Decision COP VII/30

Recognizing the need to:  (i) facilitate assessment of progress towards the 2010 target, and communication of this assessment; (ii) promote coherence among the various programmes of work of the Convention; and (iii) provide a flexible framework within which national and regional targets may be set, and indicators identified, where so desired by Parties; as well as (iv) the need for a mechanism to review implementation of the Convention,

Recalling the statement in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation that a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity will require the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries,

 2.For the purposes of assessing progress towards the target to achieve by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss, defines biodiversity loss as the long-term or permanent qualitative or quantitative reduction in components of biodiversity and their potential to provide goods and services, to be measured at global, regional and national levels;

4. Agrees that the indicators to be tested, identified or developed, are listed in annex I to the present decision.  Indicators for immediate testing are listed in column B of annex I; indicators requiring further development are listed in column C of annex I; 

5.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its tenth or eleventh meetings to evaluate information on the changes in trends and status of biodiversity, particularly the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global level inter alia by reviewing a draft of the Second Global Biodiversity Outlook; 

7.Requests the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, respectively, to explore the need and possible options for indicators for access to genetic resources and in particular for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, and associated innovations, knowledge and practices of  indigenous and local communities, and for the protection of innovations, knowledge and practices of  indigenous and local communities, and to report the results to the Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting;

9.Invites related conventions, assessment processes and relevant organizations to contribute reports and information that assist the monitoring of progress towards the 2010 targets;

10.Invites the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme to support the Secretariat in facilitating the compilation of information necessary for reporting on achievement on the 2010 target;

11.Decides to establish, goals and sub- targets for each of the focal areas identified in paragraph 1 above, as set out in annex II to the present decision, in order to clarify the 2010 global biodiversity target adopted by decision VI/26, help assess progress towards the target, and promote coherence among the programmes of work of the Convention.  Such goals would complement the existing goals of the Strategic Plan; 

14.Emphasizes that the goals and targets referred to in paragraph 12 above should be viewed as a flexible framework within which national and/or regional targets may be developed, according to national priorities and capacities, and taking into account differences in diversity between countries;

15.Invites Parties and Governments to develop national and/or regional goals and targets, and, as appropriate, to incorporate them into relevant plans, programmes and initiatives, including national biodiversity strategies and action plans;

16. Invites Parties and Governments to use existing national indicators or to establish national indicators using the tools (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/9/10) referred to in decision VII/8, on monitoring and indicators, and according to their national needs and priorities, to assess progress towards their national/and or regional targets;

17.  Emphasizes the need for capacity-building, especially in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and the small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, in order to enable them to implement activities to achieve and monitor progress towards the goals and targets;

18.Invites Parties, Governments, international and funding organizations to provide adequate and timely support for the implementation of activities to achieve and monitor progress towards the goals and targets to developing country Parties, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States among them, and Parties with economies in transition, as appropriate;

19.Requests the Executive Secretary to continue to explore ways to expand active support for developing country Parties in particular least developed countries and small island developing States among them, and Parties with economies in transition, where appropriate, in the development, revision and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. This process should include the commitment and resources of civil society in the development and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;

20.Emphasizes that national biodiversity strategies and action plans, as the primary mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan, should be developed or reviewed with due regard to the relevant aspects of the four goals of the Strategic Plan, and the goals established by this decision, to enable greater contribution to the achievement of the 2010 target, consistent with national needs and priorities; and invites Parties to incorporate the goals, as appropriate, into the national biodiversity strategies and action plans when these are revised;

21.Invites developed country Parties continue to provide support to developing country Parties, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States among them, and Parties with economies in transition , as appropriate, to develop national-level indicators;

22.Requests the Executive Secretary to report to Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting on the work required by decision V/20, paragraph 41, to allow further work to be undertaken to identify ways to support the review by Parties of national implementation;

23.Recognizing the need to establish a process, for evaluating, reporting and reviewing the Strategic Plan 2002 2010, decides to allocate adequate time in subsequent meetings of the Conference of the Parties and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, as well as ad hoc open-ended Working Groups, as appropriate, and establishes an Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, subject to the availability of the necessary voluntary contributions, to consider progress in the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan and achievements leading up to the 2010 target in line with the multi-year programme of work for the Conference of the Parties (decision VII/31), to review the impacts and effectiveness of existing processes under the Convention, such as meetings of the Conference of the Parties, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, national focal points and the Secretariat, as part of the overall process for improving the operations of the Convention and implementation of the Strategic Plan, and to consider ways and means of identifying and overcoming obstacles to the effective implementation of the Convention;