. Establishment of guidelines for the second national reports, including indicators and incentive measures

Establishment of guidelines for the second national reports, including indicators and incentive measures

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice

Notes the interim assessment of biodiversity enabling activities prepared by the Global Environment Facility (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/INF/9); and

1. Requests the Executive Secretary, for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting, to:

(a) Revise the matrix contained in annex I to the note by the Executive Secretary on the establishment of guidelines for the second national reports, including indicators and incentive measures (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/14), taking into account the views expressed at the fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, in particular, cross-referencing the questions on performance with the existing capacity of developing countries, and the need to provide information on the status of biological diversity;

(b) Propose a format for thematic reports by Parties on items for in-depth consideration at meetings of the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with its programme of work;

2. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties establish guidelines for future national reports which:

(a) Request Parties to make use of the matrix contained in annex I to the note by the Executive Secretary, with the revisions referred to in paragraph 1 (a) above, in their national reports;

(b) Recommend that Parties prepare their national reports through a consultative process involving all relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, or by drawing upon information developed through other consultative processes;

(c) Request Parties to submit their reports:

(i) Every four years;

(ii) Twelve months prior to the meeting of the Conference of the Parties that will consider the report;

(iii) In a working language of the Conference of the Parties;

(iv) In both hard copy and electronic format;

(d) Request Parties to submit their next national report by a date to be decided by the Conference of the Parties, and thereafter for consideration at alternate ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Parties, and include them in their clearing-house mechanism national focal point where feasible;

3. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties invites Parties to prepare detailed thematic reports on one or more of the items for in-depth consideration by meetings of the Conference of the Parties, and invites Parties to submit such reports:

(a) In accordance with the format referred to in paragraph 1 (b) above;

(b) By a date to be determined by the Conference of the Parties;

(c) In a working language of the Conference of the Parties;

(d) In both hard copy and electronic format;

4. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties request the Executive Secretary to:

(a) Prepare reports based on information contained in national reports for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its meetings, and make them available through the clearing-house mechanism;

(b) Keep the format of national reports under review, and provide further advice to the Conference of Parties on its revision;

(c) Proceed with the further development of the proposals for streamlining national reporting contained in section 5.2 of the "Feasibility study for a harmonized information management infrastructure for biodiversity-related treaties", in collaboration with the secretariats of the other biodiversity-related conventions and report on progress to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting;

5. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties invite organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme, undertaking regional or global programmes providing support to Parties in biodiversity planning, including capacity development, to provide the Executive Secretary with information on programme activities and lessons learned;

6. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties consider the need for arrangements for making financial resources available to eligible Parties to assist in the preparation of their national reports.