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WGRI 2 Recommendations

WGRI 2 Recommendation 2/4

2/4Status of national reporting and proposals on the scope and format of the third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Recalling recommendation XII/4 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice on lessons learned from the preparation of the second edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook,
Taking note of the proposed scope and format of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and organization of preparatory work contained in the note by the Executive Secretary on the subject (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/2/6) and the considerations for the preparation of the third edition contained in the information document on the subject (UNEP/CBD/WG-RI/2/INF/13),
Emphasizing the importance of an inclusive, transparent and timely process for preparation and peer-review of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, which should be based on scientifically rigorous information and make full use of authoritative and independent scientific sources and the information to be provided by Parties in their fourth national reports, which the Conference of Parties agreed in decision VIII/14 are to be submitted by 30 March 2009,
1.Requests the Executive Secretary to revise the proposed scope and format, work plan, communication strategy and financial plan for the development of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, addressing the progress made and the constraints to achieve the 2010 Biodiversity Target, taking into account views expressed at the second meeting of the Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, including those summarized in the annex to this recommendation, as well as comments provided by national focal points, the Informal Advisory Committee for Communication, Education and Public Awareness and other relevant organizations and specialists, and to submit a revised proposal for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting;
2.Also requests the Executive Secretary to continue collaborating with other biodiversity-related conventions, the Rio conventions and other relevant processes and organizations and to engage them in the preparations of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook as appropriate and in accordance with their respective mandates;
3.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties, at its ninth meeting, request the Global Environment Facility, urge Parties, and invite other Governments and donors, to make timely financial contributions for the preparation and production of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and ancillary products, and of the full set of the provisional 2010 indicators, through the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, in accordance with the work plan and financial plan for the preparation of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook as well as the communication strategy, the scope and format for the third edition of the Outlook. These funds should be provided as early as possible so that the Global Biodiversity Outlook can be finalized in advance of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, in all United Nations languages, and, if possible, with a draft available for review at the fourteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice.

Annex

VIEWS EXPRESSED AT THE SECOND MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP ON REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION ON THE SCOPE OF THIRD GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY OUTLOOK

The third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook should, inter alia :
1.Have a clearly defined audience and purpose;
2.Present clear messages that are communicated in a way that is easy to understand by a non-technical audience;
3.Make use of the framework for assessing progress towards the achievement of the 2010 Biodiversity Target provided in decision VIII/15, and especially the provisional headline indicators contained therein;
4.Be strengthened by the inclusion of case studies, derived from the fourth national reports, bioregional examples, natural-resource sectors, traditional ecological knowledge expertise, innovative collaborative biodiversity initiatives, and other processes aimed at improving scientific expertise on biodiversity;
5.Consider the social, cultural and economic implications of biodiversity loss for various social groups;
6.Pay attention to terrestrial and aquatic environments and invasive alien species;
7.Have a focus on status and trends in relation to the 2010 Biodiversity Target and implementation of the three objectives of the Convention;
8.Employ scenarios beyond 2010 as appropriate;
9.Provide information on implementation of the biodiversity agenda within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals and, more generally, progress made in mainstreaming biodiversity into the development agenda;
10.Include supplementary products, inter alia , thematic and bioregional assessments.
11.Draw upon collaborative efforts between UNEP and the scientific community, inter alia making optimal use of the Global Environment Outlook.
2/32/5