Information

COP 3 Decision III/13
This decision has been retired.

Future programme of work for terrestrial biological diversity: dryland, mountain and inland water ecosystems

The Conference of the Parties,

Taking note of the relevant parts of the report of the third session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, on the review of sectoral cluster: Land, desertification, forests and biodiversity (chapters 10-15 of Agenda 21), as contained in document UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.45,

Recognizing the need for an integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources,

Reaffirming the central importance of biological diversity to sustainable development in drylands and montane areas as well as in other terrestrial ecosystems,

Recalling decision II/18 of the Conference of the Parties, in which it decided that it may consider at its fourth meeting in 1997, inter alia,an assessment of the status and trends of the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems and the identification of options for conservation and sustainable use,

Concerned that activities carried out under the Convention should not duplicate existing efforts, but rather should complement them,

1. Endorses paragraph 5 of recommendation II/8 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and thereby requests the Executive Secretary:

    (a) To explore ways and means to cooperate with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification particularly in Africa on matters relating to biological diversity and drylands, with a view to identifying common priorities;
    (b) To contact those agencies and networks working on sustainable mountain development with a view to examining forms of cooperation on matters relating to biological diversity and mountains;
    (c) To make the results of these activities available to the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;

2. Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to provide the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties with scientific, technical and technological advice on the status and trends of biological diversity in inland water ecosystems and the identification of options for conservation and sustainable use.