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Ninth Meeting of the Conference  of the Parties  19-30 May 2008| Bonn, Germany Highlights for Monday, 19 May 2008 The ninth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 9) opened on Monday, 19 May 2008, in Bonn, Germany. A morning plenary heard opening remarks and addressed organizational issues. In the afternoon, Working Group I considered the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, island biodiversity and the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). Working Group II addressed progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan and towards the 2010 target and relevant Millennium Development Goals, and scientific and technical cooperation and the clearing-house mechanism (CHM).  Above photo: Delegates listened the COP 9 theme song “I’m a part of it” during the opening plenary of COP 9.

OPENING PLENARY: Amb. Raymundo Santos Rocha Magno (Brazil), passed on the presidency of the COP to Germany and underscored the need to achieve a balance among the three objectives of the CBD. Following his election by acclamation, COP 9 President Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Environment Minister, called for a clear mandate for concluding negotiations on the international regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), and for improved financing for global biodiversity conservation, including linking climate protection instruments and nature conservation. Drawing attention to the State’s species, Eckhard Uhlenberg, Minister for the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, presented the State’s activities on biodiversity conservation. Mayor of Bonn Bärbel Dieckmann outlined the city’s initiatives focusing on biodiversity, and efforts to join forces with other administrations. KIDS FOR EARTH – GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL highlighted Amazon rainforest destruction and the need to stop illegal logging and global deforestation, and stressed that biofuel plantations are replacing forests and areas used for food production. Above photo L-R: Veronica Rameck (Kids for Earth - Brazil), Paul Lüdemann and COP 9 President Gabriel. Representatives of the International Youth Conference “Biodiversity on the Edge” (13-19 May 2008, Bonn) demanded: the integration of sustainable development education into school curricula; a protocol on protected areas; no patents on living organisms; prohibition of genetically modified organisms; full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities; and measurable targets for biodiversity protection. Above photos: Kids from various schools in Bonn perform during the opening plenary of COP 9. In a video message, Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, noted that existing international environmental governance arrangements have not been effective in addressing the biodiversity crisis. He called on delegates to give new direction and priorities to the Convention, exploring connections to related issues such as climate change and food security. Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, noted the urgency of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dramatic species loss. CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf drew attention to the plight of sharks and the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. He underscored the essential role of pollinators, highlighting their decline and its potential devastating impacts on mankind, noting the current food crisis should be a wake up call to maintain diversity. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, asked parties to support the implementation of joint action under the Rio Conventions, underscoring links between drought, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Mary Fosi Mbantenkhu (Cameroon) was elected as Rapporteur for the meeting. ABS Working Group Co-Chairs Timothy Hodges (Canada) (left) and Fernando Casas (Colombia) (right) highlighted that the sixth meeting of the Working Group established a firm and sound basis for further negotiations on an international ABS regime and, calling for sufficient resources, political support and agreement on a roadmap, said a meaningful agreement can be reached by 2010. STATEMENTS: The CBD ALLIANCE asked for COP 9 to avoid promoting “false solutions”: agrofuels, genetically engineered trees, and climate technology "fixes," such as ocean fertilization; and expanded on “genuine solutions” for the likes of agriculture, ABS, PAs and marine biodiversity. Above photo: Camila Moreno (CBD Alliance) The INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY (IIFB) affirmed that decisions and implementation of the Convention must be in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Above photo: Gina Malia Sui Lin Nobrega (IIFB) LA VIA CAMPESINA drew attention to the causes underpinning the current food crisis. Above photo: José Maria Oviedo Chaves (La Via Campesina) The INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ICC) noted that restricting access to genetic  resources may curtail the flow of benefits to be shared. Above photo: Annik Dollacker (ICC)   WORKING GROUP I Above photo L-R: Sarat Babu Gidda (CBD), Jo Mulongoy (CBD), WG I Chair Maria Mbengashe (South Africa) and Stella Simiyu (CBD) ISLAND BIODIVERSITY: Vanuatu, on behalf of the PACIFIC ISLANDS,  said that access to funding was a major hurdle to conservation efforts. Above photo: Touasi Tiwok (Vanuatu) NEW ZEALAND announced a technical workshop on the control of invasive alien species in Pacific islands.  Above photo: Andrew Bignell (New Zealand) WORKING GROUP II Above photo L-R: Olivier Demunck (CBD), Ravi Sharma (CBD), WG II Chair Chaweewan Hutacharern (Thailand) and David Cooper (CBD) SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND THE CHM: MOROCCO called for bolstering North-South and South-South scientific cooperation. Above photo: Hassan Falaki (Morocco) CANADA suggested considering the results of the CHM in analyses prepared for the revision of the CBD Strategic Plan.  Above photo: Krista Blackborow (Canada)

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Related Links CBD Secretariat CBD COP 9 official website Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Web page COP 9 Meeting Documents Summary of major issues at COP 9 International Day for Biological Diversity Global Biodiversity Outlook Millennium Ecosystem Assessment  Countdown 2010 initiative  Links to IISD RS Resources IISD RS coverage of the CBD COP-9, 19-30 May 2008, Bonn, Germany IISD RS coverage of the CBD COP-8, 20-31 March 2006, Curitiba, Brazil IISD RS coverage of the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP 4), 12-16 May 2008, Bonn, Germany IISD RS coverage of the Thirteenth meeting of the SBSTTA (SBSTTA 13), 18-22 February 2008, Rome, Italy IISD RS coverage of the Twelfth meeting of the SBSTTA (SBSTTA 12), 2-6 July 2008, Paris, France IISD RS coverage of the Second meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Working Group on the Review and Implementation of the Convention (WGRI 2), 9-13 July 2008, Paris, France IISD RS coverage of the Second meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (WGPA 2),  11-15 February 2008, Rome, Italy IISD RS coverage of the Sixth meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing (WGABS 6),  21-25 January 2008, Geneva, Switzerland IISD RS coverage of the Fifth meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing (WGABS 5),  8-12 October 2007, Montreal, Canada IISD RS coverage of the Fifth meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article (8j) and Related Provisions of the Convention (WG8j 5), 15-19 October 2007, Montreal, Canada IISD RS coverage of the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP-3), 13-17 March 2006, Curitiba, Brazil IISD RS coverage of the COP/MOP-2, 30 May - 3 June 2005, Montréal, Canada IISD RS coverage of the COP/MOP-1, 23-27 February 2004, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia IISD RS coverage of the Fifth meeting of the AHOE-WG of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 12-19 March 2008, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia IISD RS coverage of the Fourth meeting of the AHOE-WG of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 22-26 October 2007, Montréal, Canada IISD RS summary report of the Third meeting of the AHOE-WG of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 19-23 February 2007, Montr�al, Canada (HTML - PDF) IISD RS biodiversity and wildlife page Biodiv-l - A mailing list for news on biodiversity and wildlife policy Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news MEA Bulletin - Newsletter on key MEAs and their secretariats African Regional Coverage Linkages Africa - Fortnightly newsletter reporting on sustainable development events in Africa

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