ENB @ 9th CBD SBSTTA, 10-14 November 2003, Montreal, Canada

Working Group I: Sustainable use

Herbert HT Prins (the Netherlands), outlined the process and outcomes of the Fourth Open-ended Workshop on the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity, held in Addis Ababa in May 2003

Steve Gibson (the UK), suggested adopting the recommendations on developing practical principles and operational guidance for sustainable use without amendment.

Nicola Beynon (Australia), stressed the need to opt for resource uses that maximize benefits and minimize impacts on biodiversity.

Shekhar Kumar Niraj (India), on behalf of the ASIA PACIFIC REGION, stressed the importance of promoting the long-term interests and empowerment of indigenous peoples.

Caroll Muffett, Defenders of Wildlife, asked to make it clear throughout the documents on sustainable use that perverse incentives undermine the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Above photo: Delegates eager to get hold of new CRP documents

Ecosystem Approach:

Jan Plesnik (Czech Republic), presented the report of the Expert Meeting on the Ecosystem Approach.

Gill Shepherd, IUCN, proposed ways to operationalize and implement principles on the ecosystem approach.

Ahmad Rizal Khalit (Malaysia) emphasized the need for additional efforts in implementing the ecosystem approach.

Above photo: Members of the German delegation to SBSTTA-9

Invasive alien species:

Australia reiterated their opposition to COP Decision VI/23 on Alien species.

Kristina Ryan (New Zealand), stressed that the Guiding Principles on Alien species had not been adopted.

ARGENTINA identified several technical insufficiencies of the Executive Summary and Suggested Recommendations on invasive alien species.

Stas Burgiel, Defenders of Wildlife, called for further liaison with the World Health Organization.

Working Group II: Out-come oriented targets

John Herity (Canada), expressed concern over the achievability of the timelines for the implementation of targets.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility, stressed GBIF’s commitment to contribute to the CBD’s work on targets and assessment.

Marisa Aramaki (Japan), noted that the PoW was complementary with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International, outlined BGCI’s partnerships with local and national initiatives.

BRAZIL proposed to make reference to Decision 6/9 as regards outcome-oriented targets.

Nick Davidson, (the RAMSAR CONVENTION) stressed harmonization of indicators to ensure synergies with the CBD.

Mundita Lim (the Philippines), said achieving the targets proposed for marine and coastal biodiversity will require financial support and alternative livelihoods for communities that depend onmarine resources.

Above photo L-R: CBD Secretariat staff Tatiana Zavarzina, Veronique Allain and Jo Mulongoy

Links

ENB Summary of CBD SBSTTA-8 (HTML, PDF, TEXT).
ENB archives of CBD meetings.
CBD web site.
SD summary and coverage of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress.
SD summary of the Norway/UN Conference on Technology Transfer and Capacity Building.