Decision COP VII/24

Taking note of the report of the meeting of the Consultative Working Group of Experts on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/17/INF/10) and, in particular, the matrix in the report, which summarizes suggestions and proposals to enhance the implementation of the Global Initiative on Communication, Education and Public Awareness, including, inter alia, key elements required to develop an operational strategy to guide the implementation of the three programme elements in a coherent and consistent manner (including prioritization, clarification of intended audience, activities, means and resources to undertake the identified activities, institutional arrangements, results to be generated, as well as the reporting mechanisms on implementation and impacts of outputs).

Noting further that communication, education and public awareness are essential elements for the successful and effective implementation of the programmes of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and also for facilitating the process of mainstreaming biodiversity into national sectoral policies and programmes,

1.Welcomes the efforts of the Executive Secretary and progress achieved in the implementation of the Global Initiative on Communication, Education and Public Awareness, taking into consideration the limited financial resources available for these efforts;

2.Welcomes the report of the fourth meeting of the Consultative Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity Education and Public Awareness and the proposals contained therein for further implementation of communication, education and public awareness which are attached as an annex to the report of the meeting;

3.Invites Parties to take into consideration the need to communicate the various elements of the 2010 biodiversity target and to establish appropriate linkages to the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development in the implementation of their respective national CEPA programmes and activities;

5.Invites donor organizations to make available the required financial support for the implementation of the identified priority activities in the CEPA programme of work;

6.Invites donor organizations to provide funding to developing countries, particularly the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of their national CEPA programmes and activities;

7.Requests Parties to contribute and make available financial support towards the cost of the production of the second edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook report for release in May 2005;