Decision COP XI/19

The Conference of the Parties,

Taking into account decision X/33 and decisions 1/CP.16, 2/CP.17 and 12/CP.17 of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);

1. Noting that the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in paragraph 70 of decision 1/CP.16, encourages developing country Parties to contribute to mitigation actions in the forest sector by undertaking the following activities, as deemed appropriate by each Party and in accordance with their respective capabilities and national circumstances:

2. Recalling the guidance and safeguards adopted in UNFCCC decision 1/CP.16, appendix I, as well as noting the different approaches referred to in paragraphs 66 and 67 of UNFCCC decision 2/CP.17 and the guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected in UNFCCC decision 12/CP.17;

3. Further noting that paragraph 74 of UNFCCC decision 1/CP.16 recognizes that the implementation of such activities depends on the specific national circumstances, capacities and capabilities of each developing country Party and the level of support received;

4. Noting that relevant technical guidance for achieving benefits for biodiversity and indigenous and local communities in the context of the activities referred to in paragraph 1 above is available or under development at national, regional and international level;

5. Noting that the indicative list of indicators to assess progress towards the goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as contained in recommendation XV/1 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, could be useful for assessing the contributions of the activities referred to in paragraph 1 above for achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

6. Acknowledging the large potential for synergies between the activities referred to in paragraph 1 above and the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, urges Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to fully implement the relevant provisions and decisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in a coherent and mutually supportive way;

7. Invites Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to continue and strengthen their efforts to promote the contribution of the activities referred to in paragraph 1 above to achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and provide benefits for biodiversity and for indigenous and local communities, with particular attention to:

8. Notes that the safeguards referred to in paragraph 2 of this decision may also enhance benefits for biodiversity and for indigenous and local communities, and invites developing countries to share their experiences and lessons learned when planning and implementing the activities referred to in paragraph 1;

9. Takes note with appreciation of the annex to this decision;

10. Invites developing country Parties to consider the information in the annex to this decision when planning and implementing the activities referred to in paragraph 1;

11. Also invites Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to consider the information in the annex when preparing national reports and other submissions on progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, and, where applicable, for other relevant submissions under other processes;

12. Noting that there are ongoing initiatives, processes and instruments focused on the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity within the framework of sustainable forest management, invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations involved in these initiatives, processes and instruments to share their experiences and lessons learned related to safeguards, with a view to assisting developing countries in addressing biodiversity concerns and in achieving multiple benefits in relation to the implementation of the activities referred to in paragraph 1;

13. Invites Parties and other Governments, according to national circumstances and priorities, as well as relevant organizations and processes, to consider the relevant guidance in decision X/33, paragraph 8 (m)-(q), (s), (u), (v), (y) and (z) when addressing safeguards for and multiple benefits of the activities referred to in paragraph 1;

14. Also invites Parties and other Governments, according to national circumstances and priorities, as well as relevant organizations and processes, to reduce the risk of displacement of deforestation and forest degradation to areas of lower carbon value and higher biodiversity value, and other adverse impacts to biodiversity and to indigenous and local communities;

15. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to collate and summarize information, based on the systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected, as referred to in UNFCCC decision 12/CP.17, on experiences regarding how the potential effects of the activities referred to in paragraph 1 above on the traditional way of life and related knowledge and customary practices of indigenous and local communities are being addressed, and to submit this information to the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions for its consideration, and invites the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to consider this information when undertaking its broader work, as appropriate;

16. Also requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to:

17. Further requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to compile information from Parties on initiatives and experiences regarding paragraph 67 of UNFCCC decision 2/CP.17 with regard to its possible contribution to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, without pre-judging any future decisions by the Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC, and to submit a progress report to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its twelfth meeting;