. Development of indicators of biological diversity

Development of indicators of biological diversity

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,

Acknowledging that the process of indicator development has to be continued at a high speed in order to allow for coordination with, and input to actions and initiatives such as the national reports, the Global Biodiversity Outlook, the Global International Waters Assessment, the assessment process under the Convention on Biological Diversity and many others that develop or use indicators,

Acknowledging that a pragmatic approach is needed and must be based on sound theory and practical experience,

Recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting:

1. Requests the Executive Secretary, in broad consultation with Parties and in collaboration with other relevant organizations/bodies and processes, to carry out the pending activities set out in the work programme on indicators of biological diversity as approved by decision IV/1 A of the Conference of the Parties and, in particular, to develop:

(a) A set of principles for designing national-level monitoring programmes and indicators;

(b) A key set of standard questions and a list of available and potential indicators that may be used by Parties at their national level and in national reporting also to allow for regional and global overviews on the state and trends of biodiversity and, if possible and appropriate, any responses from policy measures;

2. Encourages Parties and Governments to establish or increase regional cooperation in the field of indicators, monitoring and assessment and Invites the Executive Secretary to establish a process through which the documents mentioned above are reviewed and broadly discussed at regional workshops on the basis of national case-studies;

3. Invites Parties, Governments and organizations to undertake appropriate actions to assist other Parties (particularly developing countries) to increase their capacity to develop and use indicators. Appropriate actions may include:

(a) Provision of training;

(b) Assisting in the development of national networks;

(c) Sharing experiences between and among countries, regions and organizations involved in the development and use of indicators;

4. Requests the Executive Secretary to produce an interim report on progress for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its sixth or seventh meetings and a final report on the conclusions of this initiative to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.