Decision COP V/9

2.Urges Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to undertake the following priority activities to further the Global Taxonomy Initiative:

(a)The identification of national and regional priority taxonomic information requirements;

(b)Assessments of national taxonomic capacity to identify and, where possible, quantify national and regional-level taxonomic impediments and needs, including the identification of taxonomic tools, facilities and services required at all levels, and mechanisms to establish, support and maintain such tools, facilities and services;

(c)Establishment or consolidation of regional and national taxonomic reference centres; 

(d)The building of taxonomic capacity, in particular in developing countries, including through partnerships between national, regional and international taxonomic reference centres, and through information networks; 

3.Requests that the Executive Secretary, with the assistance of the Global Taxonomy Initiative coordination mechanism:

(a)Draft as a component of the strategic plan for the Convention on Biological Diversity a work programme for the Global Taxonomy Initiative defining timetables, goals, products and pilot projects, emphasizing its role in underpinning conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice; 

(b)Initiate short-term activities, including regional meetings of scientists, managers and policy makers to prioritize the most urgent global taxonomic needs and facilitate the formulation of specific regional and national projects to meet the needs identified, and to report thereon to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting;

(c)Synthesize the findings of previous meetings of experts on the Global Taxonomy Initiative (as contained in the note by the Executive Secretary on the review of the Global Taxonomy Initiative (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/4)), relevant sections of national reports submitted to the Conference of the Parties and recommendations of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice on the Global Taxonomy Initiative, as advice for the proposed regional meetings;