Mandates for Cooperation

The respective Conferences of the Parties to the Biodiversity-related conventions have each recognized the need for enhanced cooperation among the Conventions.

• Goal One of the Strategic Plan of the CBD (“the Convention is fulfilling its leadership role in international biodiversity issues”) includes important elements of cooperation:
• Objective 1.2 calls on the Convention to promote cooperation between all relevant international instruments and processes to enhance policy coherence.
• Objective 1.3 is to have other international processes actively supporting implementation of the Convention, in a manner consistent with their respective frameworks.

• Objective 5.1 of CITES Strategic Vision (2000-2005) is “to ensure an optimal working relationship with UNEP, as well as close coordination and synergy with CBD and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements”.

• The Strategic Plan for the Convention on Migratory Species 2000-2005, under Operational objective 4.4. (Linkages) calls for CMS to strengthen orderly institutional linkages with partner organizations. The Conference of the Parties, in Resolution 7.9, reaffirmed the interest of CMS to develop strong collaborative arrangements with other biodiversity-related instruments and international organizations. The revised plan submitted to the 8th CoP in November 2005 contains a specific section with related targets and operating principles designed to increase co-operative activities with other MEAs towards reducing biodiversity losses by 2010.

• Ramsar, in its Strategic Plan (2003-2008) calls for stronger and formalized linkages between Ramsar and other international and/or regional environmental conventions and agencies, so as to advance the achievement of shared goals and objectives relating to wetland species or issues (Objective 7.2).

• The Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention carry provisions for strengthening of synergies with other agreements, including the other Biodiversity-related conventions.

Formal agreements

In response to their respective mandates, the Biodiversity-related conventions have established a number of formal Memoranda of Cooperation or Understanding and Joint Programmes of Work/Joint Work Plans with one another. Click on the icon to read the text of the most recent agreement.

M = memoranda of cooperation/understanding, J = joint work programme/plan, * = in development

Broad support for the 2010 target provides a further basis for cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions. Besides the CBD, the 2010 target has been recognized by the Conference of the Parties of CITES (decision 13.1 and decision 13.2 and by the CMS Standing Committee in the draft Strategic Plan of CMS (2006 – 2011). The target is also due to be considered by the Conferences of the Parties of Ramsar and WHC during 2005.