Information

Multi-year programme of work of the Conference of the Parties up to 2010

The Conference of the Parties

1. Decides that when undertaking in-depth reviews of the existing thematic areas and cross-cutting issues, items identified as priorities by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, should be considered in relation to the existing programmes of work*; including the use, as appropriate, of relevant indicators at the national, regional and global level;

2.  Also decides that the Conference of the Parties identifies, for each upcoming meeting, appropriate ways to address, including within the Ministerial Segment, issues of overarching importance, particularly the relevant socio-economic issues identified by the World Summit on Sustainable Development;

3. Further decides that, at each of its meetings until 2010, the Conference of the Parties, possibly including its Ministerial Segment, should assess, as an explicit agenda item, the state of progress, including obstacles, in achieving the goals of the Strategic Plan and progress towards the achievement of the Convention's 2010 target and relevant Millennium Development Goals and that, when considering progress in achievement, it shall also review the effectiveness of the Convention processes in facilitating this achievement;

4. Decides that, to the extent feasible, a maximum of six items for in-depth review should be considered at any meeting of the Conference of the Parties and that cross-cutting issues are dealt with in coherent manner taking into account the different requirements and characteristics of the issues;

5. Agrees that:

(a)  In its reviews of the programmes of work it will focus on:

(i) Assessing the implementation and effectiveness of the programme of work;

(ii)  Updating the programme of work if necessary, by retiring or replacing activities and by making adjustments to reflect changes in the international context;

(iii)  Providing practical support for national and regional implementation;

(b)  In agenda items on strategic issues, one or more priority themes will be selected for each meeting of the Conference of the Parties , taking into account the importance of that theme for enhancing the implementation of the Strategic Plan and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans;

6. Also decides that some flexibility in the multi-year programme of work should be retained in order to accommodate urgent emerging issues;

7. Adopts the multi-year programme of work annexed to the present decision;

8. Requests the Executive Secretary to develop a preparatory process for the work of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice on island biodiversity which:

(a)  Includes, inter alia, electronic forums, an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group in mid-2004, and a liaison group held immediately after the Mauritius meeting in August/September 2004

(b)  Allows input from the widest possible range of Parties, countries, and relevant organizations, stakeholders and indigenous and local communities, and particularly from small island developing States;

(c)  Will provide technical advice for use by Parties on key issues facing island biodiversity managers as well as a draft programme of work and related draft recommendations;

  (d)  Will draw on the outcome of the international meeting of the small island developing States for the review of the Barbados Programme of Action, which will take place in Mauritius in August/September 2004.

Annex

Proposed Multi-year Programme of Work of the Conference of the Parties until 2010

Annex  II

Terms of reference of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Island Biodiversity

A. Mandate

Guided by the Strategic Plan, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals; and taking into account inter alia the Convention's 2010 target and related decisions, the ongoing programmes of work of the Convention on thematic and cross-cutting issues, work being carried out in the framework of the Barbados Programme of Action, and the specificities of islands as compared to main lands, the ad hoc technical expert group will:

(a)  Draw on material provided by the Secretariat which reviews, inter alia, the outcomes of the regional and inter-regional preparatory meetings for the 10 year review of the Barbados Programme of Action, and the status and trends of, and major threats to, island biological diversity, and identifies those characteristics ;

(b)  Review how ongoing work on the different thematic areas and cross-cutting issues under the Convention on Biological Diversity and related work being carried out in the framework of other processes, in particular the Barbados Programme of Action, are contributing to the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention in island ecosystems; identify significant gaps and constraints, paying particular attention to mechanisms used to support implementation (e.g. financial mechanism, clearing-house mechanism, technology transfer, capacity-building);

(c)  Develop proposals for a programme of work on on island biological diversity incorporating priority actions to enhance conservation of island biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources from islands. In carrying out this work:

 (i) develop global outcome- and process-oriented targets and related indicators pertaining to the priority actions;

(ii) identify relevant actors and partners for the implementation of the programme of work, synergies with other programmes and ways to draw on existing best practices;

(iii) propose ways to link with the Secretary General's WEHAB ("water, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity") initiative, and support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other relevant objectives identified by the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

B. Duration of work

The work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Island Biological Diversity should be initiated immediately after approval of its terms of reference by the Conference of the Parties, and completed by August 2004.  The report of the expert group will be forwarded for information to the international meeting of the small island developing States for the review of the Barbados Programme of Action, which will take place in Mauritius in August 2004.

* The term "programme of work" includes work on thematic and cross-cutting issues.

** The Conference of the Parties will consider selected relevant items at each of its meetings.