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Version
française: BNT
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Ahmed Cissoko
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Thursday,
4 October 2001
The Committee on Science and Technology met in morning and
afternoon sessions and considered benchmarks and indicators, future work programme of the CST, and adopted
draft decisions relating to most agenda items considered
during its session that will be transmitted to the COP. The
Committee of the Whole met in the afternoon and considered the
review of available information regarding CCD financing and
progress made by affected countries in CCD implementation, and
adjourned early to pave way for contact group meetings on
legal matters and the committee on the review of
implementation. The contact group on programme and budget met
in an evening session
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Willem van Cotthem, Belgium, Beau McClure, USA
and Helmut Wöhl, Principal Technical Advisor for Rural
Development, GTZ, Germany
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Delegates in discussion before the CST
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Willem van Cotthem, Belgium, Beau McClure, USA
and Helmut Wöhl, GTZ
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Benchmarks and Indicators: Discussion of this issue commenced with statements by delegates. Parties commended CILSS and OSS on their work, and ETHIOPIA, CHILE and ZAMBIA expressed interest in promoting similar initiatives in their own regions
Delegates noted
the need for national capacity building, financial support, attention from
decision makers, harmonization between actors, coordination and
decentralization of data, strengthened regional cooperation, civil society
indicators and involvement, and information-sharing mechanisms
Future
work programme of the CST:
The Secretariat recalled a COP decision stating that each CST session
consider a priority item and delegates discussed possible topics for the
next CST session. NAMIBIA highlighted proposals on, inter
alia, new and renewable energy and promotion of alternative
livelihoods. The EU, with wide support from other participants, suggested
the topic of land degradation, which triggered discussion of the
concept’s definition and relation to desertification. ISRAEL noted links
between land degradation and unsustainable pastoralist and agricultural
practices and supported focusing on alternative livelihoods
Delegates
turned to the work programme for a smaller group of experts, to be
established under the CST. Delegates noted the subject must emanate from
national reports, but felt precise a definition for the work was
premature. MOZAMBIQUE questioned whether the Group of Experts should focus
on the same topic as had been defined for the CST for the next year, but
the Secretariat noted their different mandates and time spans
Drafting
of the Report
to
the Conference of the Parties:
The CST considered and adopted draft decisions to be transmitted to the
COP relating to most agenda items the CST had considered during its
session (ICCD/COP(5)/L. 1-7). The decisions cover: 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; the Dryland Degradation Assessment and the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of
the CST
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Ndegwa Ndiang'ui
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Mohammed
Reza Jabbari
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Ngo exhibit
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Delegates
confer during a break in the CST
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In
the morning regional groups met to consult on issues under
consideration by the COW contact groups
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The
Africa Group
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Interparliamentary
Round Table
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The
two-day interparliamentary Round Table got off to a good start.
Attended by over 30 parliamentarians from around the world. Within
the overall COP-5 theme of poverty, sustainable development and
desertification, the Round Table’s discussion focused on synergies
between the CCD and other Conventions, and on Friday will discuss
GEF as the CCD financing mechanism. The Round Table is expected to
prepare and present its draft declaration to the COP on Friday
Interparliamentary
Round Table
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Listen to the RealAudio - Kyrgyzstan
Listen to the RealAudio - Venezuela
Listen to the RealAudio - Senegal
Listen to the RealAudio - Cape Verde
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Delegates in the Interparliamentary
Round Table
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Langes
Sitaubi, Malawi
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Review
of available information regarding
CCD financing:
CCD Executive Secretary Diallo introduced the report. He
highlighted follow-up decisions taken at the November 2000 GEF
Council and CCD COP-4, and reported on the follow-up action to the
May 2001 GEF Council decisions, which agreed that designating land
degradation as a focal area should be pursued as a means for
enhancing GEF support for CCD implementation. He also requested the
preparation of a detailed note elaborating the modalities for
designating land degradation as a GEF focal area for consideration
at the GEF Council’s December 2001 meeting and October 2002
Assembly
The
G-77/CHINA, along with GRULAC, MAURITANIA, CUBA, ST. VINCENT AND THE
GRENADINES, HONDURAS, MALAWI, LIBYA, COSTA RICA, MALI, THE BAHAMAS,
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, MEXICO, URUGUAY, and others, stressed the
need to designate the GEF as the main CCD financial mechanism for
implementation. NEPAL, ZIMBABWE, MOROCCO and others expressed hope
that future GEF funding would be instrumental in implementing NAPs.
ARGENTINA, TUNISIA, and others said GEF funding should be on the
same footing as other environmental conventions, such as Climate
Change and Biodiversity
Listen to the RealAudio - Benin
Listen to the RealAudio - Malawi
Listen to the RealAudio - Zimbabwe
Progress
made by affected country parties in CCD implementation:
The Secretariat presented its report, containing a non-exhaustive
account of its support upon request from country parties, to
national, subregional and regional processes including, initiating
partnership agreements, assisting selected subregional initiatives
that enhance transboundary cooperation and the convening of a
consultative process to conclude partnership agreements. He drew
attention to the complementary information report. MOROCCO
and TUNISIA suggested updating the report to cover all activities
before the COP
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Franklin
Moore,
Chair of the contact group on CRIC
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The
contact group on the CRIC met briefly and agreed that regional
groups should submit their views in writing to enable the
preparation of a draft document that would serve as a basis for
discussion on Friday. The draft document is expected to contain an
introduction and the regional positions. The three broad preferences
on the CRIC are: as with other conventions, a fully-fledged
intersessional body to review implementation and address all aspects
of the process; a body that is limited both in its scope of review
and time, and possibly a reformed CST to carry out this review
function; and an intersessional body whose permanence or ad hoc
nature is still undetermined
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Delegates
congregating outside the CST meeting hall at the end of the days
session
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