Working Group I (WG-I) considered the draft work programme on island biodiversity. Delegates established a contact group, which met in the evening to discuss targets and timeframes for the work programme. 

WG-I also considered agricultural biodiversity, including options for a cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition, further development of the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity, and the report of the AHTEG on GURTs. 

Above photos L-R: Angel Bañares (Spain) reported on the outcomes of the AHTEG on Island Biodiversity; WG-I Chair Mundita Lim (The Philippines) (far right); Paola Deda, CBD

Thailand called for an assessment of the environmental impact of the recent tsunami, and proposed targets on recovery after natural disasters.  

Above photo: Praulai Nootmorn (Thailand)

Grenada referred to the lasting impacts of hurricanes. 

Above photo: Spencer Thomas (Grenada)

The Philippines said impacts of trade liberalization on biodiversity, food and health should be better researched. 

Above photo: Arnold Hernandez (The Philippines)

Austria expressed concerns regarding the impacts of GURTs on the  environment and food security.  

Above photo: Gabrile Obermayr (Austria)

Canada recommended strict risk assessments, on a case-by-case basis, regarding GURTs. 

Above photo: Robert McLean (Canada)

FRance suggested studying the potential impacts of GURTs on indigenous and local communities and small holder farmers.

Above photo: Gilles Kleitz (France)

Above photos L-R: Hope Shand (ETC Group), Gilbert Manlapig (CBDC-BUCAP) and Michael Leader (CropLife International)

The ETC Group called on SBSTTA to make specific recommendations to COP-8 to protect the livelihoods and food security of local and indigenous peoples;
The Community Biodiversity Development and Conservation Programme called for recognizing farmers' rights to seeds and for a ban on GURTs; CropLife International noted innovative technologies, including gene switching.  

Working Group II (WG-II) continued commenting on the draft reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), considered the further development of goals and sub-targets to facilitate coherence among the work programmes, and addressed indicators for assessing progress towards the 2010 target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss.

Above photo: WG-II Chair Christian Prip (Denmark), assisted by Marjo Vierros, CBD

Spyros Kouvelis (above), Mediterranean Wetland Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, presented Ramsar’s activities regarding the development of indicators to assess the implementation of Ramsar, and noted their suitability in the CBD context. 

Clive Wilkinson (above), Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, gave a presentation on coral reef ecosystems, highlighting the status of major coral reef areas. He recommended, inter alia, a holistic management of coastal zones.

Germany requested a strategy to include the proposed outcome-oriented targets in the CBD work programmes on marine and coastal biodiversity and on inland water ecosystems.

Above photo: Axel Benemann (Germany)

Tanzania expressed concerns regarding the use of numbers and cost of alien invasions as indicators of the effectiveness of the management of alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species.

Above photo: Rawson Piniel Yonazi (Tanzania)

SWEDEN proposed strengthening the reference to limitations, uncertainties and methodological difficulties encountered when monitoring progress towards the 2010 target. 

Above photo: Per Wrammer (Sweden)

Brazil suggested using the ecological footprint as an indicator of unsustainable consumption of biological resources.

Above photo L-R: Hadil Fontes Da Rocha Vianna and Braulio Ferreira de Souza Diaz (Brazil)

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE suggested adding indicator categories regarding the type of species and the ecosystems invaded.

Above photo: Stas Burgiel (Defenders of Wildlife)

GREENPEACE proposed references to high seas beyond national jurisdiction and to deep sea bottom trawling.

Above photo: Thilo Maack (Greenpeace)

Above photos L-R: Horst Korn (center) (Germany) chaired the contact group on island biodiversity. A view of the contact group session on island biodiversity.