XIV/7.Third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook: implications for the future implementation of the Convention

(a)The 2010 biodiversity target -- to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth -- has not been met in full;

(b)Action to implement the Convention has not been taken on a sufficient scale to address the pressures on biodiversity and there has been insufficient integration of biodiversity issues into broader policies, strategies and programmes, and as a consequence the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss have not been addressed significantly;

(c)Limited capacities and technical and financial resources have been an obstacle to achieving the 2010 target in many countries, especially in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition;

(d)Most future scenarios project continuing high levels of extinctions and loss of natural and semi-natural habitats throughout this century, with associated decline of some ecosystem services important to human well being. There are risks of large scale negative impacts on human-well-being if certain thresholds or "tipping points" are crossed;

(e)At the same time, there are greater opportunities than previously recognized to address the biodiversity crisis while contributing to other social objectives. Even though it will be extremely challenging to prevent further human-induced biodiversity loss for the near-term future, well-targeted policies focusing on critical areas, species and ecosystem services can help to avoid the most dangerous impacts on people and societies;

(a)Mechanisms for addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, including a recognition of the benefits of biodiversity and their reflection within economic systems and markets, as well as their consideration in planning and policy processes at the national and local levels;

(b)Urgent actions to curb the five pressures directly driving biodiversity loss (habitat change, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species and climate change) with a view to fully implementing the three objectives of the Convention and enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and to avoid that ecosystems are pushed beyond certain thresholds or tipping points;

(c)Direct conservation action to safeguard species, genetic diversity and ecosystems;

(d)Measures to enhance the benefits from biodiversity, contributing to local livelihoods and to climate change adaptation and mitigation;

(e)The incorporation of the ecosystem approach into planning and policy processes;

(f)Measures to protect and encourage customary use and management of biological resources that are compatible with the conservation or sustainable use requirements by empowering indigenous and local communities to participate and take responsibility in local decision-making processes as appropriate;

(g)Effective assessment of progress, including mechanisms for carrying out comprehensive inventories, sharing of information, and monitoring.

(h)Enabling mechanisms, including adequate means of capacity development, technical and financial resources and the adoption, and effective implementation, of an international regime on access and benefit sharing;

(a)To collaborate with relevant organizations, with the full participation of Parties, to explore quantitative policy options, including assessments of the financial resources required to address the causes of biodiversity loss, to support the achievement of the post-2010 targets, drawing on the conclusions of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook;

(b)To commission a review of the process of preparation and production of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook in order to further improve the process for future editions of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and maintain comparability with earlier editions where necessary and to report to a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

(c)To further develop, in collaboration with the Informal Advisory Committee for Communication, Education and Public Awareness, members of the Consortium of Scientific Partners, the Coordination Mechanism for the Global Taxonomy Initiative, and other relevant partners, the communication strategy for the third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook, bearing in mind different audiences, drawing on the draft contained in document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/15, and invite Parties, relevant organizations and stakeholders to contribute resources, including financial resources, to the further development and implementation of this communication strategy;

(d)To promote the preparation and dissemination of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook in additional languages, including by providing the source files to facilitate the preparation of such language versions;

(e)To promote the findings of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook through regional or sub-regional workshops that are already being planned;