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

Water Basin Organizations: 1st International Forum

As the first meeting of its kind, this Forum will bring together key stakeholders in the management of transboundary basins from 26-28 October in, Bangkok (Thailand) under the theme: "Freshwater Governance Beyond Rio + 20: Meeting the Sustainability Challenge". Discussions will also include a ministerial segment for Ministers of Environment and Water Resources as well as high-level civil servants especially involved in basin organizations’ ministerial commissions.

The forum is organized into four interrelated themes:1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity Conservation:
2. Adapting to Climate Change:
3. Environmental Laws and Regulations:
4. Institutional Challenges:

Announcement and background documents

Freshwater and International Law Conference

The conference titled: "Freshwater and International Law: The Multiple Challenges" will examine the interaction between law, science and policy with respect to managing international freshwater resources.

An opening on July 7 at 15:00 will discuss contemporary issues of transboundary water law. The official program continues on July 8/9 with four high-level panels on the topics of water as a vital resource for States and individuals; the promotion of water cooperation; water as a natural resource; and prevention and settlement of water related disputes.

For more details, see the conference program.

Register by sending an e-mail to christina.leb@unige.ch by June 25, 2011.

IUCN: Report on Freshwater Species in Africa

IUCN has released the report titled "The Diversity of Life in African Freshwaters: Underwater, Under Threat - An analysis of the status and distribution of freshwater species throughout mainland Africa." The analysis represents the most comprehensive assessment of freshwater biodiversity at the species level for an entire continent and presents key messages, inter alia, on the need for better designing protected areas, employing principles of catchment management, and that environmental impact assessments should expressly require reference to the species data sets made available through the IUCN Red List.

IUCN: Eastern Himalaya Freshwater Ecosystems

A recent study carried out by IUCN and Zoo Outreach Organisation, entitled "The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalaya," emphasized the need for extensive new research on freshwater species in the Eastern Himalaya region.