WGRI Recommendation
. Cooperation with other conventions: the biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions
4/6.Cooperation with other conventions: the biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions
The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention
1.Invites the views of Parties regarding the form and content of a process to enhance coordination, coherence and national level synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions by 30 June 2012 and; requests the Executive Secretary to compile these views and prepare options to enhance coordination, coherence, and national level synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting;
2.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties, at its eleventh meeting, adopt a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties
1.Reiterates the importance of cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions for achieving full implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
2.Recognizes the importance of enhancing synergies, including at the national and regional levels, among the biodiversity-related conventions, without prejudice to their specific objectives and recognizing their respective mandates, and stresses the need to strengthen synergistic processes among the biodiversity-related conventions, in close collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, taking into account among others the lessons learned from the synergies process involving the conventions relating to chemicals and wastes;
3.Stresses the need to support necessary arrangements in order to ensure that the Strategic Plan and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets are embraced beyond the Convention on Biological Diversity by all institutions, organizations and processes concerned;
4.Highlights the contribution of the Environment Management Group, and in particular its Issues Management Group on biodiversity, to the streamlining of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets throughout the United Nations system;
5.Welcomes the progress made under the Convention on Migratory Species, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the World Heritage Convention, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to reflect the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
6.Also welcomes the work carried out under the Convention on Migratory Species and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to support Parties to incorporate the objectives of these conventions in their revision of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
7.Welcomes the modus operandi adopted by the Biodiversity Liaison Group contained in the information document by the Executive Secretary on cooperation with other conventions: supplementary information on working arrangements and the preparation of a modus operandi and terms of reference for the Joint Liaison Group of the Rio Conventions (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/4/INF/18);
8.Welcomes the establishment of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and encourages the platform to provide relevant biodiversity information in order to support the implementation of the objectives of the CBD and the Strategic Plan 2011-2020, as well as the objectives of the other biodiversity-related conventions, as appropriate;
9.Urges Parties to further strengthen cooperation and synergy among convention focal points and other partners at the national level to enhance capacity for implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets to avoid duplication of activities and further enhance the effective use of resources and utilizing national biodiversity strategies and action plans as the central tool for such collaboration;
10.Stresses the role of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans to develop a coherent approach at the national level; and encourages Parties to incorporate the objectives of the biodiversity related-conventions and the Rio conventions into their revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans, as appropriate, and support it with all sources and means available;
11.Takes note of relevant projects and initiatives for increasing synergies in reporting to the biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions, such as the pilot project supported by the Global Environment Facility, and the project developed by the Australian Government in collaboration with the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, to facilitate integrated reporting processes and approaches in the least developed countries and small island developing States;
12.Welcomes the cooperation of the convention secretariats through the UNEP MEA Information and Knowledge Management initiative (InforMEA), in areas of joint information management;
13.Invites international organizations and donors to increase funding to support national efforts in achieving policy coherence and mutually supportive implementation of activities that are relevant to a countrys obligations under the biodiversity-related conventions and the three Rio conventions;
14.Requests the Global Environment Facility and invites other financial mechanisms to continue to support projects and activities to improve synergies between multilateral agreements related to biodiversity;
15.Welcomes the Rio Conventions Pavilion as a mechanism to enhance collaboration and invites Parties that are in a position to do so to provide support to this initiative in order to increase visibility of synergies between the three Rio conventions and improve the effectiveness of the Pavilion and achievements of its objectives, and requests the Executive Secretary to collaborate with the Executive Secretaries of the other Rio conventions to further enhance the Pavilion;
16.Requests the Executive Secretary:
(a)To provide a report on the implementation of the modus operandi adopted by the Biodiversity Liaison Group, evaluating its impact in enhancing coordination, coherence and national level synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions;
(b)In consultation with other convention secretariats, draft suggestions for the Conference of the Parties for increasing the involvement of Parties in the work of the Liaison Group of the biodiversity-related conventions and the Joint Liaison Group of the Rio Conventions;
(c)To make available through the clearing house mechanism, the lessons learned related to cooperation and synergy at national level, including from the implementation of the GEF pilot project on facilitating national reporting to the Rio conventions;
(d)To compile, review and update the various recommendations for synergistic activities and to cross-map the existing and potential contributions of the biodiversity-related conventions, the Rio conventions and other relevant conventions and organizations, with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, through the ongoing work of the Issue Management Group on biodiversity of the Environment Management Group.