Decision COP V/4

Stressing that, in the implementation of the programme of work for forest biological diversity, due consideration should be given to the role of all types of forests, including planted forests, and the restoration of forest ecosystems,

Noting the importance of supporting work on taxonomic, ecological and socio-economic issues for the restoration of forest ecosystems and conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity,

Noting the importance of forest ecosystems and forest resources (including wood and non-wood forest products and services) to indigenous and local communities and the need to ensure their participation in the assessment of status and trends of forest biodiversity for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity,

Noting the proposed establishment and coordinating role of the United Nations Forum on Forests,

Noting the potential impact of afforestation, reforestation, forest degradation and deforestation on forest biological diversity and on other ecosystems,

1.Urges the Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to advance the implementation of the work programme for forest biological diversity, as contained in decision IV/7;

2.Decides to consider expanding the focus of the work programme from research to practical action at its sixth meeting;

3.Decides to call upon Parties, Governments and organizations to take practical actions within the scope of the existing programme of work in order to address urgently the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity, applying the ecosystem approach and taking into consideration the outcome of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/INF/16), and also contributing to the future work of the United Nations Forum on Forests;

4.Decides to establish an ad hoc technical expert group on forest biological diversity to assist the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, on the basis of the terms specified in the annex, in its work on forest biological diversity;

5.Requests the Executive Secretary to nominate scientific and technical experts, including expertise in policy matters and traditional knowledge, to the ad hoc technical expert group mentioned in paragraph 4 above, with due regard to geographical representation;

6.Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare for the work of the ad hoc technical expert group by inviting various international organizations and institutions to contribute data and information relevant to the terms of reference;

7.Invites Parties, countries, international organizations, institutions and processes and other relevant bodies, as well as indigenous and local communities and non-governmental organizations to provide relevant information on the implementation of the work programme through, inter alia, case-studies, entries in national reports and other means, as appropriate;

8.Encourages Parties and other Governments to promote the integration of national forest programmes with national biodiversity strategies, applying the ecosystem approach and sustainable forest management;

10.Recognizes past efforts by different organizations and encourages Parties and other Governments to strengthen national capacities, including local capacities, to enhance the effectiveness and functions of forest protected area networks, as well as national and local capacities for implementation of sustainable forest management, including restoration, when needed;

11.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider before the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, where appropriate and feasible in collaboration with the appropriate bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the impact of climate change on forest biological diversity;

12.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider the causes and effects of human induced uncontrolled forest fires on forest biological diversity and propose possible approaches to address negative impacts;

13.Urges Parties to consider without delay the proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests on programme element II.d (v), on valuation of forest goods and services;

14.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider the impact of, and propose sustainable practices for, the harvesting of non-timber forest resources, including bush meat and living botanical resources;

15.Requests the Executive Secretary to invite relevant organizations and forest-related bodies, institutions and processes, including criteria and indicator processes, as well as indigenous and local communities, non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the assessment of status and trends, including gaps and priority actions needed to address threats to forest biological diversity;

16.Urges the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including its Kyoto Protocol, to ensure that future activities of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including forest and carbon sequestration, are consistent with and supportive of the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;

17.Requests the Executive Secretary to assemble, in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, existing information relating to the integration of biodiversity considerations, including biodiversity conservation, in the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol;

18.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, prior to the sixth meeting of the Conference of Parties, to prepare scientific advice, where appropriate and feasible in collaboration with the appropriate bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in order to integrate biodiversity considerations, including biodiversity conservation, in the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol;

19.Requests the President of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity to transmit the present decision to the meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its sixth meeting;