Decision COP VIII/2

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Recognizing the need for adequate technical, institutional and financial capacities, including support from the Secretariat for the implementation of the programme of work on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands,

Also recognizing the importance of the conservation of dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity to adaptation to climate change,

Emphasizing the need for continued collaboration with relevant partners, in particular the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),

Recognizing that a major shortcoming in the current review of the implementation of the programme of work on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands has been the limited availability of recent information on each of the activities of the programme of work, including the insufficient number of third national reports submitted until the time of this review,

Also recognizing that the lack of precise information should not prevent implementation of targeted activities of the programme of work,

Noting relevant recommendations by the Open-Ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention and other initiatives on the streamlining and harmonization of national reporting and on the reviews of implementation of the Convention and its programmes of work,

Also noting the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness, urges Parties to give priority to dry and sub-humid lands issues in their development plans, in order to facilitate donor support,

Welcoming decision 12 of the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification inviting the executive secretaries of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity to strengthen the Joint Work Programme on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands including efforts to achieve the relevant 2010 biodiversity targets,

1. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the programme of work on the biodiversity of dry and sub-humid lands, including the joint work programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the assessment of status and trends of, and threats to, the biodiversity of dry and sub‑humid lands, as reported in the note by the Executive Secretary (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/11/4) and the information document on review of implementation of the programme of work (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/11/INF/7);

2. Requests Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to strengthen the synergy between the two conventions in implementing the joint work programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification;

3. Encourages Parties to consider the programme of work and the joint work programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands as a basis for developing joint activities at the national level to achieve the objectives of the three Rio conventions;

4. Recognizes the urgent need for the systematic collection of biodiversity data at all three levels (genetic, species and ecosystem) and across all representative biomes of the programme of work on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands as a basis for decision-making on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity of dry and sub‑humid lands and to facilitate the assessment of progress towards the 2010 targets and other global goals, with due respect to national legislation on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing,  as well as the protection of traditional knowledge and associated genetic resources and relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

5. Encourages Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to improve national, regional and global data on dry and sub-humid lands ecosystem goods and services, their uses and related socio‑economic values; on species at lower taxonomic orders including soil biodiversity; and on the threats to which dry and sub-humid lands ecosystems are subjected in view of the ongoing assessment of progress towards the 2010 targets and other global goals;

6. Requests Parties and other Governments, and invites other relevant organizations to strengthen implementation of relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans and programmes, including through the incorporation of relevant activities and strategies into national development plans, in order to conserve dry and sub‑humid lands ecosystem goods and services, and to respond to the threats to the biodiversity of dry and sub‑humid lands in view of the important role it plays in poverty alleviation and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, taking into account the findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment;

7. Further encourages Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to develop or implement activities, such as capacity-building and national, subregional, regional and global partnerships, that will facilitate and streamline implementation of the programme of work, and overcome the identified obstacles, and accordingly, requests the Executive Secretary to support these initiatives including by compiling and disseminating through the clearing-house mechanism, lessons learned and success stories on such activities in the implementation of programmes and projects on the biodiversity of dry and sub‑humid lands;

8. Requests Parties, and invites other relevant organizations and donors, to provide technical and financial support, as appropriate, to support the implementation of the programme of work on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands by developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island developing States, among them, and countries with economies in transition, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention;

9. Notes the importance of activities 7 (f) (in situ and ex situ conservation), 8 (a) (strengthening local institutional structures), 8 (b) (decentralization of management), 8 (d) (bilateral subregional cooperation), 8 (e) (policies and instruments) and 9 (sustainable livelihoods) of Part B of the programme of work on dry and sub-humid lands contained in decision V/23, which are identified as facilitating conditions for the implementation of many other activities, and, accordingly  requests Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to give particular attention to supporting the scaled-up implementation of these activities;

10. Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, recalling in particular decision VII/15, paragraph 13 and decision VIII/30, to develop proposals, for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties and a progress report to the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the incorporation of climate-change adaptation considerations into the programme of work on dry and sub-humid lands, in particular in: 

11. Requests the Executive Secretary: 

12. Adopts the goals and targets for the programme of work on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands contained in the annex to this decision.