|
|
10th
Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity
7-11 February
2005, Bangkok, Thailand
|
|
|
|
Earth
Negotiations Bulletin
- ENB |
|
Click
on the above days to view previous ENB Web coverage. |
|
|
Highlights
for Monday,
7 February 2005
Delegates
to the tenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific,
Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-10) of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened in
Plenary throughout the day. In the morning, a brief
opening ceremony was held and one minute of silence
observed in memory of the victims of the December 2004
tsunami. Plenary then heard opening statements, addressed
organizational matters, and considered progress reports on
the implementation of programmes of work. In
the afternoon, delegates reviewed the SBSTTA’s
Operational Plan and a synthesis report on the draft
reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Randy
Thalman, University of the South Pacific, delivered a
keynote presentation on island biodiversity, SBSTTA-10’s
main topic for discussion.
Above photo: Delegates started the meeting with a moment
of silence in memory of the victims of the recent tsunami
in the Indian Ocean.
|
OPENING
Ceremony:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Above photos: Petipong Pungbun Na
Ayudhya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand,
officially opened SBSTTA-10 by sounding a Thai traditional drum. In
his opening statement, he stressed the need to improve public understanding of biodiversity conservation.
|
|
|
|
|
Above photo L-R: The panel
during the opening plenary with Nehemiah
Rotich, on behalf of UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer,
Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary, Jo
Mulongoy, CBD, and Marjo Vierros, CBD.
|
Statements: |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Above photo L-R: CBD Executive Secretary Zedan
congratulated Thailand on its efforts for biodiversity
conservation and sustainable use. He also noted that the
December 2004 tsunami reminded of the vulnerability of humans
to natural forces; SBSTTA-10 Chair Oteng-Yeboah
declared the meeting open, and reviewed SBSTTA-10’s agenda
and intersessional activities; Rotich, stressed
UNEP’s support to an integrated framework on biosafety.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION highlighted linkages
between biodiversity conservation and food security.
Above photo: Linda Collette (FAO)
|
FRANCE reported on the outcomes of the Paris
Conference on Biodiversity,
and emphasized the need to mobilize and better communicate
scientific information to decision makers and the
public.
Above photo: Thomas Jeanneret (France)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Lucia, on behalf of
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, expressed hope that
constructive discussions would help achieving the meeting’s
objectives. Above photo: Brian James (Saint Lucia)
|
Algeria, on behalf of
AFRICA, noted the importance of discussions on agricultural
biodiversity, the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) and genetic
use restriction technologies. Above photo: Boumediene
Mahi (Algeria)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ukraine, on behalf of CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, commended
progress in implementing the CBD. Above photo: Yaroslav
Movchan (Ukraine)
|
Iran, on behalf of ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, emphasized the need
for appropriate funding mechanisms to implement the work
programme on island biodiversity, and said strong actions are
needed regarding climate change and biodiversity. Above
photo: Mostafa Panahi (Iran)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mexico said the outcomes of SBSTTA must be clear, precise and limited to scientific advice in order to support decision making by the Conference of the Parties.
Above photo: Hesiquio Benitez-Diaz (Mexico)
|
Norway asked to consider all credible sources of scientific information, such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, in order to reinforce SBSTTA’s scientific role.
Above photo: Tone Solhaug (Norway)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHINA supported involving
the scientific community.
Above photo: Cheng Weixue (China)
|
THAILAND called for timely notification mechanisms and financial resources to ensure contributions by
national focal points.
Above photo: Chaweewan Hutacharern (Thailand)
|
|
|
|
Keynote presentations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Above photos: Randolph Thalman,
University of the South Pacific, gave a keynote presentation on island
biodiversity. He highlighted islands' unique ecosystems and
vulnerabilities.
|
|
|
|
|
Reception
hosted by the Government of Thailand:
|
|
|
|
Above photos L-R: H.E. Suwit
Khunkitti, Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
welcomed delegates to SBSTTA-10; Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive
Secretary thanked Minister Khunkitti and the government of Thailand
for the beautiful reception
|
|
|
This
service was prepared in cooperation with the CBD Secretariat
|
