It invited the International Plant Protection Convention, the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization, the FAO Committee on Fisheries, the World Organization for Animal Health and others to note the lack of international standards covering IAS and to consider whether and how to contribute to addressing this gap.

10 T-PVS/Inf (2008) The COP reaffirmed the need for Parties and other governments to develop and implement national and regional policies, strategies and/or programmes for addressing IAS and for effective coordination among relevant agencies. It invited Parties to collaborate on the development and use of early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms, and invites them and others to build capacity to address how climate affects the risks associated with IAS. It invited Parties and others to submit case studies, lessons learned and best practices on IAS and urged ratification of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments. The COP invited Parties and others to study the impact of other drivers of biodiversity loss, in particular land-use change, climate change and climate change adaptation and mitigation activities, on the introduction, establishment and spread of IAS, and their related socioeconomic, health and environmental impacts. It further invited Parties to strengthen national communication and synergies across sectors, and requested the Executive Secretary to develop training materials in support of awareness-raising. 3. Biofuels: COP Decision IX/2 on Agricultural biodiversity: biofuels and biodiversity includes sections on policy frameworks; research and monitoring; collaboration; and tools relevant for sustainable production and use of biofuels. The COP urged Parties and invites other governments to: - promote sustainable production and use of biofuels with a view to promote benefits and minimise risks to biodiversity; - promote the positive and minimise the negative impacts on biodiversity that would affect socioeconomic conditions and food and energy security; and - develop and apply sound policy frameworks. The COP recognised that supportive measures, consistent with national and regional policies, should promote the positive, and minimise the negative, impacts of biofuel production and use on biodiversity. It called upon Parties to investigate and monitor the impacts of biofuels on biodiversity and related socioeconomic aspects, and urged them to strengthen development co-operation to promote sustainable production and use of biofuels through the transfer of technologies and information exchange. The COP recognised the CBD s role in biodiversity-related aspects of the sustainable production and use of biofuels, and encourages Parties to share experiences on the development and application of relevant tools. It encouraged Parties to participate in efforts addressing these matters, and encouraged the private sector to improve the social and environmental performance of biofuel production, in particular through voluntary initiatives. The COP requested the Executive Secretary to compile submissions from Parties on these experiences and to convene regional workshops, and requested SBSTTA to consider these inputs and to recommend, for consideration by COP 10, ways and means to promote the positive and minimise the negative impacts of biofuel production and use. 4. Forest biodiversity: In Decision IX/5, the COP recognised the urgent need to strengthen implementation of the work programme to reach the 2010 target, and urged Parties to, among other activities: - address obstacles to sustainable forest management and seek to resolve land tenure and resource rights and responsibilities; - strengthen efforts on forest PA networks and ecological connectivity, and on sustainable financing;

11 T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 - promote scientific research to better understand the impacts of climate change, including mitigation and adaptation activities, and environmental degradation on forest biodiversity and on the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities; - promote and implement sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach in all types of forests; - strengthen forest law and governance at all levels; and - recognize the potential role of voluntary market-based certification schemes, tracking and chainof-custody systems, and public and private procurement policies, which promote the use of timber and non-timber forest products originating from sustainably managed forests and that are produced in accordance with relevant national legislation and applicable standards consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations. The COP invited Parties, other governments, and relevant organisations to: - ensure that possible actions for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation do not run counter to the Convention s objectives but support implementation of the work programme and provide benefits for forest biodiversity, and, where possible, to indigenous and local communities; - address both, direct and indirect, positive and negative impacts that the production and use of biomass for energy, in particular large-scale and/or industrial production and use, might have on forest biodiversity and on indigenous and local communities; and - further develop knowledge on forest ecosystem services, and implement, as appropriate, innovative tools for securing such services, such as payments for ecosystem services. The COP requested the Executive Secretary to facilitate thematic workshops to support parties in implementing the work programme, and collaborate with the other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests in order to support Parties efforts to address reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries in the framework of the UNFCCC. 5. Ecosystem approach: In Decision IX/7, the COP urged Parties to promote the use of the ecosystem approach in all sectors by implementing capacity-building initiatives, including regional training workshops and tools; and facilitating the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities. The COP invited Parties to: - take into account the application of the ecosystem approach in achieving the MDGs and climate change adaptation and mitigation activities; - develop effective cooperation at all levels for the application and monitoring of the approach; - and provide financial and technical support for indigenous and local communities to carry out case studies and projects applying the approach consistent with national laws and traditional sustainable use and resource management systems. The COP urged Parties and relevant organisations to further promote the use of the ecosystem approach in all sectors and enhance intersectoral cooperation, as well as promote the establishment of concrete national and/or regional initiatives and pilot projects where the ecosystem approach is the underlying principle. The COP invited the FAO to further apply the approach, and UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention to further their activities in relation to it, and the GEF and others to provide financial support for implementation, and encourages donors to apply it in providing aid assistance.

12 T-PVS/Inf (2008) Monitoring, assessments and indicators: In Decision IX/15 ( Follow-up to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - MA), the COP invited Parties and others to promote and support, where appropriate, response scenarios that build on the framework and experiences of biodiversity assessments, such as the MA. The COP also invited Parties, when designing integrated assessments, to consider taking into account, inter alia, the engagement of stakeholders, the MA principles, conceptual framework and results. The COP invited Parties to: take note of the need for further improvement of the availability and interoperability of biodiversity data and information; consider the MA framework and experiences in preparing in-depth reviews of the CBD work programmes and a revision of the Strategic Plan beyond 2010; and make full use of the MA framework and findings in NBSAP review and implementation. The COP took note of the IMoSEB outcomes, and welcomed UNEP s intergovernmental multistakeholder meeting on an international science-policy interface on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing, inviting Parties to ensure that appropriate science and policy experts attend, from various regions and disciplines. 7. Biodiversity and climate change: Decision IX/16 includes sections on proposals for the integration of climate change activities within the programme of work of the Convention; options for mutually supportive actions addressing climate change within the three Rio conventions; ocean fertilization; summary of the findings of the global assessment on peatlands, biodiversity and climate change; and three annexes relating to: ongoing activities in the framework of the Rio conventions; an indicative list of activities by parties to support synergies; and terms of reference for an AHTEG on biodiversity and climate change. The COP decided to integrate climate change considerations in each programme of work, considering the assessment of potential impacts of climate change and both the positive and negative impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation activities on relevant ecosystems. It urged Parties to enhance integration of climate change considerations related to biodiversity in the implementation of the Convention, with the full and effective involvement of relevant stakeholders, including the identification and adoption of monitoring and modelling programmes for regions, subregions and ecosystems affected by climate change. The COP also asked for the promotion of international cooperation in this area, as well as enhanced co-operation with relevant organisations. Recognising the distinct mandates of each convention and the need to avoid duplication and promote cost savings, the COP requested the Executive Secretary to collaborate with the Secretariats of the other Rio conventions. The COP established an AHTEG on biodiversity and climate change, including representatives of indigenous and local communities and small island developing states, whose purpose is to provide biodiversity-relevant information to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.. The COP requested Parties and others, in accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure that ocean fertilisation activities do not take place until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities, and urged Parties to act in accordance with the decision of the 1972 London Convention. The COP recognised the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of wetland biodiversity, particularly peatlands, in addressing climate change. 8. Protected areas: Decision IX/18 contains two sections on: review of implementation of the programme of work on protected areas (PAs); and options for mobilising as a matter of urgency, through different mechanisms, adequate and timely financial resources for the implementation of the programme of work.

13 T-PVS/Inf (2008) 24 The COP welcomed the efforts of the LifeWeb Initiative, and urges Parties to finalise, no later than 2009, the ecological gap analysis to achieve the 2010 and 2012 targets and other targets of the programme of work. The COP invited Parties to: - Improve and diversify and strengthen PA governance types, in accordance with appropriate national legislation including recognising and taking into account, where appropriate, indigenous, local and other community-based organizations, and establish effective processes for their participation in PA governance, consistent with national law and applicable international obligations; - Promote the development and importance of ecological networks for both terrestrial and marine areas, at national, regional and subregional levels; - Explore funding opportunities for protected area design, establishment and effective management in the context of the impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation activities, recalling that effective actions to reduce deforestation could constitute a unique opportunity for biodiversity protection; - Support the establishment or strengthening of regional or subregional forums that contribute to the effective implementation of the programme of work on protected areas at the regional and subregional level, for undertaking cooperation in the establishment of transboundary protected areas and ecological networks, in both terrestrial and marine environments; exchanging regional lessons on implementation of the programme of work on protected areas; coordinating the implementation of regional capacity-building plans; establishing regional networks of marine- and terrestrial-protected area specialists for various thematic areas of the programme of work on protected areas; and convening regional donor roundtables in collaboration with various donors and multilateral agencies;. The COP encouraged Parties and invited relevant organisations to enhance research and awareness of the role that PAs and the connectivity of PA networks play in addressing mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The COP urged Parties and invites others to provide financial support to enable the full implementation of the PA work programme, and recognised that innovative mechanisms, including market-based approaches can complement but not replace public funding and development assistance. It urged multilateral donors and others to support projects that demonstrate the role of PAs in contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation and in the recovery of degraded environments. The COP invited the GEF to continue to provide, and facilitate easier access to new and additional resources for PAs in its biodiversity focal area, and to consider support for proposals that demonstrate the role PAs play in addressing climate change. The COP requested the CBD Secretariat to convene regional and subregional capacity-building and progress-review workshops in all regions on key themes of the programme of work on protected areas. 9. Marine and coastal biodiversity: In Decision IX/20, the COP recalled that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and that its integrity needs to be maintained; and recognises that the principles of the Rio Declaration play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. The COP decided to convene an expert workshop on the scientific and technical aspects of environmental impact assessment in areas beyond national jurisdiction to contribute to the development of such scientific and technical guidance.

14 T-PVS/Inf (2008) The COP adopted the scientific criteria in Annex I, and the scientific guidance in Annex II; and takes note of Annex III regarding steps to be considered in the development of marine PA networks; and requests the Executive Secretary to transmit them to the relevant UNGA processes. It invites Parties and others to submit to the Executive Secretary their views on, and experiences from, the use of the annexes. It urged Parties to apply the annexes to identify areas in need of protection, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, and recognised that these criteria may require adaptation by Parties if they choose to apply them within their national jurisdiction, noting that they will do so with regard to national policies and criteria. The COP decided to convene an expert workshop to provide scientific and technical guidance on the use and further development of biogeographic classification systems, and guidance on the identification of areas beyond national jurisdiction that meet the scientific criteria in Annex I. It recognised evidence emphasising the need for urgent action to protect biodiversity in selected seabed habitats and marine areas in need of protection, in accordance with the precautionary approach and the international law, including UNCLOS. It urges Parties and others to undertake further research to improve understanding of marine biodiversity; and calls upon parties and others to collaborate on capacity development for the application of the annexes and for the mitigation of the significant adverse impacts of human activities in marine areas. The COP invited Parties to promote full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities when establishing new marine PAs, also noting UNDRIP; and calls on Parties to integrate the knowledge of indigenous and local communities, consistent with Article 8(j), and to ensure the integration of social and cultural criteria and other aspects for the identification, establishment and management of marine PAs. 10. Island biodiversity: In Decision IX/21, the COP recognised: initiatives and achievements in the framework of the island biodiversity work programme, bearing in mind that it applies to all islands, and the Global Island Partnership as one of the mechanisms for its implementation. The COP welcomed contributions for establishing a coordination mechanism, and invited further support; and a regional technical workshop for islands on the Pacific Invasives Initiative. It stressed that the management and eradication of IAS, climate change adaptation and mitigation activities, capacity building, and access to, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits and poverty alleviation require effort in the implementation of the work programme. The COP called on donors for support in implementing the work programme and welcomes progress on the fourth GEF replenishment, noting that access to GEF funds should be further simplified and expedited in the fifth replenishment; and requested SBSTTA to undertake an in-depth review of the work programme after COP 10, to be sent for COP 11 consideration. 11. Co-operation with other conventions: In Decision IX/27 on Cooperation among multilateral environmental agreements and other organizations, the COP invited the subsidiary bodies of the three Rio conventions to enhance collaboration in a manner consistent with their respective mandates, governance arrangements and agreed programmes; invited the scientific bodies of the biodiversity-related conventions and their liaison group to address options for enhanced cooperation on cross-cutting issues such as climate change and IAS; welcomed the establishment of the Consortium of Scientific Partners on Biodiversity; and requested the Executive Secretary to renew the CBD s pending application for observer status in relevant WTO bodies. ***