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Version
française: BNT
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Friday,
5 October 2001
Plenary met in the morning for the NGO dialogue and in the
afternoon to adopt the report of the Ad Hoc Group of
Experts on legal matters, to hear the CST report and the COW
progress report, and to conclude NGO accreditation. The CST
met in the morning to adopt the outstanding decisions, and
concluded its work. The COW met in the afternoon and began
consideration of the review of the Global Mechanism (GM) in
CCD implementation. The contact group on legal matters
concluded its work, while that on programme and budget resumed
its work in an evening session. The contact group on the
committee for the review of implementation failed to meet due
to delays in the submission of written proposals by regional
groups and, with that on programme and budget will continue
work over the weekend
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Hama Arba Diallo
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Welcoming delegates, COP-5 President Basset noted the importance of dialogue between NGOs and government delegates. Executive Secretary Diallo said the CCD Secretariat valued the opportunity of having such an interface in moving the desertification process forward
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Deiter
Imhof
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Deiter
Imhof, Swissaid, highlighted the links between monoculture and
desertification, noted the negative effect of capitalistic
production on the environment and biodiversity in developing
countries and noted the inadequate consideration of land
ownership and management anti-desertification efforts and the
need for agricultural reform
Listen to the RealAudio
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Emmanuel
Seck,
ENDA TM, emphasized: the NGOs role in NAP development; NGOs potential
awareness efforts on the CCD towards the WSSD; the need for synergy
between the different environmental conventions; and the need to
include women in the decision-making process
Listen to the RealAudio
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Emmanuel
Seck
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Christian
Comeliau, IUED, elaborated the world system conceptual framework
within which the CCD and sustainable developed are implemented. He
elaborating its character, consequences and highlighted policy
implications, and called for an evaluation of how the market
incorporates basic needs, and for a re-emphasis of social needs
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Christian
Comeliau
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Rasmus Rasmusson, the representative for Sweden
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SWEDEN
emphasized that land tenure and women’s empowerment are important
for CCD implementation
Listen to the RealAudio
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Yves Corriveau
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Presenting on synergy among the Conventions, Venkatt Ramnaya (YFA) and
Yves Corriveau (SCS)
stressed the need for synergy at international, regional and local
levels, demonstrated what has already been achieved by local
organizations in attaining a holistic approach and concluded: NGO
involvement in current and future CCD work on synergy among the
conventions; that the CCD should address concerns arising from other
non-Rio multilateral processes such as WTO; and the development of
indicators and benchmarks to monitor CSO involvement in the NAPs
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Ruth
Mubiru, UWTPM, elaborated on the gender, poverty and desertification
nexus within the African context raised a number of questions, inter
alia, whether men and women engage in activities that result in
desertification equally. The strategies she proposed for
anti-desertification include education, sensitization and public
awareness, capacity building, granting women access to land and
education to the girl child
Listen to the RealAudio
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Ruth
Mubiru
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Maryam
Niamir-Fuller,
UNDP - GEF,
underlined the role of the GEF as the single most important provider
of support for global environmental concerns, but highlighted
constraints in implementing enabling activities, including, inter
alia: lack of adequate capacity at country-level; unrealistic
timetables for project implementation; and lack of participation
mechanisms
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Maryam
Niamir-Fuller
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Rogatien
Biao,
Benin, stressed the NGOs and civil society roles in CCD
implementation. He proposed the creation of North-South NGO
partnerships and NGO-governments partnership in preparing for the WSSD,
and called on NGOs to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight
the links between poverty, environmental disaster and globalization
Listen to the RealAudio
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Pictures
from the Africa Group Meeting
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Maged Nafe Mossen, Egypt
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Drafting
of the report to the
Conference of the Parties:
The CST met in the morning to conclude adoption of draft decisions
for the COP. Discussion addressed the programme of work of the CST,
the programme of work for the group of experts, and benchmarks and
indicators
On
the programme of work of the CST, the EU proposed language to
clarify the content of Parties’ submissions on best practices, and
language to limit the number of intersessional CST Bureau meetings
for planning and organizational purposes. CANADA proposed the
invitation of reports on innovative research.
On
the programme of work for the group of experts, delegates debated
the role of regional groups in forwarding Parties’ recommendations
for consideration by the CST Bureau. SENEGAL proposed that regional
or subregional groups synthesize Parties’ recommendations for
submission to the Secretariat. The US, supported by SWITZERLAND and
CANADA, proposed that parties submit directly to the Secretariat to
accelerate the process and obtain the broadest possible range of
proposals. Incorporating concerns of ERITREA that certain parties
would benefit from regional group support, and those of BELGIUM
anticipating difficulties in reaching agreement on synthesis within
a region, it was decided to adopt a proposal by MOROCCO, with minor
changes, so that submissions be solicited from both country parties
and relevant organizations
AD
HOC Group
of Experts on legal matters (AHGE):
Noting the approach and Patrick Szell (UK), Chair of the contact
group that considered this issue, presented its draft decision on
the resolution of the questions of implementation and on arbitration
and conciliation procedures, which was adopted ad referendum
Report
of the COW: COW
Chair Mohammed Jebbari (Iran) reported on the progress of the COW,
noting that five meetings had been held to discuss review of
implementation. On the Programme and Budget contact group
established under the COW, he said no significant progress had been
made and that the group will meet again to clarify outstanding
issues. On the progress of the review of implementation contact
group, CRIC Chair Franklin Moore (US), noted that delegate’s views
were being compiled into a bracketed/alternative text, with the hope
of moving forward with negotiations. Two additional CRIC meetings
are scheduled for the weekend
Report
on
the Global Mechanism: GM
Managing Director Per Rydén
stressed that the GM needs more financial and human resources to
fulfill its growing tasks, which includes: collecting and
disseminating information; promoting actions leading to cooperation
and coordination; and mobilizing and channeling financial resources.
He added that the GM is working to create opportunities with the
donor Parties, governments and other partnerships. Welcoming calls
for land degradation to become a GEF focal area, he said the GM
would assist countries in accessing funds for GEF projects. He also
suggested conducting an independent external review of the GM’s
operational strategy and work for the COP-6 GM review
Report
of the CST:
Chair Brown said the CST elected its bureau and established a
contact group to consider the Annex on the synthesis of the report
on ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the CST aimed at
assisting CST decision-making, and another on the CST�s future
work. The draft decisions the CST adopted for transmission to the
COP are: survey and evaluation of existing networks, institutions,
agencies and bodies; roster of independent experts; review and
implementation of scientific and technological aspects of national
reports; traditional knowledge; early warning systems; dryland
degradation assessment (LADA) and the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment; improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the CST;
future programme of work of the CST; programme of work for the group
of experts; and benchmarks and indicators
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Lynette Poulton, US Mission, Geneva
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The US,
noted with regret shared by SWITZERLAND and others that the CST
body would be unable to fully debate this matter, proposed
empowering the CST Bureau to independently develop a programme of
work on a one-time basis. Noting historical precedents, the US
further proposed, with the support of NORWAY and FRANCE, that the
group of experts operate without terms of reference for the time
being
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Drafting
of the Report to the Conference of the Parties:
The CST met in the morning to conclude adoption of draft decisions
for the COP. Discussion addressed the programme of work of the CST,
the programme of work for the group of experts, and benchmarks and
indicators
On
the programme of work of the CST, the EU proposed language to
clarify the content of Parties� submissions on best practices, and
language to limit the number of intersessional CST Bureau meetings
for planning and organizational purposes. CANADA proposed the
invitation of reports on innovative research
On
the programme of work for the group of experts, delegates debated
the role of regional groups in forwarding Parties� recommendations
for consideration by the CST Bureau. SENEGAL proposed that regional
or subregional groups synthesize Parties� recommendations for
submission to the Secretariat. The US, supported by SWITZERLAND and
CANADA, proposed that parties submit directly to the Secretariat to
accelerate the process and obtain the broadest possible range of
proposals
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Olatunji
Folorunso, Nigeria
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Ali
Umran Komuscu (left) with Hasan Ozer, Turkish Delegation
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El Hadji Sene
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El
Hadji Sene, FAO,
reinforced its close links with the CCD to combat desertification,
food insecurity and poverty. He noted FAO�s cooperation with the
GM in launching NAPs, and its continued support for synergies with
other Conventions, including Biodiversity and Climate Change
Listen
to the RealAudio
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Per Ryd�n, the Global Mechanism's Managing Director
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GM
Managing Director Per Ryd�n
stressed that the GM needs more financial and human resources to
fulfill its growing tasks, which includes: collecting and
disseminating information; promoting actions leading to cooperation
and coordination; and mobilizing and channeling financial resources
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