CBD: Preparations for COP-11

The 15th meeting of the CBD's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) considered, among other items, a draft set of indicators for monitoring implementation of the CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and measuring progress towards the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Participants also adopted the following eight recommendations to be forwarded to the COP-11:1) draft capacity-building strategy for the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI);
2) indicators and other tools and guidance for assessing progress in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
3) ways and means to support ecosystem restoration;
4) proposals on ways and means to address gaps in international standards regarding invasive alien species (IAS) introduced as pets, aquarium and terrarium species, and as live bait and live food;
5) implications of changes in the water cycle and freshwater resources for the implementation of the work programmes on inland water biodiversity;
6) the sustainable use of biodiversity, including revised recommendations of the Liaison Group on Bushmeat, options for small-scale food and income alternatives, and a report on how to improve sustainable use in a landscape perspective;
7) Arctic biodiversity; and
8) ways and means to improve SBSTTA effectiveness.

The draft capacity-building strategy for the GTI will be considered by SBSTTA-16 scheduled for 30 April-4 May. The other recommendations will be submitted to COP-11, to be held from 8-19 October 2012, in Hyderbad (India).

ISD RS Coverage of Meeting

G-77/China: Ministerial Declaration

The 35th annual meeting of the G-77/China Ministers for Foreign Affairs adopted a Ministerial Declaration on 23 September recognizing, inter alia, the important outcomes of CBD/COP-10, MOP-5 of the Cartagena Protocol, calling for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 as the overarching biodiversity framework, and reaffirming the importance of the draft multi-year plan of action on south-south cooperation on biodiversity for development, to be adopted at CBD/COP-11.

Aichi Targets Task Force

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was recently signed between the CBD Secretariat and 27 international agencies, organizations and environmental conventions, aiming to achieve and implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.The MoC creates a task force to provide a platform for agencies to coordinate their activities at global and national levels during the UN Decade on Biodiversity.The first meeting of the task force will convene in October 2012, in Hyderabad (India), in conjunction with the high-level segment of CBD/COP-11.
CBD Press Release

John Scanlon: Guest Article

In a Guest Article published on 9 September, CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon informs readers of the Convention's contribution toward CBD's New Strategic Biodiversity Plan 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.