Article 17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity requires Parties to facilitate the exchange of technical, scientific and socio-economic information from all publicly available sources, as well as information on training and surveying programmes, specialized knowledge, indigenous and traditional knowledge.

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 recognizes the need for enhanced support mechanisms, including the generation, use and sharing of knowledge, to achieve positive outcomes. It also acknowledges that, collectively, Parties and stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Convention have a wealth of experience and knowledge, including good practice cases, tools and guidance, and that additional useful information exits beyond this community.

Knowledge Management Component of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

In decision 14/25, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to develop, in consultation with the informal advisory committees to the Clearing-House Mechanism, the Biosafety Clearing-House and the Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House, a knowledge management component as a part of the preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

In response, a draft knowledge management component of the global biodiversity framework was prepared and made available for peer-review during a discussion forum from 24 to 28 August 2020. The draft will be submitted for consideration of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its third meeting (SBI 3) and subsequently by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting (COP 15).