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WGRI 1 Recommendation 1/8

1/8.Framework for monitoring implementation of the Convention and achievement of the 2010 target, and for review of the programmes of work

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention
1.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties:
(a)Notes that the framework for monitoring implementation of the Convention and achievement of the 2010 target is comprised of the following five components:
(i)The four goals and 19 objectives of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Conference of the Parties in decision VI/26;
(ii)Indicators to measure progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan, to be developed on the basis of the proposed indicators in annex I below;
(iii)The provisional framework for goals and targets, consisting of seven focal areas, 11 goals and 21 targets, adopted in decision VII/30;
(iv)Outcome-oriented indicators to measure progress towards the 2010 target (as adopted by decision VII/30 with amendments recommended by SBSTTA in recommendation X/5, as contained in annex II below); and
(v)Reporting mechanisms, including the Global Biodiversity Outlook and the national reports;
(b)Endorses the guidelines for the review of the programmes of work provided in annex III below;
(c)Decides to align the timetable for consolidating decisions related to the programmes of work of the Convention with that for the in-depth review of the programmes of work, in order to facilitate the preparation of a consolidated body of advice on each thematic area, thereby improving the cohesiveness of advice to Parties and further reducing the reporting burden on Parties;
(d)Decides to consider at its ninth meeting the process for revising and updating the Strategic Plan with a view to adopting a revised Strategic Plan at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
(e)Further decides to align the numbering of the goals and targets incorporated into the proposed programme of work on island biodiversity with that used in the framework for evaluating progress towards the 2010 framework;
2.Notes the mandate given to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice in paragraph 12 (a) of decision VII/30 to review and if necessary further refine the goals and targets, and encourages the Subsidiary Body to fulfil this mandate;
3.Invites the Executive Secretary, before the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to consult the members of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Indicators for Assessing Progress Towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, in order to further develop the list of proposed indicators for the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan, as contained in annex I to the present recommendation, and to provide information on the data availability and usefulness of the proposed indicators to the Conference of the Parties;
4.Recalling paragraph 7 of decision VII/30, encourages the Ad Hoc Open Ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity to develop a provisional indicator for objective 4.3 of the Strategic Plan;
5.Notes the need to develop provisional indicators for the objectives of the Strategic Plan relevant to biosafety.

Annex I

INDICATORS FOR ASSESSING PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic goals and objectives Possible indicators
Goal 1: The Convention is fulfilling its leadership role in international biodiversity issues.
1.1 The Convention is setting the global biodiversity agenda. CBD provisions, COP decisions and 2010 target reflected in workplans of major international forums.
1.2 The Convention is promoting cooperation between all relevant international instruments and processes to enhance policy coherence. CBD provisions, COP decisions and 2010 target reflected in workplans of major international forums.
1.3 Other international processes are actively supporting implementation of the Convention, in a manner consistent with their respective frameworks. CBD provisions, COP decisions and 2010 target reflected in workplans of major international forums.
1.4 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is widely implemented. CBD provisions, COP decisions and 2010 target reflected in workplans of major international forums.
1.5 Biodiversity concerns are being integrated into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes, and policies at the regional and global levels. Possible indicator to be developed: Number of regional/global plans, programmes and policies which specifically address the integration of biodiversity concerns into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies Application of planning tools such as strategic environmental assessment to assess the degree to which biodiversity concerns are being integrated Biodiversity integrated into the criteria of multilateral donors and regional development banks
1.6 Parties are collaborating at the regional and subregional levels to implement the Convention. Possible indicator to be developed: Number of Parties that are part of (sub-) regional biodiversity-related agreements
Goal 2: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical, and technological capacity to implement the Convention.
2.1 All Parties have adequate capacity for implementation of priority actions in national biodiversity strategy and action plans.
2.2 Developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and the small island developing States amongst them, and other Parties with economies in transition, have sufficient resources available to implement the three objectives of the Convention. Official development assistance provided in support of the Convention (OECD-DAC Statistics Committee)
2.3 Developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and the small island developing States amongst them, and other Parties with economies in transition, have increased resources and technology transfer available to implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
2.4 All Parties have adequate capacity to implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
2.5 Technical and scientific cooperation is making a significant contribution to building capacity. Indicator to be developed consistent with VII/30
Goal 3: National biodiversity strategies and action plans and the integration of biodiversity concerns into relevant sectors serve as an effective framework for the implementation of the objectives of the Convention.
3.1 Every Party has effective national strategies, plans and programmes in place to provide a national framework for implementing the three objectives of the Convention and to set clear national priorities. Number of Parties with national biodiversity strategies
3.2 Every Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has a regulatory framework in place and functioning to implement the Protocol.
3.3 Biodiversity concerns are being integrated into relevant national sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies. To be developed: Percentage of Parties with relevant national sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies in which biodiversity concerns are integrated
3.4 The priorities in national biodiversity strategies and action plans are being actively implemented, as a means to achieve national implementation of the Convention, and as a significant contribution towards the global biodiversity agenda. To be developed: Number of national biodiversity strategies and action plans that are being actively implemented
Goal 4: There is a better understanding of the importance of biodiversity and of the Convention, and this has led to broader engagement across society in implementation.
4.1 All Parties are implementing a communication, education, and public awareness strategy and promoting public participation in support of the Convention. Possible indicator to be developed: Number of Parties implementing a communication, education and public awareness strategy and promoting public participation Percentage of public awareness about the importance of biodiversity Percentage of Parties with biodiversity on their public school curricula
4.2 Every Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is promoting and facilitating public awareness, education and participation in support of the Protocol.
4.3 Indigenous and local communities are effectively involved in implementation and in the processes of the Convention, at national, regional and international levels. To be developed byWG8(j)
4.4 Key actors and stakeholders, including the private sector, are engaged in partnership to implement the Convention and are integrating biodiversity concerns into their relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies. To be developed: Indicator targeting private sector engagement, e.g. Voluntary type 2 partnerships in support of the implementation of the Convention

Annex II

INDICATORS RELEVANT TO THE 2010 GOALS AND TARGETS (AS CONTAINED IN SBSTTA RECOMMENDATION X/5, ANNEX II)

Goals and targets Relevant headline indicators
Protect the components of biodiversity
Goal 1. Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomes
Target 1.1: At least 10% of each of the world's ecological regions effectively conserved. Most relevant indicator: Coverage of protected areas Other relevant indicators: Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species
Target 1.2: Areas of particular importance to biodiversity protected Relevant indicators: Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Coverage of protected areas
Goal 2. Promote the conservation of species diversity
Target 2.1: Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups. Most relevant indicator: Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Other relevant indicator: Change in status of threatened species
Target 2.2: Status of threatened species improved. Most relevant indicator: Change in status of threatened species Other relevant indicators: Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Coverage of protected areas
Goal 3. Promote the conservation of genetic diversity
Target 3.1: Genetic diversity of crops, livestock, and of harvested species of trees, fish and wildlife and other valuable species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained. Most relevant indicator: Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants, and fish species of major socio-economic importance Other relevant indicators: Biodiversity used in food and medicine (indicator under development) Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species
Promote sustainable use
Goal 4. Promote sustainable use and consumption.
Target 4.1: Biodiversity-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed, and production areas managed consistent with the conservation of biodiversity. Most relevant indicators: Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management Proportion of products derived from sustainable sources (indicator under development) Other relevant indicators: Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Marine trophic index Nitrogen deposition Water quality in aquatic ecosystems
Target 4.2. Unsustainable consumption, of biological resources, or that impacts upon biodiversity, reduced. Relevant indicator: Ecological footprint and related concepts (indicator under development)
Target 4.3: No species of wild flora or fauna endangered by international trade. Most relevant indicator: Change in status of threatened species
Address threats to biodiversity
Goal 5. Pressures from habitat loss, land use change and degradation, and unsustainable water use, reduced.
Target 5.1: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats decreased. Most relevant indicator: Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats Other relevant indicators: Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Marine trophic index
Goal 6. Control threats from invasive alien species
Target 6.1. Pathways for major potential alien invasive species controlled. Relevant indicator: Trends in invasive alien species
Target 6. 2. Management plans in place for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. Relevant indicator: Trends in invasive alien species
Goal 7. Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change, and pollution
Target 7.1. Maintain and enhance resilience of the components of biodiversity to adapt to climate change. Relevant indicator: Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems
Target 7.2. Reduce pollution and its impacts on biodiversity. Nitrogen deposition Water quality in aquatic ecosystems
Maintain goods and services from biodiversity to support human well-being
Goal 8. Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods
Target 8.1. Capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services maintained. Relevant indicators: Biodiversity used in food and medicine (indicator under development) Water quality in aquatic ecosystems Marine trophic index
Target 8.2. Biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care, especially of poor people maintained. Most relevant indicator: Health and well-being of communities who depend directly on local ecosystem goods and services Other relevant indicator: Biodiversity used in food and medicine
Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices
Goal 9 Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local communities
Target 9.1. Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices. Most relevant indicator: Status and trends of linguistic diversity and numbers of speakers of indigenous languages Other relevant indicator: Additional indicators to be developed
Target 9.2. Protect the rights of indigenous and local communities over their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including their rights to benefit sharing. Indicator to be developed
Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
Goal 10. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
Target 10.1. All transfers of genetic resources are in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and other applicable agreements. Indicator to be developed
Target 10.2. Benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources shared with the countries providing such resources. Indicator to be developed
Ensure provision of adequate resources
Goal 11: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement the Convention
Target 11.1. New and additional financial resources are transferred to developing country Parties, to allow for the effective implementation of their commitments under the Convention, in accordance with Article 20. Most relevant indicator: Official development assistance provided in support of the Convention
Target 11.2. Technology is transferred to developing country Parties, to allow for the effective implementation of their commitments under the Convention, in accordance with its Article 20, paragraph 4. Indicator to be developed

Annex III

DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMMES OF WORK OF THE CONVENTION

A. Process for reviewing and, as necessary, revising the programmes of work

1.Review of the current programme of work

The review of implementation of a programme of work could include:
1.A review of implementation against the elements of the programme of work itself (objectives, activities, etc). The review should ascertain:
(a)Whether, and to what degree, operational objectives and all or selected priority activities of the programme of work at the national, regional and global level were implemented by Parties, and others, and the extent to which this was facilitated by the Convention Secretariat and other partners;
(b)Whether, and to what degree, the programme of work has facilitated the mobilization of the necessary financial resources. This would involve analyzing the trends in funding for the thematic area, as well as actions taken by the financial mechanism and other multilateral and bilateral donors in response to the guidance of the Conference of the Parties regarding the programme of work;
(c)Whether, and to what degree, the implementation of activities has contributed to meeting the goals and objectives of the programme of work;
(d)Whether, and to what degree, the implementation of activities has contributed to meeting the goals and targets of the framework for evaluating implementation of the Convention and progress towards the 2010 target;
2.An assessment of the adequacy of the programme of work to address major challenges. The review should assess the current and future effectiveness of the programme of work in the context of the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The goals, objectives and activities of the programme of work should be assessed against the status and trends in biodiversity, current and projected major threats (including threats primarily associated with other biomes) and other emerging issues, to determine whether these remain adequate for reducing rates of biodiversity loss, promoting sustainable use, and contributing to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

2.Revision and updating of the programme of work

The programme of work should only be revised and updated if the need to do so is identified through the review process outlined in section 1 above. Steps to follow when revising and updating the programme of work are:
1.Define goals and objectives according to needs, in light of status and trends in biodiversity, and against current and projected major threats, and other emerging issues, in order to contribute to the achievement of the three objectives of the Convention;
2.Integrate the vision, mission and provisional framework of goals and targets as outlined in annex III to decision VII/30 into the programme of work and, where applicable, the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan;
3.Assess activities:
(a)Remove activities of earlier programmes of work that have been completed, are obsolete, or have shown to be ineffective;
(b)Include activities required to address needs, in light of: (i) status and trends in biodiversity, current and projected major threats to biodiversity, obstacles to sustainable use and to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources, and the experience of the previous version of the programme of work; and (ii) results of a gap analysis taking into account all relevant activities including those being undertaken within the framework of other conventions, and by organizations and initiatives that contribute to the objectives of the programme of work. (The gap analysis would also help to identify opportunities for collaboration, as well as areas where additional activities would add the most value);
(c)Acknowledge activities being undertaken by other conventions, organizations and initiatives to meet the objectives of the programme of work and focus on activities in the programme of work under the Convention on Biological Diversity that fill gaps and provide added-value;
(d)Consider the financial implications of activities according to their likely effectiveness and impacts, and the capacity of Parties and partners to implement them,
4.Consider measures to provide practical support, including financial and technical support, for national and regional implementation.

B.Information, tools and mechanisms to support the review and revision of the programmes of work

1.Types and sources of information

1.Degree of implementation of the programme of work:
(a)Information from Parties (including national reports and thematic reports);
(b)Information from the 2010 monitoring exercise (indicators);
(c)Additional information from relevant United Nations agencies, conventions, international and regional organizations, indigenous and local communities, and other partners.
2.Status and trends in biodiversity, and threats to biodiversity and obstacles to sustainable use and to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources:
(a)Information from the 2010 monitoring exercise (indicators);
(b)Information from Parties (including national reports and the voluntary thematic reports);
(c)Additional information from relevant United Nations agencies, conventions, international and regional organizations and processes, and other partners, including in particular the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and other assessments.
3.Financial resources for implementation:
(a)Information from Parties and other Governments on financial resources and the financial mechanism with respect to programmes of work (including national reports and thematic reports);
(b)Reports of, and information from, the Global Environment Facility and other multilateral and bilateral donor agencies on thematic areas and cross-cutting issues;
(c)Additional information from relevant United Nations agencies, conventions, international and regional organizations, and other partners and stakeholders.

2.Supporting tools and mechanisms

1.Use of expert groups, regional workshops and consultations.
2.Development of a framework for the coordinated use of available assessment data from disparate sources.
3.Use of a rational timeline for review of implementation - one that takes into account when national reports and other information will be available.
4.Share experiences and approaches through the clearing-house mechanism and other mechanisms.
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