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Version
française: BNT
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Wedensday,
3 October 2001
The Committee of the Whole (COW) met in a morning session to
consider the review of implementation of the Convention. In
the afternoon two open-ended contact groups of the COW met to
consider legal matters and the review of CCD implementation,
while the contact group on programme and budget met in an
evening session. The Committee on Science and Technology (CST)
met in morning and afternoon sessions to consider benchmarks
and indicators, traditional knowledge, proposals on how to
revise the national reports’ help guide, strategies for
communication of information, early warning systems and the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
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Mohammed Reza Jabbari (right) with Grégoire de Kalbermatten
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Participants
in the COW
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Sushma
Choudhary, India,
stressed following a thematic approach, with RCUs as a focal
point for implementation. Recalling his experience as an AHWG
Co-Chair, ARGENTINA stressed the need for instruments and
tools that guarantee successful implementation of the CCD, and
supported a CRIC
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to the RealAudio
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Sushma Choudhary
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Askarn Omar, Morocco
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Anatoly Ovchinnikov, Uzbekistan
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Octavio
Perez Pardo, Argentina, noted the importance of broad
participation among Parties and progress made, particularly in
addressing the fight against poverty within the context of
desertification. BENIN proposed translating the report’s
recommendations and conclusions into COP decisions
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to the Real Audio
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Left
to right: Jan Sheltinga, Ahmed Cissoko, Philbert Brown, Ndegwa
Ndiang'ui
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Traditional
Knowledge CST Chair Philbert Brown, Jamaica, introduced the
Italian proposal for the realization of a pilot project of a network
of institutions, bodies and experts on Traditional Knowledge. ITALY
highlighted the proposal, which focuses on the Mediterranean region
and builds on ad hoc panel
work. It includes cognitive and operational components and involves, inter
alia, developing: structures to increasing information on
Traditional Knowledge and its application; country inventories and mechanisms;
indicators on use and loss of Traditional Knowledge; practical ways of
drawing on and legally protecting Traditional Knowledge; a pilot
network and an interactive, internet-based data bank. The two-year,
US$ 1 million project includes symposia and workshops, training
courses and video conferencing to enhance dialogue.
Many
delegates highlighted Traditional Knowledge in
their countries and initiatives for its gathering, and stressed their
interest in being associated with the proposed project. Participants
stressed merging Traditional Knowledge with contemporary knowledge and
techniques. CANADA stressed inclusion of holders of oral knowledge.
GERMANY and IRAN proposed links to existing initiatives
Review
of National Reports Help Guide: The
Secretariat presented its proposed revisions to the guide, consisting
of new remarks, questions and evaluation parameters. Delegates
differed in opinion regarding the desired specificity of the
guidelines
Early
Warning Systems: The
Secretariat outlined the history, mandate and key concerns relating to
Early Warning Systems (EWSs) and Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi (Japan), chair
of the ad hoc panel to examine EWS, presented the findings of the
panel at its meeting in June 2001 in Yamanashi, Japan
Strategies
for the Communication of Information and Its Use to Generate Best
Practices for Combating Desertification:
The Secretariat presented
the two �different but complementary� submissions on this topic by
Canada and the OSS. Remarks by the OSS drew attention to weaknesses in
the mechanisms of communication, including the format of information
and lack of infrastructure in developing countries
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Participants
in the CST
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The EARS display
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A display by the GEF and other NGOs
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Brahimi Youssef, OSS
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Patrick Szell (right) with a member of the Secretariat
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The
COW met at 10:00 am and again at 3:00 pm in Conference Room XVIII to
consider inter alia, information regarding the financing of
CCD implementation by multilateral agencies and institutions, review
progress made and results obtained by affected country Parties in
CCD implementation, and consider the Global Mechanism�s report on
constraints faced by affected country Parties in the implementation
of action programmes
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Franklin Moore, Chair of the contact group on CRIC
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Participants in the CRIC Contact Group
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The
Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment presentation
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Dryland
Degradation Assessment and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: The
Secretariat introduced the document on the Land Degradation
Assessment in Drylands (LADA) and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(MA) initiatives.
Anna
Tengberg (UNEP) presented on the status of the LADA � which aims
to provide basic standardized information and methodological tools
for land degradation assessment at different geographic scales,
including assessment of hotspots and bright spots at the national
level � noting it is now in its second planning phase and has
entered the GEF pipeline. In response to questions from the floor,
she said methodologies are still being developed, and a consultative
approach will be taken
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