Decision COP IV/10

Reaffirming the importance for the implementation of the Convention of the design and implementation by Parties and Governments of economically and socially sound measures that act as incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,

Recalling decision III/18 on incentive measures,

Recognizing that incentive measures should be designed using an ecosystem approach and with the targeted resource management audience in mind,

Recognizing that economic valuation of biodiversity and biological resources is an important tool for well-targeted and calibrated economic incentive measures,

2. Requests Parties to include information on the design and implementation of incentive measures in their second national reports;

3. Requests the financial mechanism to provide to eligible Parties adequate and timely support for the design and approaches relevant to the implementation of incentive measures including, where necessary, assessment of biological diversity of the relevant ecosystems, capacity-building necessary for the design and implementation of incentive measures and the development of appropriate legal and policy frameworks, and projects with components that provide for these incentives;

Recalling Article 13 of the Convention, on public education and awareness,

Recognizing the importance of public education and awareness as central instruments to achieve the Convention's goals and to ensure effective implementation of the Convention at the national level, and also recognizing the need for capacity-building in this area,

Having taken note of the decision of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session on transfer of environmentally sound technology, capacity-building, education and public awareness, and science for sustainable development,

Recognizing that the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity includes social issues which require cultural understanding and sensitivity, and that efforts to promote the goals of Article 13 entail recognition of the diverse needs of people and their differing perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, interests, values and understanding in respect of the goals of the Convention, and that public education and awareness on biological diversity is most effective when it occurs in a social context that is meaningful to a specific audience,

Noting the opportunities for synergy on this particular issue within the Convention, the activities of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the mandate and activities of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and relevant activities of other bodies on public education, training and awareness on matters related to biological diversity,

Stressing that modern technologies and expanding access to electronic communication means bring new possibilities for promoting and encouraging understanding of the importance of, and measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity; but also recognizing the importance of traditional communication systems among local communities, with emphasis on maintaining their integrity and dynamism,

Further recognizing the role of the public media and non-traditional means of communication in information dissemination and awareness-raising,

Recognizing that non-governmental organizations have an important role in developing and disseminating information on biological diversity, especially in reaching out to marginalized groups who have a significant role to play in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,

2. Also urges Parties to share experiences on initiatives on public education and awareness and public participation relevant to the Convention, particularly on a sectoral and thematic basis, and to make relevant case studies as well as lessons learned in the preparation of national biological diversity policies, strategies and plans available to the Executive Secretary and for the exchange of information among Parties through the clearing-house mechanism and to consider how to organize assistance for Parties who may be keen to develop public awareness and education strategies, but lack the ability to do so;

3. Encourages Parties to make use of the media, including print and electronic media, to promote public education and awareness about the importance and appropriate methods for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;

4. Calls upon Parties, where necessary, to illustrate and translate the provisions of the Convention into the respective local languages to promote public education and awareness-raising of relevant sectors, including local communities;

5. Decides that public education and awareness issues shall be integrated into and become an integral component of all sectoral and thematic items under the programme of work of the Conference of the Parties;

6. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to consider launching a global initiative on biological diversity education, training and public awareness and requests the Executive Secretary to explore the feasibility of such an initiative and to report to the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the progress of such an initiative;

7. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in cooperation with other United Nations bodies and other relevant international and regional organizations, agreements, processes and institutions, to continue and make use of existing initiatives and to further develop its information dissemination and public-awareness activities in support of the work of the Convention;

8. Urges Parties, relevant organizations and donor agencies to support local, national, subregional and regional public education and awareness initiatives;

9. Urges Parties, when requesting for assistance through the financial mechanism of the Convention, to propose projects which promote measures for implementing the provisions of the Convention on public education and awareness;

Recalling Article 14 of the Convention, on impact assessment and minimizing adverse impacts, including its provision on liability and redress for damage to biological diversity,

Recalling also its decision II/18, on measures to provide information and share experiences on the implementation of Article 14,

Noting the initiatives in this field, such as the statement submitted to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties on behalf of the International Association for Impact Assessment, following its 18th annual meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, in April 1998,

Noting the entry into force of the Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the "Espoo Convention"), as an example of regional cooperation,

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a synthesis report based on the information contained in such submissions and other relevant information, for the consideration of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;

3. Instructs the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to identify further actions that would promote implementation of the impact assessment procedures requested by Article 14 of the Convention, including consideration of whether there is a need for additional work to develop guidelines on the incorporation of biological diversity considerations into environmental impact assessment and to report to the Conference of the Parties;

4. Recommends that appropriate issues related to environmental impact assessment should be integrated into and become an integral component of relevant sectoral and thematic items under the programme of work of the Conference of the Parties;

5. Requests the Executive Secretary to make this information available through the clearing-house mechanism and other appropriate means;

6. Encourages the Executive Secretary to initiate collaboration between the Convention and other international organizations and bodies with expertise in this field and to seek cooperation, in particular with the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat and the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the International Association for Impact Assessment, with a view to drawing on their networks of professional expertise and sources of information and advice;

7. Emphasizes the need to enable active participation by interested and affected stakeholders in the assessment process, including indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles and non-governmental organizations;

8. Invites Parties, Governments and relevant international organizations to provide the Executive Secretary with information on national, international and regional measures and agreements on liability and redress applicable to damage to biological diversity, including the nature, scope and coverage of such provisions, and information on experiences in their implementation, as well as information regarding access by foreign citizens to national courts potentially applicable to or in cases involving transboundary environmental harm;

9. Invites Parties to include in their national reports information on actions taken with respect to liability and redress for damage to biological diversity;

10. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a synthesis report based on the information contained in submissions by Parties and other relevant information, for examination by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting;