Side Event
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Organizer
Millenium Assessment Secretariat
Date and Time
18 February 2004 13:15 - 14:45
<br>This side event will provide an update on the status and progress of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) with an emphasis on how the MA process and findings will contribute to the work of the Parties to the CBD. <br><br>The event will be chaired by Dr. A.H. Zakri, Co-chair of the MA Board, and speakers will include Dr. Walter Reid, MA Director. <br><br>The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is an integrated assessment, designed to meet some of the assessment needs of the CBD, UNCCD, the Ramsar Convention, CMS and other users including the private sector, civil society, and indigenous peoples. The MA will help meet the needs of decision-makers for peer-reviewed, policy-relevant scientific information on issues they are confronting concerning ecosystems and human well-being. The MA will also build human and institutional capacity to provide such information. The MA will be completed in 2005. <br><br> The first round of review of the MA materials began on January 8, 2004 and review comments are due on March 19. All governments are encouraged to submit review comments. Any interested individual may participate in the review process (information available on the MA website: <a href=http://www.millenniumassessment.org>www.millenniumassessment.org</a>). The side event will include discussion of the outline for the Synthesis Report that will be prepared for the CBD.