Decision COP XIII/8

Concerned with the continued decline of certain wildlife species due to extensive destruction and degradation of natural habitats, fragmentation and the loss of landscape connectivity, as well as other threats, including illegal exploitation and illegal wildlife trade, unsustainable use of wildlife products and resources, climate change, (illegal) land conversion, pollution, and invasive alien species, that impact negatively on the survival and regeneration of wild species, as well as on sustainable development and human well-being,

Mindful that wildlife loss has consequences for vital ecological processes that support biodiversity, and serious socioeconomic, food security, nutrition and health related impacts, affecting customary sustainable use and the culture, spirituality and identity of indigenous peoples and local communities,

Noting the need for sound wildlife management programmes that build upon an understanding of biological and ecological factors, and effective and equitable programmes, recognizing the importance of the human dimension, not only in terms of human needs and benefit-sharing, including custodianship and the historical rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to access wildlife, in accordance with national legislation, but also with respect to generating and sharing incentives for wildlife conservation and sustainable use,

Also noting the potential for enhanced policy harmonization on wildlife conservation, sustainable use and trade contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,  in particular on Targets 15.7 and 15.c under Goal 15, United Nations General Assembly resolution 69/314, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,

Recognizing that considerable work has been done under the Convention on ways to improve the sustainability of wildlife management, including the harvesting of bushmeat, notes that the issue of sustainable use of wildlife intersects with other sectors, and that a strategic and broad approach is needed to address these issues,

Reaffirming the role of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management in facilitating coordinated work on the sustainable use of biodiversity and enhancing synergies among its members,

2.Encourages Parties and other Governments to integrate existing guidance and recommendations of the Convention related to the sustainable use of wildlife, into plans and strategies for development cooperation agencies, to enhance the mainstreaming of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in relevant sectors;

3.Invites Parties to include in their sixth national reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity information on the use of rights-based management systems and the transfer of these rights and associated management to indigenous peoples and local communities with regard to sustainable wildlife management;

4.Also invites Parties to work with indigenous peoples and local communities to provide training and capacity building in sustainable wildlife management, including exchanging information and skills at various levels;