Decision COP V/3

Recalling the need to implement the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity in a holistic manner, taking into account river basin issues, the effects of land-based activities (including pollution) and tourism plans,

Noting the relevance for the future implementation of the programme of work of the joint work plan 2000-2001 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands,

Stressing the importance of regional approaches to the implementation of the programme of work and therefore of cooperation with regional bodies,

1.Takes note of the tools that have been used for the implementation of the programme of work on the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity, as set out in the note by the Executive Secretary on the subject prepared for the fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/7, annex I), requests the Executive Secretary to report to future meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice on the application of these tools, encourages the Secretariat and the Subsidiary Body to complete, as soon as possible, the implementation of decision IV/5 on the programme of work on marine and coastal biodiversity as adopted by the Conference of Parties at its fourth meeting, and notes that the work element on coral reefs was enabled at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and will have a minimum three year time schedule;

2.Endorses the results of the Expert Consultation on Coral Bleaching, held in Manila from 11 to 13 October 1999, as contained in the annex to the present decision;

3.Decides to integrate coral reefs into programme element 2 (Marine and coastal living resources) of the programme of work;

4.Requests the Executive Secretary to integrate fully the issue of coral bleaching in the programme of work on the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biological diversity and to develop and implement a specific work plan on coral bleaching, taking into account the recommendations set out in the annex to the present decision, as appropriate, and in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and invites Parties, other Governments and relevant bodies to contribute to its implementation.  In conducting his work on coral bleaching, the Executive Secretary will also liaise with, inter alia, the Convention on Wetlands, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (including the World Heritage Convention), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, regional fisheries organizations, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Global International Waters Assessment and will formally liaise with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and the International Coral Reef Initiative;

5.Notes that there is significant evidence that climate change is a primary cause of the recent and severe extensive coral bleaching, and that this evidence is sufficient to warrant remedial measures being taken in line with the precautionary approach, transmits that view to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and urges the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to take all possible actions to reduce the effect of climate change on water temperatures and to address the socio-economic impacts on the countries and communities most affected by coral bleaching;

8.Agrees that physical degradation and destruction of coral reefs also pose a significant threat to the biological diversity of coral-reef ecosystems, and therefore decides to expand its request to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, as contained in section II, paragraph 1, of decision IV/5, so as to include the effects of such factors;

9.Endorses further work on developing guidelines for coastal areas, taking into account decision V/6, on the ecosystem approach;

10.Encourages the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, with the assistance of the Executive Secretary, to continue work on ecosystem evaluation and assessment, inter alia, through guidelines on evaluation and indicators;

11.Requests the Executive Secretary to gather information on approaches to management of marine and coastal living resources in relation to those used by local and indigenous communities and to make the information available through the clearing-house mechanism;

12.Takes note of the work of the Executive Secretary on marine and coastal genetic resources, including bioprospecting, and requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to analyse, and provide advice on scientific, technical and technological matters related to the issue of marine and coastal genetic resources;

13.Suggests that the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice consider the following issues and prioritize them as appropriate: the use of unsustainable fishing practices, including the effects on marine and coastal biological diversity of the discard of by-catch; the lack of use of marine and coastal protected areas in the context of management of marine and coastal living resources; and the economic value of marine and coastal resources, including sea grasses, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems; as well as capacity-building for undertaking stock assessments and for economic evaluations; 

14.Requests the Executive Secretary to make use of existing information, expertise and best practices on alien species in the marine environment in the implementation of the work programme on alien species under decision IV/1 C;

15.Approves the terms of reference and the duration of work specified for the ad hoc technical expert groups on marine and coastal protected areas and mariculture, as contained in annex II to recommendation V/14 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, with the addition of "Identification of best practices" for mariculture;

16.Requests the Executive Secretary to make further use of the roster of experts for peer-review and preparation of background documents;

17.Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue its strong involvement in the implementation of the programme of work, and requests the Executive Secretary to further strengthen cooperation with other global organizations;